Published in Dawn, on Oct 24th, 2018, India’s skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday became the fastest-ever batsmen to reach 10,000 One-day International (ODI) runs, making history in his 205th innings against the West Indies in Visakhapatnam. The 29-year-old surpassed fellow Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar, who first crossed the 10,000-run mark in 259 innings in 2001. [ads1] Kohli, playing his 213th ODI, took a single off spinner Ashley Nurse to reach the milestone. He is just the 13th batsman, and fifth Indian, to join the elite list.
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Muhammad Kashif, a miner played in the Socca World Cup in Portugal with the Leisure League national championship winning side. PHOTO COURTESY: LEISURE LEAGUES/FILE Published in The Express Tribune, on Oct 23rd, 2018, ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani on Tuesday announced that two international standard football with state-of-the-art facilities would be built in Quetta and Gwadar. Muhammad Asghar Khan, a social activist, said that football is a popular sport in the province and building modern stadiums would hone the skills of young footballers. Khan said that players from Balochistan need to be encouraged and facilitated to get into the national team.…
Fifa chief Gianni Infantino is likely to face questions over his relationship with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Published in BBC, on Oct 23rd, 2018, By Richard Conway – BBC sports news correspondent Fifa is set to revive controversial plans for a new Club World Cup and Nations League, that had previously been backed by Saudi Arabian cash. It comes after Saudi Arabia admitted journalist Jamal Khashoggi died in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Reports suggest the Club World Cup would be held annually and involve the top European and Premier League teams. Uefa is against the plans, which will be…
Aaron Finch (left), Australia skipper, and his Pakistan counterpart, Sarfraz Ahmad, with the TUC Cup duringthe unveiling ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Published in Gulf, on Oct 23rd, 2018, By N.D. Prashant – Staff Reporter It is the responsibility of the PCB and they are taking the lead, skipper says Abu Dhabi: Sarfraz Ahmad has backed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to help stamp out corruption amid latest spot-fixing claims — this time allegedly involving top cricketers from England, Pakistan and Australia, according to an Al Jazeera expose. The Pakistan skipper was not afraid to face questions on the…
Published in Ary, on Oct 23rd, 2018, Pakistan women team’s veteran spinner, Sana Mir was excited as she reached the top position in ODI bowling ranking on Tuesday. “I am thankful that I have become the no.1 ODI bowler in the world,” said Sana Mir while talking to ARY News. Mir said that good bowling performances are those which help the team to win, otherwise they are useless. “You become a good bowler when your bowling helps your team to win,” she said. She also accredited the head of coach of Pakistan women team, Michael Coles and told that he…
Central American migrants, part of a second wave of migrants heading to the U.S., hitchhike on a pick-up truck as they continue their journey to the Mexican border, in Chiquimula, Guatemala October 23, 2018. REUTERS/Luis Echeverria Published in Reuters on Oct 25th, 2018, WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a plan to ban entry of migrants at the United States’ southern border with Mexico and deny them asylum, the Washington Post reported on Thursday. [ads1] With a caravan of Central American migrants trekking through Mexico toward the United States, the White House is considering whether to…
Published in BBC on Oct 26th, 2018, A “fortress mentality” at the Department for Work and Pensions is failing claimants and putting Universal Credit itself at risk, say MPs. The benefit’s introduction causes “unacceptable hardship” but the DWP “refuses to measure what it does not want to see,” a committee of MPs said. They found delays in payments were causing increased debt and rent arrears and forced people to use food banks. The DWP said it would consider the report and had already made changes. The Commons Public Accounts Committee report comes after it was announced that the rollout of universal…
U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey during a bill signing ceremony at the White House in Washington on Oct. 23, 2018.Leah Millis / Reuters Published in NBC News on Oct 23rd, 2018, By Jonathan Allen “They had a very bad original concept, it was carried out poorly, and the cover-up was the worst in the history of cover-ups. They had the worst-cover up ever,” he said at the White House Tuesday. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the effort to conceal the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a…
There have been warnings about the impact of extra checks at borders like Calais Published in BBC, on Oct 25th, 2018, The Brexit secretary has warned that French authorities could introduce a “go-slow” policy at the port of Calais if there is no Brexit deal. Dominic Raab said this was the “worst-case scenario” and said that the UK could prepare by using “more amenable ports” in other countries. There has been widespread concern about the impact of longer border checks at Calais if the UK leaves without a deal. Businesses use the port to bring in vital components at short…
A picture taken October 23, 2018 shows Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan(C) as he arrives to attend the opening ceremony of the Future Investment Initiative FII conference taking place in Riyadh from 23-25 October. PHOTO: AFP Published in The Express Tribune, on Oct 25th, 2018, By Shahbaz Rana ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday provided a $6 billion lifeline to Pakistan on an annual basis in the shape of cash assistance and oil on deferred payments for one year, providing a much-needed breathing space to the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan. This is the second time when Saudi Arabia has bailed out Pakistan…
French food products gaining traction in UAE Food and beverage products from France are gaining momentum in the UAE. French exports to the UAE represent around 400 million euros in sales annually and the leading exports include beverages (30 per cent), dairy products (16 per cent) and fruits (9 per cent), according to Business France, the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy. France hosted SIAL Paris, the world’s largest food innovation exhibition that ended on Thursday. The UAE was once again an active participant at the event held every two years. This was discussed between Kamal…
Modi-Abe summit: PM says Japan most trusted partner for India’s economic modernisation; key things in focus Ahead of India-Japan economic summit scheduled to begin tomorrow, PM Narendra Modi said that Japan is India’s most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation. Notably, the two-day annual summit with Shinzo Abe is slated to be held on October 28 and 29. In a statement released yesterday, Modi described India and Japan as a “winning combination.” We bring to you key things to know about India and Japan’s economic ties, and what could be in focus in the two-day summit. Japan has…
Tax cut on lpg imports turns locally produced gas expensive The government’s decision on reducing taxes on the import of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has liberalised imports and made the locally produced gas very expensive. The reduction in taxes has made imported gas cheaper by up to Rs21 per kilogramme to Rs95 for the distributors compared to the one locally produced and sold at Rs116 per kg to them. Both the gases, however, are sold at a uniform price of Rs130 per kg in retail in Karachi and other parts of the southern region of the country and at Rs130-140…
PAKISTAN NEWS: Huawei Launches the Midrange Y9 2019 in Pakistan: It’s that time of the year again. Huawei is bringing their best midranger to the market. The company is gearing to launch the next-level Huawei Y9 2019, the successor to last year’s Huawei Mate 10 lite. The device features an elegant and sleek design and hard-hitting specs that make it a must-have. People can pre-order the device from Oct. 25 – Nov. 02, 2018 for PKR 37,999/- and win exciting gifts. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] Uber Lends Support to NIC for Bootcamp for Disabled People: Uber joined hands with the…
EFU General wins 13th consumers choice award 2018 EFU General has been awarded the 13th Consumers Choice Award 2018 in the Category of Best General Insurance Company of Pakistan. Mr. Altaf Qamruddin Gokal, Chief Financial Officer received this award. The Consumers Association of Pakistan (CAP) organized this magnificent event at Pearl Continental Hotel, Karachi. Mr. Sardar Masood Khan, President, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Mr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Federal Minister, IT & Telecom distributed the awards. The ceremony was graced by high profile personalities from the government, public and private sectors. These awards are especially gratifying as the winners are…
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 8.22 8.72 2 – Week 8.26 8.76 1 – Month 8.31 8.81 3 – Month 8.76 9.01 6 – Month 9.34 9.59 9 – Month 9.57 10.07 1 – Year 9.78 10.28 2 – Year 10.23 10.73 3- Year 10.56 11.06
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””] Terence Huw Edwards, Loughborough University; Christian Soegaard, University of Warwick, and Mustapha Douch, Aston University[/box] Over the past few months, we have been investigating how the vote of June 23 2016 has since affected the values and patterns of Britain’s trade with major trading partners inside and outside the European Union. By comparing trade flows with a model of what UK trade flows would have looked like had the UK voted to stay in the EU, we can clearly see that British exports to both EU and non-EU countries have taken a hit. The very…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””] Haridimos Tsoukas, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick[/box] Siemens chief, Joe Kaeser has pulled out of the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, dubbed “Davos in the Desert”, amid outrage at the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Speaking on CNN, he said: “We are the ones who need to fix the issues … We are the ones who have the responsibility to show our people the way and find a win-win solution.” It was a tough decision. Siemens employs more than 2,000 people in Saudi Arabia and has significant business interests in the country.…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Anne Gallagher President, International Catholic Migration Commission[/box] Integration is the delicate, critical transition of the migrant from outsider to insider – the process by which migrants become a part of their new community. Successful integration is hard to measure because it is multilayered, touching every part of the migrant experience, from education to housing, political participation and civic engagement. We might not be able to capture it well, but few doubt its importance. While many migration issues remain hotly contested, integration is widely considered to be a good thing for migrants and for the societies they…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Johnny Wood Writer, Formative Content[/box] In the Italian city of Bologna, people are rewarded for cycling, walking and taking public transport. Bella Mossa (Italian for “good job”) is the brainchild of urban planner Marco Amadori. The anti-pollution scheme aims to reduce car journeys and boost “green” travel with incentives like beer, ice cream or cinema tickets for participants who complete eco-friendly walks and rides. Inhabitants of Bologna can download an app which uses GPS tracking to record their journeys. Each walk or trip by bike or bus earns points, which can be built up and exchanged…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Published in collaboration with the Wilson Center This article is part of the World Economic Forum’s Geostrategy platform[/box] Over the past decade, the Arctic Council (AC) has evolved into the pre-eminent international forum for addressing Arctic issues. Among other things, it now boasts a permanent Secretariat and an Indigenous Peoples Secretariat. It has also helped establish a number of other entities, including the Arctic Economic Council, the Arctic Coast Guard Forum and the Arctic Offshore Regulators’ Forum, writes Ambassador David Balton in Will the Task Force on Arctic Marine Cooperation Deliver? The AC has also served as the…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Brigitte van de Pas, Oct 19, 2018[/box] Coming from the Netherlands, the German Autobahn is like a dream: hundreds and hundreds of kilometers of asphalt to be conquered at a sweeping 180 km/hour or even faster in some places. But are the German roads anywhere close to being the best in the world? The World Economic Forum’s new Global Competitiveness Report allows us to compare the countries with the best quality of roads and the best road connectivity. According to this report, Singapore has the world’s best road quality, followed by Switzerland and the Netherlands. When it comes to the extensiveness and condition of the…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Niall McCarthy, Oct 19, 2018[/box] Earlier this week, the World Economic Forum released its annual study on the competitiveness of the global economy. One of the most important takeaways from the report was an index ranking assessing the microeconomic and macroeconomic foundations of national competitiveness. The World Economic Forum defines national competitiveness as the set of institutions, policies and factors that determine the level of productivity of a country. The core finding of the research this year is how economic competitiveness is evolving and changing in a world that is being transformed by new digital technology. As a result, there…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Felix Richter, Oct 19, 2018[/box] Tech companies, be it idealistic start-ups or well-established billion-dollar empires, often have lofty aspirations. Countless app makers, device manufacturers and internet companies set out to connect the planet, help people live happier, healthier, more fulfilled lives and ultimately, to quote the great Michael Jackson, heal the world and make it a better place. But can they actually do it? Can technology help solve the world’s biggest and most pressing challenges, e.g. poverty, hunger and climate change? According to the “Digital Society Index”, a report recently published by the Dentsu Aegis Network and…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Martin Armstrong, Oct 19, 2018[/box] The term ‘smartphone addiction’ is by now pretty well-established (you can take a test here to see if you might be a sufferer). Even for those who don’t quite meet the definition of an addict, our phones are with us pretty much all of the time nowadays and most people find themselves reaching for the device during all kinds of activities and times of day. A recent YouGov survey looked at specific situations to reveal when people in the UK most frequently use their mobile phones in some way. [ads1] You will find more infographics at Statista
Market Review The benchmark index started off on a negative note, however, managed to close in green in the outgoing week, exhibiting an increase of 2.4%WoW to 38,430pts, post imposition of regulatory duties on luxury and non-essential items to control the rising import bill. During the week, market participation improved as evident from ADT which increased by 13%WoW, however, ADTV declined by 5%WoW. However, foreign investors continued to remain net seller, exhibiting an outflow of USD19mn. During the week, Indus Motor Company increased the price of its vehicles in the range of PKR50k – PKR175k for the deliveries in Nov’18/Dec’18…
Market recovers 2.4pc wow after recent bearish trend Summary The stock remained declining since Sept 24 and the KSE-100 index from 41,000 came down as low as 36,000. There was recovery in the market and KSE-100 index climbed to 38,430.27 on this Friday on expectation of some hectic meetings between brokers and assurance by Finance Minister. On this Saturday meeting is expected at PSX Building Karachi with the Finance Minister. On Friday AGM of Pakistan Stock Exchange also took place. The KSE-100 index gained 912.34 points during the week with average volume increased to 199m shares and market capitalization improve…
Puppeteer Caroll Spinney who brought Big Bird to life on the iconic children’s television series since its debut in 1969 is retiring. Photo: AFP Published in Geo, on Oct 18th, 2018, NEW YORK: After nearly 50 years on Sesame Street, the actor who has brought Big Bird to life on the iconic children’s television series since its debut in 1969 is retiring. Puppeteer Caroll Spinney, who also plays Oscar the Grouch, has hand-picked his successors to play the two roles — after mentoring them for more than two decades. “Big Bird brought me so many places, opened my mind and nurtured…
Published in Arynews, on Oct 17th, 2018, NEW YORK: Academy Award winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has won the 2018 Eliasson Global Leadership Prize awarded by The Tällberg Foundation in New York. The filmmaker and activist, who has previously won accolades for highlighting social issues through the medium of film, is the first Pakistani to win the prestigious award. The award recognises Sharmeen as arguably one of the most articulate global storytellers of her generation. “Her film work aims at bringing attention to issues that societies find deeply uncomfortable to acknowledge, and then telling stories in ways that are compelling enough…
Published in Geo, on Oct 17th, 2018, The Donkey King is not only breaking box office records and winning the hearts of the old and young alike but is also satisfying taste buds. The owner of an ice cream parlour in Sargodha seeing the popularity of the movie decided to name one of the flavours Donkey King. “Geo launched The Donkey King which is an outclass movie. We decided to come and taste the ice cream named after it,” said a customer at the ice cream parlour. Children at the parlour were also excited to taste the new flavour and said…
14-year-old Hammad Kamara has received lots of positive praise Published in BBC, on Oct 17th, 2018, UK rapper Dave has praised the talent of a 14-year-old boy who has made an animated version of his number one hit. Funky Friday knocked Calvin Harris and Sam Smith off the number one spot on Friday. However, Dave and Fredo were not the only winners. Hammad Kamara produced an animated version of the song, which already has over 65,000 views. In response to the animation, Dave tweeted: “Wow. Super talented kid!” Speaking to the BBC’s Kash Jones, Kamara said: “I never knew he…
Published in msn, on Oct 17th, 2018, Bryn Elise Sandberg HBO is doling out raises to its Westworld stars. The leading actors of the Emmy-nominated HBO series have scored salary increases in advance of the sci-fi drama’s third season, often the point in a successful show’s cycle when contracts are re-evaluated. Like many other series with ensemble casts, the Westworld actors are divided into multiple pay tiers, with only the first grouping — made up of Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright and Thandie Newton — said to be part of these contract negotiations. According to sources, the foursome are each making roughly $250,000…
Fulham owner Shahid Khan has withdrawn his controversial offer to buy London’s Wembley Stadium. Photo: Reuters Published in Geo, on Oct 18th, 2018, Shahid Khan has withdrawn his controversial offer to buy London’s Wembley Stadium, the American businessman announced on Wednesday. The Football Association, Wembley’s current owners, had come under fire from many within its own ranks for a plan to sell. English football’s governing body had also investigated allegations of “systemic corruption” surrounding the proposed sale. Khan — the owner of London-based Premier League side Fulham — offered to buy the stadium for £600 million ($800 million), in a…
John Cena is now an accomplished author too Published in Sportskeeda, on Oct 18th, 2018, By Riju Dasgupta What’s the story? John Cena is perhaps the most successful WWE superstar in history. He has made his way to Hollywood as well and is an accomplished box office name. And now he has added yet another accolade to his list of notable accomplishments. As revealed by WrestleZone, he’s also a New York Times Bestselling author. In case you didn’t know… John Cena has accomplished much in his WWE career. When the company went PG, they chose Cena to be the face of the…
Published in Samaa, on Oct 18th, 2018, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairperson Ehsan Mani said that India has a “hypocritical” stance when it comes to playing bilateral series, ESPN Cricinfo reported. “There is a lot of hypocrisy at the moment. India plays ICC events against us but doesn’t play bilateral series,” he said. “That is something that we need to address,” he added. “The Indian public obviously love to see India and Pakistan playing, and so does the Pakistani public.” He said that bilateral series between Pakistan and India help “increase people-to-people contact”. [ads1] “Indian fans come to Pakistan. Hundreds…
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Floyd Mayweather have both defeated Conor McGrego Published in BBC, on Oct 17th, 2018, Boxer Floyd Mayweather has told UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov to “come into my world” and make a bout happen that he believes will earn him more than his fight with Conor McGregor. The American, 41, beat McGregor in August 2017 in a fight that generated more than £450m and earned him £210m. Nurmagomedov, after defeating the Irishman on his return to UFC, then called out Mayweather himself. “When I face Khabib, of course I am getting a nine-figure payday,” he said. “More than the McGregor fight. Probably…
Published in Dawn, on Oct 15th, 2018, By Abu Bakar Bilal Wrestler Inayatullah made history for Pakistan on Monday by winning Pakistan’s first medal in the 2018 Youth Olympics being conducted in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Inayatullah, won a bronze medal in the Youth Olympics by defeating an American wrestler. The Pakistani wrestler, who is also patroned Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), had competed in the 65 kilogramme freestyle category. This is not the first time Inayatullah had brought honour to Pakistan, in 2017 he also won an Under-17 world title in the Beach World Wrestling Championship held in Turkey. [ads1]…
Alvarez (left) will take on Liverpool’s Rocky Fielding in New York on 15 December Published in BBC, on Oct 17th, 2018, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez says he has signed a “historic” contract after agreeing a £278m ($365m) deal with streaming service DAZN. The Mexican, who holds the WBA and WBC world middleweight titles, has signed a five-year, 11-fight deal that could be the most lucrative in sports history. The 28-year-old said he was “humbled” to be selected for the contract. Alvarez’s first bout of the deal sees him step up to super-middleweight to face Rocky Fielding on 15 December. “Being part…
A member of the U.S. Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) acknowledges family members after they illegally crossed the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in Fronton, Texas, October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Adrees Latif Published in Reuters, on Oct 19th, 2018, by Susan Heavey, Sofia Menchu WASHINGTON/GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to deploy the military and close the southern U.S. border if Mexico does not halt a caravan of Central America migrants heading north, raising the risk of huge disruptions to trade. Stretching almost 2,000 miles (3,200 km), the U.S.-Mexican border is one of the busiest…
Published in Dawn, on Oct 19th, 2018, United States (US) Defence Secretary Jim Mattis on Friday said the killing of a top Afghan official would not fundamentally change the security situation in Kandahar province. The Taliban claimed responsibility for Thursday’s shooting in the restive southern province that killed anti-Taliban strongman and police chief, General Abdul Raziq. At least two other people died during the attack inside a fortified government compound in Kandahar city that targeted a high-level security meeting. The top commander for US and Nato forces, General Scott Miller, was also present but escaped injury. [ads1] Mattis said he did…
Mr Khan has said the force’s finances are already too far stretched ( AFP ) Published in Independent, on Oct 18th, 2018, By Joe Watts Political Editor Exclusive: London Mayor Sadiq Khan has written to the prime minister warning it will hit the Met’s ability to fight violent crime London’s police force faces £130m of new costs every year due to a government change in the way officers’ pensions are run. The money – enough to pay for some 2,000 officers – would be pulled from the Met’s coffers just as it is being pushed to find almost £1bn of savings up to…
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe of China met for an hour and a half in Singapore on Thursday, as Washington and Beijing seem to be lurching from one crisis to the next. CreditCreditPhil Stewart/Reuters Published in The New York Times, on Oct 18th, 2018, By Helene Cooper SINGAPORE — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis tried to lower the temperature on the array of hostilities between Washington and Beijing on Thursday, saying it is up to the militaries of the two competing global superpowers to act as a stabilizing force amid rising political tensions. During an hour-and-a-half meeting with…
HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT Published in BBC, on Oct 17th, 2018, The Labour leadership has distanced itself from suggestions by some Labour MPs that Brexit is more important than dealing with bullying in the Commons. Several top figures, including Emily Thornberry, have said John Bercow must stay on as Speaker to ensure MPs have a decisive say on the UK’s EU exit. This is despite a damning report into the failure of the Commons authorities to deal with harassment in Parliament. Jeremy Corbyn’s spokesman insisted the two issues should not be “confused”. Ms Thornberry had been expressing a “personal view”, he…
Skills gap? technology itself can solve it As the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) sets in, there are certain concerns that need to be addressed. However, the solutions also lie in itself: using technology to alleviate these issues and contribute to society in a growth-oriented way. One of these concerns is the skills gap – the gap between what employers want or need their employees to be able to do, and what those employees can actually do, as defined by Forbes. Necip Ozyucel, cloud and enterprise group lead at Microsoft Gulf, told at the recent Gitex Technology Week 2018 that it…
India’s nation brand value increases 5% in 2018; US, China dominate most valuable nation brands list India lost one spot to rank as the 9th most valuable nation brand in the world, falling for the second consecutive year in the list of most valuable nation brands, despite its brand value rising 5% from the previous year, according to Brand Finance’s annual Nation Brands 2018 report. During the year 2018, the total national brand value of India was reported at $2,159 billion from $2,046 billion in 2016, the report showed. The US grabbed the first spot in the list again with…
Early exit from FATF grey list improbable Pakistan is unlikely to have an easy exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, as the provisional assessment reveals that Islamabad is fully or partially non-compliant with 28 out of 40 recommendations, said highly placed government sources. The staggering non-compliance figure, which makes up 70% of the total recommendations, suggests that the authorities have to double their efforts to exit the grey list in the next one year. A report by the Asia Pacific Group (APG) –an FATF styled regional body – has provisionally assessed Pakistan aimed at highlighting the…
PAKISTAN NEWS Paypal Service promotion in Pakistan likely: Finance Minister Asad Umar stressed that Pakistan needs a reliable online payment gateway in order to promote the needs of the country’s IT and e-commerce sector. To this end, the Finance Minister signaled his willingness to go meet PayPal’s CEO on the next flight, and convince him to consider the Pakistani market. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] Huawei Collaborates With HEC to Launch ICT Competition Pakistan: Huawei is a leading global Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solution provider. Huawei’s Certification System is well recognized and is becoming a standard for ICT talent cultivation.…
UIT students participate in IEEE SS12: Maker Fair Competition The Usman Institute of Technology (UIT) students participated in the IEEE SS12: Maker Fair Competition held in Sri Lanka last month. SS12 is an innovation challenge organised to recognise the best social innovators around the world. The theme for this year was ‘EMPATHY TO ENGINEERING: SOLUTIONS FOR MACRO ISSUES’ Students from different universities in the world took part in the competition and showed their engineering skills. The final round was held at the National School of Business Management Green University, Sri Lanka. UIT Assistant Professor and Branch Counselor of IEEE UIT…
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 8.33 8.83 2 – Week 8.35 8.85 1 – Month 8.38 8.88 3 – Month 8.74 8.99 6 – Month 9.48 9.73 9 – Month 9.63 10.13 1 – Year 9.85 10.35 2 – Year 10.23 10.73 3- Year 10.51 11.01
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Kiran Trehan, University of Birmingham[/box] Female CEOs of large firms are a rare breed. In the US in 2015, there were more CEOs called John running big companies in the US than women. In 2016, there were only six female CEOs in the firms covered by the FTSE 100 index and 12 in the FTSE 250 index. In the FTSE 100, there were only four women chairs, 185 women on the executive committee out of 991 positions, and 283 board members out of 1,065 positions. There is a similar, but not as stark, underrepresentation in the…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Eleonore Pauwels Research Fellow on Emerging Cybertechnologies, United Nations University Centre for Policy Research[/box] The multilateral system urgently needs to help build a new social contract to ensure that technological innovation, in particular artificial intelligence (AI), is deployed safely and aligned with the ethical needs of a globalizing world. Swarms of bots, Facebook dark posts and fake news websites have claimed online territory, with significant repercussions globally. Just consider a few recent events: in the 2016 US presidential elections, Russia empowered one candidate over another through a massive campaign that included paid ads, fake social media…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Jens Roehrich, University of Bath and Jas Kalra, University of Bath[/box] It’s highly likely that you recognise the building in the picture at the top of this page. The Sydney Opera House is, after all, one of the most famous structures in the world. Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, it attracts over 8m visitors a year and provides a massive boost to the Australian economy. Opened 45 years ago in October 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II, its iconic design of enormous precast concrete shells has won numerous prizes and UNESCO World Heritage site status. Another…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””] Paul Polman Chief Executive Officer, Unilever Myriam Sidibe Senior Fellow, Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, Harvard Kennedy School Val Curtis Director of the Environmental Health Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine[/box] On a recent Monday morning, 20-year-old Sharon Mong’are put on her “Hero for Change” T-shirt and made her way to a health clinic in Kenya to teach new mothers about the importance of washing their hands with soap. It was Oct. 15th, Global Handwashing Day, and hundreds of volunteers like Sharon were deployed in clinics, crèches and schools all over Kenya…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””] Nader Habibi, Brandeis University[/box] The Oct. 2 disappearance of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi at his country’s consulate in Istanbul has put a spotlight on the deteriorating relations between Turkey and the Persian Gulf kingdom. Articles based on anonymous accounts from Turkish officials report that Turkey has video and audio proof that Saudi Arabian agents detained, murdered and dismembered Khashoggi, a sharp critic of his government who lived in Washington, D.C. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the stakes even further when he said that a search of the Saudi consulate showed evidence of toxic…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Ana de Almeida Kumlien, Trinity College Dublin and Paul Coughlan, Trinity College Dublin[/box] Wicked problems are issues so complex and dependent on so many factors that it is hard to grasp what exactly the problem is, or how to tackle it. Wicked problems are like a tangled mess of thread – it’s difficult to know which to pull first. Increasing antibiotic resistance, security of food and energy supply, increasing global warming and wars can all be classed as wicked problems. Since its first definition in 1973, many authors have associated the term “wicked” with water problems,…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Felix Richter, Oct 12, 2018[/box] Throughout the past decade, one of the key challenges for content owners and publishers has been how to get people to pay for digital content that they were used to getting for free. To this day, many people are unwilling to pay for access to a news website, while they have no problem buying a printed newspaper. The lack of a physical, haptic product seems to diminish the perceived value of digital content, notwithstanding the fact that media is mostly consumed digitally these days. One way of getting people to pay for…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Martin Armstrong, Oct 12, 2018[/box] As Brexit negotiations really start to heat up towards the business end of the process, Statista has made a timeline of the key dates and events that lay ahead for the UK and EU as they attempt to move towards the planned end of the transition phase on December 31, 2020. [ads1] You will find more infographics at Statista
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Niall McCarthy, Oct 12, 2018[/box] Eurostat have released an interesting forecast about how long a person can expect to be active in the European labour market during his or her life. The data is measured in years and it’s based on someone who was 15-years-old in 2017. On average, the expected duration of working life in the European Union was 36 years – 3 years longer than in 2000. In individual member states, it ranges from 31.6 years old in Italy to 41.7 years old in Sweden. The data also includes several countries outside the EU and their figures are…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Martin Armstrong, Oct 12, 2018[/box] President Trump has stated his unwillingness to impose any kind of punishment on Saudi Arabia following their alleged involvement in the murder of journalist and permanent U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey. The U.S. is the world’s biggest exporter of arms and according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the biggest importer from the country in 2017 was Saudi Arabia. This infographic uses the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s “trend-indicator values” (TIV). These are based on the known unit production costs of weapons and represent the transfer of military resources rather than…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Niall McCarthy, Oct 12, 2018[/box] Some passports afford their bearers more freedom than others and this week, Japan was named the country with the world’s most powerful passport by the Henley Passport Index. At the beginning of this month, Myanmar granted Japanese citizens visa-free access, meaning visa-Japanese passport holders now have visa-free access or visa-on-arrival access to an impressive 190 countries. Another island nation in Asia, Singapore, is in second place with 189 destinations. France, Germany and South Korea all follow with visa-free travel to 188 jurisdictions. Even though the United States is further down the ranking, the American passport still yields…
Market Review The benchmark index remained bearish throughout the week where KSE100 index declined by 4.4%WoW to 37,518pts. The volatility in KSE100 index remained heightened as wide swings tracked regional indices and governments decision to enter the IMF program. During the week, market participation improved as evident from ADT and ADTV which surged by 55%WoW and 48%WoW, respectively. Foreign investors remained net seller, exhibiting an outflow of USD32.6mn. During the week, PAMA released automobiles data for 1QFY19 wherein auto sales came down by 4%YoY to 58,351 units. However, sales grew by 3%YoY in Sept’18 to 19,345 units, up by 10%MoM.…
Published in Dawn, on Oct 12th, 2018, The Aladdin reboot had its many issues which were a bit hilarious for us to watch but now finally, we know its happening for good. The film’s first teaser is out and its making sure to remind you of everything you loved about the original Disney classic. With the instrumental soundtrack of ‘Arabian Nights’ and ‘Friend like me’ the teaser shows clips of the moment Aladdin finds the magic lamp in the Cave of Wonders. And we have to say, it doesn’t look too shabby. We finally see Mena Massoud as Aladdin but it was…
Published in Variety, on Oct 10th, 2018, By Daniel Holloway Fox will be logistically ready for its pending mega-deal with the Walt Disney Co. to close Jan. 1, top exec Peter Rice told employees Wednesday. According to sources present at a town hall meeting on the Fox lot in Los Angeles, Rice reiterated that the deal is still on track to close sometime in the first half of 2019, either in the first or second quarter. But he said that structure of New Fox — down to elements such as human resources and payroll — will be ready to go by Jan.…
Published in Geo News, on Oct 12th, 2018, Bollywood box office king Rajkumar Hirani believes a new golden age is dawning for the Indian movie industry as filmmakers look outside the box to tell more varied stories. “Before there was a belief that you had to have songs,” said Hirani, the man behind a string of Bollywood hits including the global sensation “3 Idiots”. “Now people are completely experimenting with the subject matter.” Even those directors who continue to include songs are also exploring “much darker themes” — and still enjoying massive box office success, he said. A case in…
Published in ARY News, on Oct 10th, 2018, SAN FRANCISCO: The youth-focused social network Snapchat announced Wednesday it was launching a new slate of original video shows under its own brand in the latest move to spark growth. The shows unveiled under the Snap Originals brand include a new comedy, a mystery thriller and a “docuseries” following rising stars in Laguna Beach, California. Snapchat parent firm Snap Inc. joins internet rivals Facebook, Apple and Google-owned YouTube in developing its own original videos which may be watched on a variety of devices. Last year, Snap announced plans to release original scripted…
Published in Variety, on Oct 10th, 2018, By Chris Willman While final numbers are days away, the hit album looks to be coming in well ahead of hot releases from Twenty One Pilots and Eric Church. The “A Star Is Born” soundtrack is a star in its own right. Sources watching retail reports come in from the album’s first five days of sales say it’s expected to debut with more than 200,000 copies sold in its first week, not accounting for streaming or other forms of consumption. Official figures won’t be announced till Sunday. But if those numbers hold up, it would…
Published in ARY, on Oct 11th, 2018, By Shahid Hashmi DUBAI: Opener Usman Khawaja led Australia to escape with a fighting hundred to thwart Pakistan’s victory bids as the first Test ended in a draw in Dubai on Thursday. It was a pugnacious knock which highlighted how Khawaja had worked hard on his technique to foil a spinning attack on an Asian wicket where his best score in previous five Test was 26. He buried that jinx with a timely hundred to lead Australia’s fightback as Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed made more than one error of judgement, not introducing his best and…
Published in The News, on Oct 10th, 2018 Dubai -World cricket´s governing body will discuss ways to tighten up how various Twenty20 and T10 leagues are sanctioned in the future when it meets next week, a top official said Wednesday. Since the inception of a lucrative Indian Premier League, many ICC member countries have launched their own leagues in what is seen by some as a threat to five-day Test cricket and international cricket fixtures. The latest format showcased in the game is the ICC-sanctioned T10 (10-over-a-side) league held in Sharjah last year. Geoff Allardice, general manager of cricket for…
Lionel Messi is a five-time Ballon d’Or winner Published in BBC, on Oct 10th, 2018 The life of Barcelona and Argentina legend Lionel Messi will be the focus of a new Cirque du Soleil show. The Montreal-based group of performing artists confirmed the show will go on a world tour in 2019, with exact dates and venues yet to be released. Previous shows have been inspired by music artists such as the Beatles and Michael Jackson, but this is will be the first to focus on a sports star. “Cirque du Soleil is a family favourite of ours,” said Messi,…
Published in Gulf News, on Oct 11th, 2018 India captain would prefer to see Dukes balls used for all Tests worldwide Hyderabad, India: Captain Virat Kohli said India should ditch the SG ball for their home games, complaining that it scuffs up too easily and that he would prefer to see Dukes balls used for all Tests worldwide. India thrashed the West Indies by a record innings and 272 runs last week but spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said the SG ball was “disappointing”, and that he preferred Australia’s Kookaburra or Dukes. “The quality of the (SG) balls used to be quite…
Cho Minn Thant, the chief operating officer of Asian Tour Golf teed off opening shot of the tournament at the Karachi Golf Club. – AFP Published in Dawn, on Oct 11th, 2018 Birds were released over fairways and ceremonial drives were struck as international golf returned to Pakistan on Thursday after an 11-year absence. A full field of 132 players from around the globe were teeing up in the Asian Tour’s UMA CNS Open Championship at the Karachi Golf Club, the latest thawing of relations with the militancy-hit country that has spent years in the sporting wilderness. “Coming back to Pakistan is…
Lella Lombardi in 1974. She was the last woman to start a Formula One race, in 1976.CreditCreditKeystone, via Getty Images Published in The New York Times, on Oct 10th, 2018, By Ian Parkes LONDON — A new international motorsport series for women will begin next year, with the goal of finding the first female Formula One champion. Motorsports remain heavily dominated by men, not only behind the wheel but also in the pit lane, garage, workshop and laboratory. While women have had modest success in the top levels of Nascar and IndyCar racing in the past two decades, a female driver has…
Jerome H. Powell, selected by President Trump as Fed chairman, has said that Mr. Trump’s views will not influence the central bank’s decisions.CreditCreditAl Drago for The New York Times Published in The New York Times, on Oct 11th, 2018, By Binyamin Appelbaum President Trump responded to falling stock prices on Thursday by continuing to throw rocks at the Federal Reserve, which he has described as “crazy,” “loco,” “going wild” and “out of control” for slowly raising interest rates against the backdrop of a booming economy. No other modern president has publicly attacked the Fed with such venom or frequency. Indeed, some scholars…
Theresa May’s Brexit proposals have divided her cabinet Published in BBC, on Oct 11th, 2018, Cabinet ministers raised concerns about potential compromises with the EU over Brexit at a No 10 meeting. They are thought to fear the UK will stay in a form of customs union with the EU for an unlimited period, if a trade deal cannot be done in time. No 10 has insisted that any such arrangement would be “time limited”. EU leaders meet in Brussels next week for what European Council President Donald Tusk has called the “moment of truth for Brexit negotiations”. They are…
Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon attends a congress of the far right party ‘Fratelli d’Italia’ in Rome on September 22, 2018. Photo: AFP/Tiziana Fabi Published in Asia Times, on Oct 11th, 2018, By Emanuele Scimia Populist forces, which claim to speak for and represent ordinary people rather than traditional political elites, are gaining ground in Europe, and this presents a challenge for China, experts say. Indeed, though anti-establishment European parties and movements, particularly those currently in power, seem committed to fostering good relations with Beijing, their anti-globalist and protectionist agenda actually goes against the Chinese push for greater openness…
Demonstrators on Monday held pictures of Jamal Khashoggi in front of the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul.CreditCreditOzan Kose/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Published in The New York Times, on Oct 11th, 2018, By Edward Wong, Eric Schmitt and Eileen Sullivan WASHINGTON — The suspected murder of a prominent Saudi journalist exposed a growing rift on Thursday between the White House and Congress over American policy on Saudi Arabia, as Republican lawmakers demanded an investigation of Jamal Khashoggi’s whereabouts even as President Trump declared his relations with Riyadh “excellent.” The Saudi-led, United States-backed bombing campaign of Houthi rebels in Yemen — which has killed thousands of…
Published in Tribune, on Oct 11th, 2018, By Reuters China has no intention of interfering in US politics and hopes Washington would stop finding excuses for its unilateralism and trade protectionism, the Chinese commerce ministry’s spokesperson said on Thursday. Last week, US Vice President Mike Pence accused China of ‘malign’ efforts to undermine President Donald Trump ahead of next month’s congressional elections. Pence also accused China of using its economic might to bully smaller countries. [ads1] China has not engaged in, and will not engage in, “economic invasion”, Gao Feng, the commerce ministry’s spokesperson, said at a weekly briefing. The United…
Abu Dhabi to host major global healthcare congress starting 2019 Abu Dhabi will be hosting a major annual healthcare event starting from next year, as part of strategies to promote the UAE capital into a world-class healthcare hub, authorities said. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) on Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Medical Tourism Association (MTA) to join efforts to position Abu Dhabi as a world-leading medical tourism destination by hosting the MTA’s annual World Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress in Abu Dhabi as a major part of the agreement.…
Huge loss! natural disasters cost India $79.5 billion in economic losses in last 20 years: UN With global environmental organizations constantly warning dire consequences of climate change, a study released by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction has revealed that disaster-related economic losses globally stood at about $3 trillion in the last two decades. India has been among the top five countries with absolute economic losses of about $79.5 billion between 1998 to 2017. The US topped the list with $945 billion of disaster-related economic losses during the period, followed by China ($492 billion), Japan ($376 billion) and India…
IMF projects inflation rate to hit 14pc by June The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that the average inflation rate in Pakistan might hit 14% by June next year – a level that if reached could result in interest rates peaking to 15% and economy drastically slowing down, government sources say. Such a high level inflation would also carry implications for Prime Minister Imran Khan’s most ambitious flagship programme of constructing five-million low-cost housing units. The banks lend money over and above the policy rate, which will reduce the government’s options to give subsidy on housing loans. The sources…
PAKISTAN NEWS: mycart.pk Named ‘Best Online Grocery’ at 13th Consumer Choice Awards: mycart.pk, the leading Pakistani grocery store, has been honored with the Best Online Grocery Store award at the 13th Consumer Choice Awards 2018. The event was held in Karachi at Pearl Continental Hotel. Waqas Pervez – Head of Marketing, Mycart.pk, received the award on behalf of the company. mycart.pk provides a one-stop, enhanced shopping experience to consumers online, for their daily grocery needs and planned purchases of housewares, home textiles, toys, gifts, etc. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] PTA will block all illegal and unregistered phones after October 20:…
Centre specific companies are vital for sustainable growth in exports: Mian Zahid Hussain President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President AKIA, Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister, Mian Zahid Hussain on Wednesday said that worsen economic situation, huge current account deficits, declining foreign reserves and decision to avail another bailout package from IMF has resulted in appreciation of USD by 8 percent. USD is expected to be further appreciated by 9 percent given to availing IMF loan. The decision has also badly affected the stock exchange. On October 8, the PSX-100 index…
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 8.32 8.82 2 – Week 8.38 8.88 1 – Month 8.41 8.91 3 – Month 8.72 8.97 6 – Month 9.32 9.97 9 – Month 9.54 10.04 1 – Year 9.69 10.19 2 – Year 10.01 10.51 3- Year 10.28 10.58
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””] Koldo Casla, Newcastle University[/box] Record numbers of families now rent privately in Britain. Twice as many middle-aged people rent their homes compared to 2008, and it has been estimated that about one-third of millennials will rent for their whole life. Renting the house you live in has its advantages as it gives you greater freedom of movement and saves you other costs: insurance, service charge, deposit, mortgage interest, to name a few. Yet, for most people, renting privately is not really a matter of choice. It is the result of stagnant wages and the fact…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Kristian Teleki Head of the Friends of Ocean Action, Director – Sustainable Ocean Initiative, World Resources Institute[/box] This article is adapted from a keynote speech to G7 Ocean and Environment Ministers in Halifax, Canada, on 20 September 2018. Fighting for the ocean is one of the greatest and defining challenges of our age. Our relationship with the ocean is at a crossroads. Humanity has a clear choice: business as usual, with continuing ocean decline that will harm every area of human development and wellbeing; or deep-seated change in our behaviour, priorities and investments in order to…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””] Brian Bolton, IMD Business School[/box] Kudos to California, where the state governor, Jerry Brown, recently signed into law new requirements for companies headquartered in the state to include more women on their boards. The law will force heavyweights such as Apple, Facebook, Tesla, and Google (Alphabet) to revamp their boards to comply. Supporters believe increasing board diversity is important for both social and economic reasons; that a more diverse pool of directors creates a better board, with different and more innovative perspectives. Opponents of the law question its efficacy, saying it’s like treating a symptom…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Børge Brende President, Member of the Managing Board, World Economic Forum Murat Sönmez Managing Director, Head of Centre for the 4th Industrial Revolution & Global Network, World Economic Forum[/box] At the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2018 in Davos, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his opening address spoke about the transformative impact of technology not only on an individual’s life, their work and their behaviour, but also on international politics and the economy. While the Prime Minister has launched and implemented several forward-looking initiatives to solve the problems of access to finance, starting businesses and energy access among others,…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Rohit T. Aggarwala Head of Urban Systems, Sidewalk Labs Katie Hill Advisor, Omidyar Network Robert Muggah Co-founder, Igarape Institute and SecDev Group[/box] From the crowded markets of Dakar and Karachi to the informal settlements of Addis Ababa and Rio de Janeiro, urban technology seems to be thriving everywhere. Whether used for hitching a ride and navigating grinding traffic or buying coffee and finding a date, smartphones and apps are ubiquitous. To many people living in the world’s low and medium-income metropolises, tech companies like Waze, Uber and their local equivalents seem entirely native. But there’s a…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Niall McCarthy, Oct 8, 2018[/box] Last year, 78,778 doctoral degrees were awarded in the United States with women accounting for 53 percent of that total. That share is a record high and 2017 marks the ninth year running that women have earned the majority of doctoral degrees at U.S. universities. The data was revealed last week as part of the latest CGS/GRE Graduate Enrollment & Degrees: 2007-2017 report by the Council of Graduate Schools. The following infographic provides an overview of the situation across the different subjects covered in the report. In Public Administration and Services (75.6 percent), Health…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Niall McCarthy, Oct 5, 2018[/box] As the leaves turn shades of yellow, crimson and rusty-red, the heat of summer is starting to give way to the wet and windy conditions of fall. For most people, their summer holiday is probably becoming a distant memory as the evenings get shorter and the temperature falls. Some might be lucky enough to still have some vacation time left after summer and their attention will no doubt be turning towards the best way to use the remaining time off. For some, that will mean a quick autumn break or an early…