Published in Dawn, on Dec 11th, 2018, Film director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy says the third and last sequel of animated movie for children, 3 Bahadur: Rise of the Warriors, has more charm, action and twist. Talking to the media about her film here on Tuesday, she said the film, being released nationwide on Dec 14, was packed with surprises. “It features voices of artistes like Mehwish Hayat, Fahad Mustafa, Sarwat Gillani, Nimra Bucha and Behroze Sabzwari.” [ads1] Mentioning salient features of the upcoming sequel of 3 Bahadur, Ms Chinoy said important monuments of the country have been shown in the film…
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Published in BBC, on Dec 14th, 2018, Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been voted BBC African Footballer of the Year for the second time in a row. The 26-year-old beat Medhi Benatia, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sadio Mane and Thomas Partey to the prize. The Premier League’s player of the year scored 44 goals in 52 games for Liverpool last season. “It’s a great feeling to win again. I’m happy and I would like to win it also next year!” said Salah. As well as inspiring his club to the Champions League final, Salah scored twice for Egypt at this…
Published in Dawn, on Dec 12th, 2018, By Umaid Wasim ISLAMABAD: The expression on retired Lt Col Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi’s face was of utter resignation. An era had just ended moments earlier, 15 years of Faisal Saleh Hayat’s uninterrupted reign as the chief of Pakistan football, when Ashfaq Hussain Shah was elected Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) chief in an election at the Supreme Court here on Wednesday. “FIFA will take action,” Lodhi, Hayat’s long-time aide and PFF’s secretary general, said as he walked out of the premises. Stopped by Dawn for his reaction, he said he was “a neutral person”…
Published in ARY, on Dec 11th, 2018, The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) filed a compensation case of $2 million against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in ICC’s Dispute Resolutions Committee on Tuesday. The Indian board said that they suffered financially during the case and now the PCB should pay all their expenses. [ads1] It is pertinent to mention here that the PCB filed the $70 million compensation case against BCCI claiming that a huge loss cost to them as India refused to play the six bilateral series according to the Memorandum of Understand (MoU) out of which…
Morocco’s Minister of Youth and Sport Rachid Talbi Alami has yet to explain why his country will not be making a bid to host the 2019 Nations Cup Published in BBC, on Dec 12th, 2018, Morocco will not bid to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, the country’s sports minister said. The North African nation had been tipped as a replacement for Cameroon, who were stripped of the hosting rights last month due to poor preparations. “Morocco did not intend to run for the 2019 African Cup of Nations and will not do so,” Minister of Youth and Sport…
Published in Samaa, on Dec 10th, 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo has urged long-time rival Lionel Messi to be more like him and push his limits by challenging himself in another league. “I’d like him to come to Italy one day. I hope he accepts the challenge like me, but if he’s happy there then I respect that,” Ronaldo told the Italian press on Monday. The two strikers have been rivals for the past decade winning five Ballon d’Or trophies each before their domination was broken by World Cup runner-up Luka Modric last week. Asked if he missed the 31-year-old Argentinian, who…
Talha Talib won a gold medal for Pakistan at the fifth International Solidarity Championships in Cairo Published in Geo, on Dec 11th, 2018, By Sohail Imran LAHORE: Weightlifter Talha Talib clinched a gold medal for Pakistan at the fifth International Solidarity Championships under way in Cairo, Egypt. Talha Talib with his medals Talib won the gold for lifting 136kg in the snatch category, and a silver for 155kg clean and jerk lift. He claimed another silver medal for lifting 291kg overall. In the 67kg class, Pakistan was ranked at second position, with hosts Egypt at the top and Saudi Arabia coming…
President Donald Trump with China’s President Xi Jinping during their bilateral meeting at the G20 Summit, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Published in CNN, on Dec 13th, 2018, By Nicole Gaouette, Donna Borak and David Shortell, CNN Washington (CNN)China and the US are set to take action against each other as tensions escalate over trade, cyber hacking and espionage as US senior law enforcement officials identified Beijing as the most serious threat to US national security on Wednesday. China’s methods of non-traditional espionage — including their use of ordinary Chinese expatriates instead of spies at universities and…
Sam Rainsy, right, speaks as he and Kem Sokha raise their hands at the ending of a CNRP demonstration in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Sept. 17, 2013). Image Credit: AP Photo/Heng Sinith Published in The Diplomat, on Dec 12th, 2018, By Alex Willemyns After 2018’s election, Cambodia’s once united opposition veers toward a split. PHNOM PENH — Cambodia’s merged opposition party teeters on the edge of a damaging split after its self-exiled former leader Sam Rainsy said that he had seized back the party leadership from his successor, Kem Sokha, until his onetime rival-cum-ally is released from house arrest. The decision was…
British Prime Minister Theresa May will travel to Brussels on Thursday for talks on her Brexit deal [Toby Melville/Reuters] [File: Alastair Grant/AP] Published in AlJazeera, on Dec 12th, 2018, by David Child May says UK government has ‘renewed mission to deliver the Brexit people voted for’ following poll on her leadership. London, United Kingdom – British Prime Minister Theresa May has survived a secret vote of confidence on her leadership of the ruling Conservative Party triggered by rebel MPs disgruntled by her Brexit deal. Of the Conservatives’ 317 members of parliament, 200 voted in support of May during the poll on Wednesday evening, while…
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defence Mohammad Bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., on March 14, 2017. Image Credit: Reuters Published in Gulf News, on Dec 12th, 2018, Reuters Trump provided his most explicit show of support for the prince since Khashoggi’s death U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he stood by Saudi Arabia’s crown prince despite a CIA assessment that he ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and pleas from U.S. senators for Trump to condemn the Crown Prince. Trump refused to…
India’s Congress party supporters celebrate outside the party headquarters in New Delhi on December 11, 2018, as vote counting in five Indian states began. (SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images) Published in Arabian Business, on Dec 11th, 2018, By James Mathew Victory in the three crucial north Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh will come as a major boost for Congress president Rahul Gandhi. India’s grand old party, Indian National Congress, staged a remarkable comeback, winning three of the five Indian states that went into elections in November-December, setting the stage for a fierce battle in the upcoming parliamentary elections in April-May…
Boom years ahead for middle east Despite the general economic slowdown, there will be unprecedented growth in the region in eight to 10 years, a Dubai-based businessman said. RP Group founder and managing director Ravi Pillai said from 2020 onwards there will a big boom in the region, driven especially through gas and petrochemical sectors. “This growth will be witnessed in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. There will be growth for eight to 10 years, which will exceed all expectations. Gas and petrochemicals will see rise in demand. We are going to bid for a few gas and petrochemicals plants,”…
Exports up 0.8 percent in November; trade deficit widens to usd 16.6 billion India’s exports grew by a meagre 0.80 per cent to USD 26.5 billion in November, mainly due to a high base effect, even as the trade deficit widened to USD 16.67 billion, according to commerce ministry data. Imports rose by 4.31 per cent to USD 43.17 billion during the month. The trade deficit stood at USD 15.1 billion in November 2017. It was USD 17.13 billion in October this year. The growth rate of imports in November, however, was the lowest since December 2016, when the inbound…
Pakistan has sufficient lpg stock Liquefied Petroleum Gas Distributors Association (LPGDA) Chairman Irfan Khokhar has claimed that the country has sufficient LPG stock to ensure a smooth supply in peak winter season, but he has urged the government to deal with the artificial shortage being created by some elements. “Around 80percent of LPG demand is met through domestic production and 20percent from imports,” he said while talking to source. However, he alleged that LPG quota holders were hoarding the commodity to make a quick buck in the season. He pointed out that LPG marketing companies and dealers were bound to…
PAKISTAN NEWS: Tax structure for mobile phone imports: The government finalized the tax structure for mobile phones being brought to Pakistan. While these taxes had been made law a while ago, the PTI government has decided to implement it. The tax starts at Rs. 4.5k for phones valued at $50 and goes all the way up to Rs. 83k for phones worth $1500. Not only that, but the government has also introduced a limit of 5 phones per person per year. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] 53pc of mobile wallet accounts are inactive: Out of 38.5 million mobile wallet accounts, 53…
PM’s meeting with business community is encouraging for investors and industrialist: Mian Zahid Hussain Government should form stable and long term policies for investment’s growth: Allauddin Marri Businessmen Panel Pakistan’s senior vice chairman and former provincial minister Sindh, Mian Zahid Hussain and Presidential candidate of BMP, former chief minister Balochistan Allauddin Marri while talking to the business community said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s meeting with different delegations of the business community and assuring the inclusion of their recommendations in the policies is appreciative and encouraging for investors and industrialists. Karachi trade and industry hub of the Country, despite contributing…
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 9.99 10.49 2 – Week 9.99 10.49 1 – Month 10.05 10.55 3 – Month 10.25 10.50 6 – Month 10.41 10.66 9 – Month 10.50 11.00 1 – Year 10.71 11.21 2 – Year 11.10 11.60 3- Year 11.54 12.04
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Jonathan Wichmann Co-founder, Wichmann/Schmidt[/box] For millennia, the finance industry has been a primary culprit in global warming. Now it’s time for finance to right its wrongs and provide the solution. It’s easy to read about the current and future state of our climate and have a fit of despair. For years, the scientific consensus was that we’d be fine if temperatures increased from pre-industrial levels by less than 2°C. But the UN’s recent global warming report revises the threshold, showing that a 1.5°C increase will have catastrophic effects, and that we could experience such effects as early…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””] Nathanial Matthews Program Director, Global Resilience Partnership Deon Nel CEO, Global Resilience Partnership[/box] Haiyan, Mangkhut, Yutu. Asia is one of the regions most affected by natural disasters, like the super typhoons named above. An estimated 40% of global losses due to disasters will occur on the continent in the years to come. Disasters come in many forms, from quick onset cyclones and earthquakes to slower onset and recurrent disasters such as drought and persistent flooding. These disasters claim lives and have lasting negative cascading effects on livelihoods, education, health and economic opportunities. Disasters in Southeast Asia caused 61% of…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Andrew Urquhart, University of Reading and Brian Lucey, Trinity College Dublin[/box] Uncertainty over what is happening with Brexit caused the pound to take another significant dive on December 10. It was the day before MPs were due to vote on the proposed Brexit deal agreed between the UK and the EU. The deal had backing from business leaders because of the certainty it brought and the fact that it kept the UK in the free trade area for goods. But the prime minister’s decision on December 10 to call off the vote means investors – like…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Angela Chen Founder, East Circular[/box] China’s ban on foreign waste created ripple effects in global recycling markets in 2018. US and UK markets were unable to meet domestic recycling demands, and Southeast Asian countries were overwhelmed with sharp increases in waste imports diverted from China. But how does China deal with its own waste? It’s already the world’s largest trash generator. By 2030, its volume of waste is projected to be double America’s volume of municipal solid waste. While Chinese authorities are planning more incinerators for waste disposal, much of the country’s waste still ends up in landfills, and some…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Nick O’Donovan, Manchester Metropolitan University[/box] The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest amount of feathers with the least amount of hissing. So said Jean-Baptiste Colbert, minister of finance to France’s 17th-century “Sun King”, Louis XIV. Today, almost four centuries after Colbert’s birth, his compatriots are rioting on the streets of Paris and taxation is once again a focal point for French political debate. The “gilets jaunes” movement, which began as a protest against fuel tax rises, has morphed into a more wide-ranging critique of the fiscal reforms of…
Market Review Although the bourse managed to close in green today, the recent hike in monetary policy deteriorated the attractiveness of equities as evident from multiple negative sessions in the benchmark index, closing the week in red at 38,562pts, a decline of 4.8%WoW. Market participation improved during the week as evident from increase in ADT by 7.5%WoW, however, ADTV decreased by 18.3%WoW. Mutual funds remained the biggest net sellers exhibiting a net outflow of USD31mn and foreign investors displayed an outflow of USD2.5mn. During the week, the Ministry of Industries and Production assured the auto sector regarding the Auto Development…
Bears maintain dominance as KSE-100 index recedes 4.8% wow Summary Prime Minister Imran Khan revealing with his meeting on Monday with TV anchors and reporters that he came to know about dollar hike through television. This shows how much ill informed and lack of knowledge of the existing institutionalized mechanism has with the PM. This creates rumors in the market which Finance Minister had to remove about his resignation through an interview on AAJ TV on December 5. But the damage has already been done. Investors remained in state of uncertainty throughout the week. The market lost 1,934 points during…
Comedic cartoon ‘Freej’ follows four traditional Emirati women — Um Saeed, Um Saloom, Um Khammas and Um Allawi. Image Credit: Supplied Published in Gulf News, on Dec 5th, 2018, by Marwa Hamad, Senior Reporter The 3D animation is going international 13 years after it first premiered in the UAE Have you heard the one about the four elderly Emirati women who walk into millions of Japanese households? No, it’s not a gag — it’s the latest groundbreaking achievement for UAE showrunner Mohammad Saeed Harib, who is taking his 3D cartoon ‘Freej’ to Japan in January. A Japanese-dubbed version of the series will air…
Published in ARY News, on Dec 5th, 2018, By Reuters LOS ANGELES: Comedian Kevin Hart will host next year’s Oscar ceremony for the first time, the “Ride Along” actor said in an Instagram post on Tuesday. “I am so happy to say that the day has finally come for me to host the Oscars,” Hart wrote. The Academy Awards are the film industry’s highest honors. “So are we,” the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars, responded on Twitter. “Welcome to the family.” Hart, 39, who also starred in 2017 film “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” follows talk…
‘Ralph Breaks the Internet’. Photo courtesy: Disney Published in Geo, on Dec 3rd, 2018, By Reuters LOS ANGELES: Disney’s “Ralph Breaks the Internet” recharged for its second consecutive weekend atop the North American box office, generating a healthy $25.8 million. That marks a decline of just 53 percent, and pushes the animated sequel’s domestic haul past $100 million. Overseas, “Ralph” earned $33.7 million this weekend, taking its international total to $87 million. Keeping in line with end of the year traditions, major studios largely sat out the post-Thanksgiving frame. The only new nationwide release, “The Possession of Hannah Grace,” opened in line…
Yasir Shah celebrates with teammates after breaking the fastest to 200 Test wickets record during the fourth day of the third and final Test cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand at the Sheikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on December 6, 2018. — AFP Published in Dawn, on Dec 6th, 2018, Leg-spinner Yasir Shah on Thursday became the fastest cricketer to take 200 Test wickets, breaking an 82-year-old record on the fourth day of the third Test against New Zealand. The 32-year-old trapped nightwatchman Will Somerville leg before for four — his second wicket of the New…
Published in The News, on Dec 5th, 2018, DOHA: Qatar has not held talks with any other countries to share football matches at the 2022 World Cup, a senior tournament organiser in Doha said on Wednesday. Despite coming under pressure from FIFA president Gianni Infantino to expand the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams — which could mean some matches being played elsewhere in the Middle East — Nasser al-Khater said no such negotiations had taken place. “We haven´t had any discussions of sharing,” said the assistant secretary general of Qatar´s World Cup organising body, the Supreme Committee for…
Published in ARY, on Dec 3rd, 2018, By Reuters European soccer’s governing body approved the creation of a third-tier UEFA club competition on Sunday, a tournament which will mirror the current Champions League and Europa League format from 2021. At their meeting in Dublin, UEFA’s Executive Committee finalised plans to introduce the event, with the working title ‘UEL2’ and featuring 32 teams in the group stage, in the 2021 to 2024 competition cycle. The Europa League group stage, meanwhile, will be reduced from 48 teams to 32. UEFA said that the Champions League would remain unaltered, meaning that the four top-ranked leagues…
Published in The News, on Dec 4th, 2018, KARACHI: Cricket authorities are considering holding more matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Pakistan as part of their efforts to pave the way for resumption of international cricket in the country. Quoting unnamed sources, Geo News on Tuesday reported that of the eight matches that the cricket board intends to hold in Pakistan, Karachi is expected to host five including the final of the T20 league. [ads1] Three matches would be held in the Lahore’s Qaddafi cricket Stadium, the sources said. “Aim of Holding more matches in Karachi is to…
FIFA says it will not accept PFF election under orders of Pakistan’s Supreme Court, any such move can result in another suspension of national football body. — Geo News FILE Published in GEO, on Dec 5th, 2018, By Faizan Lakhani KARACHI: FIFA, the world governing body for football, has once again threatened Pakistan Football Federation with a ban if it holds election this month following an order from Supreme Court of Pakistan. A highly placed source in PFF confirmed that FIFA has sent a letter to the PFF’s secretary general asking him to inform its position about the situation of Pakistan…
Published in BBC, on Dec 6th, 2018, By Richard Conway Britain’s biggest gambling companies have voluntarily agreed to a “whistle-to-whistle” television advertising ban. The Remote Gambling Association (RGA), which includes Bet365, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power, has struck a deal to stop adverts during live sports broadcasts. It follows political pressure about the amount of betting advertising on TV. More than 90 minutes of adverts were shown during the football World Cup and anti-gambling campaigners say sport’s use of adverts “normalises” betting. There are also fears it contributes to the rise in the amount of problem gamblers – with a Gambling Commission…
Published in BBC, on Dec 6th, 2018, Theresa May has told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme her EU deal delivers on the result of the 2016 referendum. She said she was “talking to colleagues” about their concerns over the Northern Irish backstop. But she said no deal with the EU was possible without a backstop. Before the third of five days’ debate, it has been suggested by some Conservatives that the prime minister ought to postpone next Tuesday’s vote to avoid defeat. A government source told the BBC that whips were looking at all options to deliver a majority. May…
The resolution urges the US government to hold the crown prince accountable for a number of actions [Sergio Moraes/Reuters] Published in AlJazeera, on Dec 6th, 2018, Bipartisan group of senators introduces measure saying Saudi crown prince is ‘complicit’ in the killing of journalist. Six top US senators from across party lines have introduced a scathing resolution to hold the Saudi crown prince accountable for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi more than two months ago. The proposal, which was introduced on Wednesday, says the Senate “has a high level of confidence” that Mohammed bin Salman “was complicit in the murder”. If approved by the…
Confusion remains about what Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi actually agreed to at their meeting.CreditCreditTom Brenner for The New York Times Published in The New York Times, on Dec 5th, 2018, By Alan Rappeport and Jim Tankersley WASHINGTON — President Trump tried to calm global markets and ease concerns on Wednesday that his trade truce with China was floundering, declaring in a series of Twitter posts that the Chinese government was sending “very strong signals” about a weekend agreement he reached with President Xi Jinping and suggesting that American exports to China are about to surge. Mr. Trump and his advisers have been touting the trade…
A Hezbollah fighter on patrol in an orange orchard near the town of Naqura on the Lebanese-Israeli border on April 20 Published in Asia Times, on Dec 4th, 2018, By Shaiel Ben-Ephraim An operation against cross-border tunnels built by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon comes as the Israeli PM faces the threat of arrest Israel on Tuesday announced that it has begun an extensive operation to neutralize Hezbollah-built tunnels, which are said to enter Israel and place targets in the north of the country at risk. The action has already been labeled operation “Northern Shield” by Israeli security forces.…
Ukraine urges NATO to send more ships to port Published in Cnn, on Dec 5th, 2018, By Ryan Browne, CNN Washington (CNN)The US has begun making the necessary preparations to sail a warship into the Black Sea, a move that comes amid heightened tensions in the region following Russia’s seizure of Ukrainian ships and detention of Ukrainian sailors. The US military has requested that the State Department notify Turkey of its possible plans to sail a warship into the Black Sea, three US officials tell CNN, a move they said is a response to Russia’s actions against Ukraine in the Kerch Strait,…
A profile of Huawei’s chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou is displayed on a Huawei computer at a Huawei store in Beijing, China, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. Image Credit: AP Published in Gulf, on Dec 6th, 2018, Wanzhou’s arrest comes after US launched a probe into suspected Iran sanctions violations OTTAWA: A top executive and daughter of the founder of Chinese telecom giant Huawei has been arrested in Canada and faces extradition to the United States, officials said Thursday, angering Beijing days into a trade war truce with the US. The detention of Meng Wanzhou comes after American authorities reportedly launched an…
Tea, coffee to lead growth in UAE’S F&B industry The tea and coffee segment would be a key driver of growth in the UAE’s food and beverage (F&B) industry in the coming years, experts at the Dubai International Coffee & Tea Festival 2018 said. The three-day event concluded on Friday at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event featured coffee, tea and café products, as well as the latest equipment and services. It was the only dedicated event in the Middle East that gave interested parties access to a wide range of suppliers, products and certified training programmes.…
India to retain top position in remittances with USD 80 billion, says World Bank India will retain its position as the world’s top recipient of remittances this year with its diaspora sending a whopping USD 80 billion back home, the World Bank said in a report Saturday. India is followed by China (USD 67 billion), Mexico and the Philippines (USD 34 billion each) and Egypt (USD 26 billion), according to the global lender. With this, India has retained its top spot on remittances, according to the latest edition of the World Bank’s Migration and Development Brief. The Bank estimates that…
CPEC size to stay at $50 bn for now Size of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will remain unchanged at $50 billion, for now, as both the countries have decided to consolidate the already approved projects amid a hope to also achieve the financial close of $1.7 billion transmission line project. A meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of the CPEC will take place on December 20 in Beijing, said the Ministry of Planning on Friday. Unlike Lahore-Matiari transmission line project that may reach the next level, the stalemate will continue on $8.2 billion mainline-I project of Pakistan Railways.…
PAKISTAN NEWS: A Chinese company’s free satellite Wi-Fi: If anybody claims to offer free Wi-Fi, it feels like too good to be true. However, one Chinese company is actually planning to give free Wi-Fi to everybody across the globe. The Chinese internet company behind this venture, Linksure Network, was founded in Shanghai in 2013. It is aiming to provide free WiFi service all over the world with the help of 272 satellites. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] Telenor opens Pakistan’s first 4.5g network: Yet another industry-first for Telenor Pakistan as it claims to have launched cutting-edge 4.5G technology in Karachi, Lahore,…
Pakistan Cables Limited signs MoU with University of Engineering and Technology for Scholarship Fund Pakistan Cables Limited signed an MoU with UET, Lahore to support the university’s scholarship fund that provides financial assistance to deserving students enrolled in the Electrical Engineering dept. at UET’s Lahore and Faisalabad campuses. Pakistan Cables will also award Gold Medals to graduating students and offer equal opportunity to deserving candidates by ensuring gender balance among applicants. “Pakistan Cables remains committed to contributing as a knowledge partner to the engineering community and UET has contributed significantly over the decades in providing skilled engineering professional in Pakistan.…
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 9.84 10.34 2 – Week 9.86 10.36 1 – Month 9.92 10.42 3 – Month 10.21 10.46 6 – Month 10.32 10.57 9 – Month 10.40 10.90 1 – Year 10.53 11.03 2 – Year 11.03 11.53 3- Year 11.51 12.01
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]John McKenna Formative Content[/box] China’s bullet train network is fast expanding, and it will soon extend under the sea. Officials in Beijing have approved construction of a 77km high-speed rail link between Ningbo, a port city south of Shanghai, to Zhoushan, an archipelago off the east coast. It will include a 16.2km subsea tunnel, the nation’s first for high-speed trains. The new route will connect with China’s existing high-speed network and transport passengers from Hangzhou – capital city of Zhejiang Province – to Zhoushan in 80 minutes. The current journey takes about 4.5 hours by bus or 2.5…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Sarah Glozer, University of Bath[/box] Last week I was followed around the Internet by a pair of shoes. I had looked at them online as a gift for my father-in-law, but he didn’t like them, and neither did I. Yet no matter what site I visited, there they were, staring at me in their full moccasin glory. Digital advertising can be really annoying, but it can also be dangerous. It has recently been accused of perpetuating fake news, funding child abuse and interfering with democracy. Facebook, which makes most of its $US40 billion a year revenue…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Axel P. Lehmann President Personal & Corporate Banking and President, UBS Switzerland[/box] Crypto-assets and cryptocurrencies have soared in popularity since 2008, with more than 1,000 of the latter in existence today. Recently, large gains followed by steep declines led to intense media coverage and widespread interest. Crypto-assets have also featured prominently in recent work by the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Financial and Monetary Systems, which Cecilia Skingsley and I co-chair. In particular, a report called “The Global Financial and Monetary System in 2030” argues that the increasing acceptance and adoption of cryptocurrencies will contribute to…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Arturo Bris, IMD Business School[/box] Which company would you say is going to grow faster in the coming years: Apple or Domino’s Pizza? Intuitively, we see Apple as an innovative firm with a forward-looking culture and disruptive ideas, while Domino’s Pizza operates in a traditional sector where growth opportunities are limited. Ask a recent MBA graduate whether she would rather accept a job offer from either company and I bet I can predict the answer with 99% confidence. In the past ten years, Apple’s stock market performance has been outstanding. On an annual basis, the stock…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Martin Armstrong, Dec 3, 2018[/box] In the race for artificial intelligence dominance, it is currently just a two horse race when looked at on a national level. As our chart shows, when looking at patent applications, investment, talent, research and companies in the sector, the United States and China are top of the charts when it comes to these key metrics. Between these two leaders, there are areas in which one or the other is far stronger, with China well ahead in terms of investment and financing – China accounted for 60 percent of global investment since 2013. The…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Sarah Feldman, Dec 3, 2018[/box] Qatar announced it was leaving OPEC in January of 2019. The official reason for leaving the pact was to focus their efforts on natural gas production. Qatar is the leading country for liquefied natural gas exports, responsible for 30 percent of global trade in 2016. Australia is the second biggest liquefied natural gas exporter, with about half the global trade that Qatar controls. Qatar had the third biggest natural gas reserve in the world, housing 24.9 trillion cubic meters. While Russia and Iran top Qatar’s natural gas reserves, neither of the two countries leads in global…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Martin Armstrong, Dec 3, 2018[/box] According to the Passport Index, holders of a passport issued in the United Arab Emirates can visit 167 countries without needing to obtain a prior visa. Having just added four new countries to the list, this makes it the most powerful passport in the world. As our chart shows, a fair share of these countries do still require a visa on arrival, meaning that purely in terms of simply walking through passport control, Singapore passport holders have the easiest time in the most countries. [ads1] You will find more infographics at Statista
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Sarah Feldman, Nov 30, 2018[/box] Saudi Arabia has pushed oil production to an all-time high, causing the price of oil to drop to $50 per barrel. The United States produces the greatest volume of oil in 2017, totaling 571 million tons of oil in 2017. Saudi Arabia and Russia came in a close second and third, with each country producing a total volume of 561 and 554 million tons of oil respectively. The top three oil producers, measured by the volume of oil produced in 2017, produced more oil than the bottom 7 countries in the top 10 combined. [ads1] You…
Market Review During the outgoing roll-over week, the benchmark index witnessed multiple negative sessions and closed in red at 40,496pts, a decline of 0.9%WoW. We accredit today’s negative session to another round of currency depreciation where PKR made an intraday high of PKR144, depreciation of 7.5%, and anticipation of further hike in policy rate. Market participation remained dull during the week as evident from decline in ADT by 3.1%WoW, however, ADTV increased by 28%WoW. Foreign investors continued to remain net seller, exhibiting an outflow of USD51mn. During the week, new entrants opposed PSMC’s attempt to seek greenfield status to set…
Lack of economic plans in 100 days of new govt keep stocks bearish Summary The KSE-100 Index failed to move up as the new PTI government completes its 100 days in office this week. The PTI government came into power in August when the KSE-100 Index was 42,638, in August 2018. The market was 40,894 in November this week when the government completed its 100 days. The damage done to the economy by the previous government, the lack of experience of running the government and no clear focus on economy kept efforts of the government divided in different directions. The…
Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has been featured in the newly released artwork for Coldplay’s “A Head Full Of Dreams” documentary. Photo: Coldplay Twitter Published in Geo, on Nov 26th, 2018, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan has been featured in the newly released artwork for Coldplay’s A Head Full Of Dreamsdocumentary. The documentary is named after the band’s 2015 record, A Head Full Of Dreams which offers an in-depth and intimate portrait of the band for the last 20 years from the backrooms of Camden pubs to selling out stadiums across the globe. The album, which sold over six million copies worldwide, was…
Published in Gulf News, on Nov 29th, 2018, Entry is free to 12th edition of International Kathakali and Koodiyattam Festival Dubai: A three-day festival celebrating the ancient and highly structured classical performing arts from south Indian state of Kerala will be held in Dubai this weekend.. Showcasing the indigenous art forms of Kerala, the 12th edition of ‘Utsavam 2018’- International Kathakali and Koodiyattam Festival (IKKF) will be staged from November 30 to December 2, under the aegis of the Consulate General of India in Dubai, organisers said in a press release. To be held at Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain…
Published in Ary News, on Nov 26th, 2018, LOS ANGELES : Disney’s “Ralph Breaks the Internet” dominated the Thanksgiving box office, generating a massive $84.6 million at 4,017 locations over the five-day holiday period and $56 million for the weekend. Propelled by solid word of mouth, the Disney animated sequel now ranks as the second-best Thanksgiving debut ever, behind another Disney title, “Frozen,” which earned $93.6 million during its first five days. “Ralph Breaks the Internet” carries a hefty $175 million production budget, so it will need to keep up momentum worldwide to turn a profit. “Ralph Breaks the Internet”…
Sixteen Dahl books are covered by the agreement to get the television make-over treatment, including some of his best known — “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, “Matilda”, “The BFG” and “The Twits”. Published in Geo, on Nov 28th, 2018, NEW YORK: The BFG, Matilda and Willy Wonka are some of the best-loved characters in children’s literature and Netflix is bringing them to life on the small screen across the world. The streaming giant and The Roald Dahl Story Company — the family firm which owns the British author’s copyright — announced Tuesday that production would begin on the first animated…
Published in Ary News, on Nov 29th, 2018, ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday invited the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino to visit Pakistan. According to the details, PM Imran extended an invitation to FIFA president in an effort to revive football and sports activities in the country. Earlier in the day, Malik Amir Dogar, member Punjab Football Council, called on PM Imran Khan and discussed Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) elections and current situation of the games in the country. [ads1] He said that all sports federations in the country would soon have qualified…
Published in Samaa, on Nov 28th, 2018, Pakistani skipper Javeria Khan has been picked in ESPNCricinfo’s Team of the Women World Twenty20. Khan scored 136 runs in the tournament with an average of 45.33 and strike-rate of 130.76. She was also picked the ICC’s Dream Team of the tournament as well. India’s Harmanpreet Kaur was named the captain of the team. Her compatriots Smriti Mandhana and Poonam Yadav also were also amongst the playing XI. [ads1] Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner of Australia were also picked in the team. Three English cricketers, Amy Jones, Anya Shrubsole and…
Carlsen [L] beat Caruana in three time-limited games following a record-breaking streak of 12 drawn matches [Dan Kitwood/Getty] Published in AlJazeera, on Nov 25th, 2018, by Lee Wellings Norwegian world number one beats beats US opponent in a tie-breaker to retain World Chess championship title. Separating the two best chess players in the world was not easy. Two very different characters. The 27-year-old Norwegian, who came to London as a champion, Magnus Carlsen. Fidgety, bored, almost aloof, but fascinating. Across the chessboard: the challenger from Brooklyn, Fabiano Caruana. One year younger with dual Italian and American citizenship. He is more upright…
Published in Gulf News, on Nov 25th, 2018, By K.R. Nayar, Chief Cricket Writer Bukhatir reveals plans to revamp venue which has proved ideal for T10 and all leagues Sharjah: The Sharjah Cricket Stadium which is hosting the T10 League and adding to its reputation of producing nail-biting thrillers will soon create a museum in the stadium showcasing the venue’s thrilling moments and its four decades history. On Tuesday night, Northern Warriors’s one wicket win over Sindhis was the latest to join the list of last ball thrillers produced by this venue, which has also clinched a place in the Guinness…
Australia’s players celebrate winning the ICC Women’s World T20 final cricket match against England at Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda. — AFP Published in Dawn, on Nov 25th, 2018, All-rounder Ashleigh Gardner starred with bat and ball as Australia cruised to an eight-wicket victory over England in the final of the Women’s World T20 in Antigua on Saturday. Gardner and teenage leg-spinner Georgia Wareham combined for five wickets to restrict the English to 105 all out off 19.4 overs after they had chosen to bat first at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Gardner then featured…
Yasir Shah holds a ball after beating New Zealand in the second Test cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium on November 27, 2018. Photo: AFP Published in Geo, on Nov 27th, 2018, DUBAI: Yasir Shah spun his way into the record books on Tuesday when he became the second Pakistani to pick up 14 wickets in a Test match. In Pakistan’s second Test match against New Zealand, Shah picked up 8 wickets in the first session followed by 6 in the second to finish with figures of 14-184. Yasir’s figures are the second best match return…
Sushma Swaraj says India will not attend SAARC if it’s held in Pakistan. Published in Dawn, on Nov 28th, 2018, As Indian delegates attended the Kartarpur corridor groundbreaking ceremony in Narowal on Wednesday, Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj announced that India will not attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) conference if it is held in Pakistan. She brushed off any possibility of improvement in relations between India and and Pakistan, despite the opening of the Kartarpur crossing. “Until and unless Pakistan stops terrorist activities in India, there will be no dialogue and we will not participate in Saarc [conference],”…
FILE PHOTO: Marie Orellana, 28, (4th L) and her seven-year-old son Angel (3rd L holding flag), from Honduras, part of a caravan of thousands of migrants from Central America trying to reach the United States, queue for food outside a temporary shelter in Tijuana, Mexico, November 25, 2018. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo Published in Reuters, on Nov 28th, 2018, By Ginger Gibson (This story has been refiled to correct typographical error in final paragraph) WASHINGTON (Reuters) – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is assessing whether the state can take legal action over the Trump administration’s use of force against a caravan of…
Published in BBC, on Nov 28th, 2018, There is a “real prospect” of “major disruption” at UK ports in the case of a no-deal Brexit, according to MPs. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said government preparations for avoiding disruption around major ports were “worryingly under-developed”. Committee members also said there was a “real risk” the Department for Transport (DfT) would not be ready for a hard Brexit. The DfT said the committee’s conclusions were not “accurate”. In a statement it said it was “both disappointed and surprised” that the PAC had “failed to reflect” the evidence in the National Audit…
Bump stocks allow semiautomatic rifles to fire faster. A formal ban on the devices will be rolled out in the coming days to weeks, a Trump administration official said on Wednesday evening.CreditCreditGeorge Frey/Reuters Published in The New York Times, on Nov 28th, 2018, By Katie Rogers WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is preparing to officially ban bump stocks on guns, a move that would put an end to the sale of attachments that allow semiautomatic rifles to fire faster and that would follow through on an order President Trump made this year to the Justice Department to regulate the devices. An administration official…
Russian S-400 Triumph/SA-21 Growler medium-range and long-range surface-to-air missile systems drive during a parade at Red Square in Moscow in 2015 [Host Photo Agency/RIA Novosti/Reuters] Published in AlJazeera, on Nov 28th, 2018, by Tamila Varshalomidze Further militarisation of the annexed peninsula puts the entire Black Sea region in danger, Kiev says. Kiev, Ukraine – Ukraine’s foreign ministry has condemned Russia’s plan to deploy a fourth S-400 surface-to-air missile battalion to the annexed Crimean peninsula amid a deepening conflict with Kiev. Earlier on Wednesday, Russia’s southern military district spokesman Vadim Astafiyev told Interfax news agency that S-400s would soon be deployed to Crimea. The system is…
The UN has called the Yemen war the world’s worst humanitarian crisis Published in BBC, on Nov 29th, 2018, The US Senate has advanced a measure to withdraw American support for a Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, in a blow to President Donald Trump. Many senators are unhappy with Mr Trump’s response to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Jim Mattis had urged senators not to back the motion, saying it would worsen the situation in Yemen. However, senators voted 63-37 to take forward the bipartisan motion. Why are senators unhappy…
Petrol prices reduced in UAE for December Motorists across the UAE celebrated as the Ministry of Energy and Industry announced a reduction in fuel prices for the month of December. Super 98 for the month of December was announced at Dh2.25 per litre, down from Dh2.57 in November, while Special 95 stood at Dh2.15, down from Dh2.46. In addition, E-plus 91 was priced at Dh2.05, down from Dh2.38 in November, while the price of diesel has been fixed at Dh2.61, down from Dh2.87 per litre. Several experts had earlier revealed that motorists could expect a massive reduction in fuel prices…
India’s q2 gdp clocks 7.1% growth; massive fall from 8.2% but still beats China India clocked a 7.1% GDP growth in the second quarter of the financial year 2018-19, down from previous quarter’s stunning 8.2%. This, however, is still higher than China’s economic growth of 6.5% during the same quarter. The Reuters polls had estimated a GDP growth of 7.4%, while Chief Economist of State Bank of India Soumya Kanti Ghosh said that the GDP growth in the second quarter had a favourable base effect. The Q2 GDP growth, despite moderation, is also higher than 6.3% recorded in the same…
IDEAS 2018: 1st-ever multipurpose battle vehicles launched Pakistan has successfully launched the first-ever ‘multipurpose infantry fighting vehicle’ which will increase the combat capability of its armed forces in battlefields. “We have launched for the first time in the history a multipurpose infantry fighting vehicle (MIFV) named [after the venomous snake] VIPER,” Heavy Industries Taxila’s (HIT) official told at the 10th edition of the four-day International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2018), which concluded on Friday. The huge vehicle is loaded with four major guns capable of shooting enemy and destroying tanks and other battle equipment and machinery from a distance…
PAKISTAN NEWS: Unregistered mobile phones set to be blocked Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), last week, notified to block all unregistered mobile phones by December 31, 2018 that are not PTA verified. The deadline for registering these phones is December 1, 2018. As per the notice, non-compliant mobile devices (having SIM/IMEI functionality) that are active on Pakistani mobile networks till December 1, will remain operational without service interruption. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] Taxes on mobile cards now go to dam fund While mobile phone customers in Pakistan have been enjoying tax-free mobile telephony and mobile internet, Chief Justice of Pakistan has…
Social sector performed well in the first 100 days of PTI government however more efforts are required for economic stability: Mian Zahid Hussain President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President All Karachi Industrial Alliance (AKIA), Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister, Mian Zahid Hussain on Friday said that performance of PTI lead government in first 100 days have been better in social sector, however, for economic stability of Pakistan a lot of efforts are needed. The Prime Minister Imran Khan while addressing the ceremony on completion of 100 days of the government…
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 8.49 8.99 2 – Week 8.65 9.15 1 – Month 8.92 9.42 3 – Month 9.35 9.60 6 – Month 9.77 10.02 9 – Month 10.94 10.44 1 – Year 10.16 10.66 2 – Year 10.59 11.09 3- Year 11.03 11.53
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Michael Kitson, Cambridge Judge Business School[/box] Tensions loom over Argentina, which plays host to the 2018 summit of the G20 starting on November 30. The G20 is an international forum of the EU and the heads of state of 19 major economies, which discusses global economic challenges. And the challenges are mounting. Globalisation is in reverse, as the US threatens to escalate its trade war with China and other trading partners; and xenophobia is rife in many Western countries. These challenges are a threat to global prosperity, but what will shape much of the long-term evolution…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””] Andrew Smith, University of Bradford and Jo McBride, Durham University[/box] The UK is experiencing record levels of employment, with over 32m people in work. But many workers and their families continue to struggle to survive financially – it’s estimated 5.5m workers are paid below the Real Living Wage, which is set at a level at which people can afford to “live”, based on the minimum income standard. But what’s missing from these statistics are those people who have to work in more than one low paid job to make ends meet. This is the focus…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Vesa Laisi President, Danfoss Drives[/box] Today, transport accounts for a fifth of global energy demand and a quarter of energy-related CO2 emissions. That means transport is a major contributor to air pollution. And the effects of pollution from transport are especially important in cities, where people and vehicles co-exist in very close proximity. Around 91% of the world’s population is breathing toxic air, according to the World Health Organization, causing 4.2 million premature deaths every year. So, if we are to keep pursuing efforts to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5ºC, and reduce the health impacts of…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Nsikak John Founder, Kahn Studios[/box] In Africa, the demand for electricity largely exceeds supply. Nigeria’s shortage of 173,000MW (for a nation whose current energy needs is around 180,000MW) gave rise to large-scale imports of noisy and polluting power generating sets. Annual increase in electricity access rate in 2010-2016 in countries where demand for electricity exceeds supply. Most sub-Saharan African countries experience the same. In rural areas in Rwanda, where over 70% of the population lives, only 18% of the population has access to electricity. Large numbers of households and public buildings in rural communities are not…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Martin Armstrong, Nov 22, 2018[/box] The latest report from housing charity Shelter has revealed a further rise in the number of people recorded as homeless in Britain. In 2016, the first year the Shelter reported figures, there were thought to be 295,000 homeless people in the country. That figure rose to 307,000 last year and has now reached 320,000. The figure take into account people sleeping rough, living in temporary accommodation and the number of hostel places that are taken up. The totals are said to be conservative estimates and fail to account for people unknown to authorities. Commenting on…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Martin Armstrong, Nov 22, 2018[/box] Of the leading banks in Europe, there is one clear winner when it comes to getting the most out of their employees when it comes to the profit and loss sheet. UBS, headquartered in Switzerland generated an average revenue of €449,020 per employee in 2017. This is a long way ahead of the second best-performing – London-based Lloyds recorded the still handsome sum of €278,100. [ads1] You will find more infographics at Statista
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Martin Armstrong, Nov 26, 2018[/box] Theresa May got the first green light for her Brexit agreement at the weekend when the remaining 27 EU countries voted to endorse its terms. Afterwards, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that it is “the best deal possible for Britain”. According to new analysis by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research though, the ‘best’ deal is far from a good one for the UK. Assuming the UK leaves the EU Customs Union and Single Market in 2021 under the now approved agreement, by 2030, the country’s economy is forecast to be £100bn per…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Felix Richter, Nov 26, 2018[/box] As millions of Americans kicked off their holiday shopping over the Thanksgiving weekend, deals involving video game consoles were among the hottest bargains available (or sold out in many cases) this year. And while the U.S. video game industry just had its best October on record (i.e. at least since 1995) with total spending more than doubling compared to October 2017, the upcoming weeks will decide whether 2018 will be remembered as a successful year or not. As the following chart shows, video game sales are extremely seasonal. According to the NPD Group,…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Sarah Feldman, Nov 26, 2018[/box] Today Cyber Monday sweeps across the world, with most countries participating in the global e-commerce extravaganza, which has taken off in recent years. According to information from Statista’s Digital Market Outlook, there are 259 million e-commerce users in the United States. For all the revenue e-commerce generates, each user brings in around $1,952. The largest market for e-commerce is China with roughly 1 billion e-commerce shoppers. The United States comes in a distant second, despite the bigger bang the country brings in for revenue per user. [ads1] You will find more infographics at Statista
Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC) was incorporated in 1978 as a joint venture between Fauji Foundation, a charitable trust in Pakistan and Haldor Topsoe A/S of Denmark to set up a urea production facility with capacity of 570 thousand tonnes per annum. Over the years, FFC has grown through reinvestment in fertilizer sector and at present, it is the largest urea manufacturer of the Country with an annual production capacity of over 2 million tonnes through its three plants. The Company has contributed more than US$ 13 billion to the National Exchequer through import substitution of over 56 million tonnes…
Market Review During the outgoing week, positives related to arrival of USD1.0bn from KSA have been overshadowed by the negatives associated with the inconclusive end of negotiations between IMF and Pakistan regarding a package of financial assistance. As a result, KSE100 index exhibited a decrease of 2%WoW to 40,869pts. Additionally, market participants remained dull during the week as evident from decline in ADT by 26.5%WoW and ADTV by 22.7%WoW. Foreign investors continued to remain net seller, exhibiting an outflow of USD11.6mn. During the week, as per NEPRA, electricity generation fell by 5.9%YoY to 9,574GWh in Oct’18 as the government shed…