Marvel sends letter to US politician, asks him to stop dressing as Captain America Published in Geo News on Nov 30th, 2019, Marvel sent a warning to Ben Kallos, New York City council member, to stop using Captain America’s avatar for his political campaign for the US elections 2020. The politician used the Marvels’ name from sharing his pictures in the superhero using the title ‘Superhero Alert’ asking for donations to promote his campaign. Kallos even used the movie’s famed phrase ‘he can do this all day.’ “In all seriousness, while Captain America was pretty busy fighting Hydra, sleeper…
Author: AdminPAGE
Published in Variety on Nov 27th, 2019, By DAVE MCNARY Disney’s “Frozen 2” is heading for a record of at least $140 million over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday in North America, early estimates showed Wednesday. The animated adventure will easily top the $109.9 million record set by “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” in 2013 during the five-day period. “Frozen 2,” which opened on Nov. 22, should go past the $300 million mark by the end of the weekend. The sequel is coming in well above forecasts of $100 million to $120 million during the Thanksgiving holiday. Lionsgate’s opening of mystery comedy…
Published in BBC on Nov 28th, 2019, By Natalie Donovan Former Netflix customers who cancelled their subscription months ago have had their accounts reactivated without their consent. BBC Radio 4’s You & Yours programme has learned that criminals can log in to dormant accounts and reactivate them without knowing users’ bank details. The video streaming service wants it to be easy for customers to rejoin. As a result, customer data is held on the site for 10 months, including billing details. Netflix says this information is available to members who choose to cancel and they will delete it all…
Published in The Nation on Nov 27th, 2019, LOS ANGELES-Billie Eilish has been named Billboard’s 2019 Woman of the Year. The ‘bad guy’ hitmaker will be honoured at the Billboard’s Women in Music event on December 12, adding another accolade to receive before she turns 18. Hannah Karp, Billboard’s Editorial Director, said: ‘’Billie has disrupted the entertainment industry through her music and social media platforms, leaving an indelible impact on the global cultural zeitgeist. Her ability to speak to the Gen-Z population, making teens and young adults feel accepted in today’s society has quickly allowed Eilish to grow to…
Published in Geo News on Nov 28th, 2019, AFP BARCELONA: Lionel Messi marked his 700th game for Barcelona by scoring his 613th goal on Wednesday as the Catalans beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 to go through as group winners to the Champions League last 16. Messi celebrated his anniversary in style by putting Barca two up before half-time, between laying on a pair of assists for Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann in a comfortable victory at Camp Nou. England´s Jadon Sancho fired into the top corner for a late Dortmund consolation but the visitors were largely disappointing and now face…
Manchester City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak (extreme right) celebrates with Sergio Aguero during the presentation ceremony for winning the FA Cup. Image Credit: Reuters Published in Gulf News on Nov 27th, 2019, Matthew Smith, Deputy Editor Sports It’s a testament to the journey that we’ve undertaken, Khaldoon Al Mubarak says Dubai: Manchester City may not be on top of the Premier League at the moment, but they can celebrate being top of the table when it comes to being among the world’s richest clubs. A US private equity firm has bought a $500-million stake in the Abu Dhabi-controlled company…
Pakistan and Sri Lanka will play a two-Test series next month. — Photo: File Published in Geo News on Nov 7th, 2019, By Sohail Imran In a bid to lure cricket fans to stadiums, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly decided to set the ticket price for the upcoming Pakistan-Sri Lanka Test series as low as possible. While limited overs cricket is being staged regularly in the country since 2015, Test cricket has been absent since the infamous 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore. That will change when the islanders return to Pakistan next month…
Published in Ary Sports on Nov 27th, 2019, The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stood firm on their decision to not host home series at neutral venues anymore, ARY News reported. According to the sources, the cricket board is keen to host every Test-playing nation from now onwards as the security situation in the country is under control. The PCB thinks that hosting international matches at neutral venues will cause problems for them for staging the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the country. [ads1] On the other hand, the PCB has contacted Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to brief them…
Rafa Nadal, who will end the 2019 ATP season as the world’s top ranked player. Published in Arabian Business on Nov 27th, 2019, By Sam Bridge Tamdeen Group announces plan for the Rafa Nadal Academy Kuwait which will be officially opened by Spanish star in February Tamdeen Group, Kuwait’s leading mixed-use property developer and Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar on Wednesday announced the launch of the Rafa Nadal Academy Kuwait. Bearing the name of the legendary tennis icon, who will end the 2019 ATP season as the world’s top ranked player, the Rafa Nadal Academy Kuwait will formally open…
Protesters have called on the US to support their movement during mass protests that began in June. [Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters] Published in AlJazeera on Nov 28th, 2019, Trump says he signed bills out of ‘respect’ for China, but country reacts with fury and warns of ‘firm countermeasures’. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law congressional legislation backing protesters in Hong Kong drawing a swift and furious response from Beijing, which promised ‘firm countermeasures’. The legislation, approved unanimously by the Senate – the United States’s upper house – and by all but one member of the House of Representatives – the lower house – last…
“I strongly adhere to the rule of ‘not me, but someone else’ to form a government,” Hariri said. Published in Arabian Business on Nov 27th, 2019, By AFP Demonstrations demanding an overhaul of Lebanon’s entire political system have rocked the small Mediterranean country since mid-October Lebanon’s outgoing prime minister said Tuesday he will not head the next government, in a move intended to speed up the formation of a new cabinet in the protest-swept country. Demonstrations demanding an overhaul of Lebanon’s entire political system have rocked the small Mediterranean country since mid-October, forcing Saad Hariri to announce his cabinet’s…
Kashmir is reeling under a crippling military lockdown and internet blackout for nearly four months [Danish Ismail/Reuters] Published in AlJazeera on Nov 28th, 2019, In video posted by filmmaker, India’s consul general to US seems to advocate Israel-like settlements of Kashmiri Hindus. A senior Indian diplomat has triggered a controversy by calling for the adoption of an “Israeli model” in Indian-administered Kashmir, which is reeling under a crippling military lockdown and internet blackout for nearly four months now. An hour-long video featuring Sandeep Chakravorty, India’s consul general in New York, has gone viral on social media, in which he is addressing a group of…
Published in Arabian Business on Nov 26th, 2019, By AFP Coalition says will also allow patients needing medical care to be flown out of Sanaa airport The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Huthi rebels said Tuesday it will release 200 insurgents, as efforts pick up pace to end the conflict in the impoverished country. Patients needing medical care will also be allowed to be flown out of Sanaa airport, which has been closed to commercial flights since 2016, coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said, quoted by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The coalition had decided “to release 200 prisoners of…
GULF STATES – ECONOMICS & FINANCE Emirates launches special fares on UAE’S national day Emirates airline has launched special fares to mark the UAE’s National Day celebrations this year. A number of UAE residents will fly out of the country next week due to the long weekend on the eve of National Day holidays. The Dubai carrier has asked passengers to leave early for the airport due to a heavy rush of passengers from November 28 until next week. The Dubai-based carrier has launched discounted fares to a number of countries across Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe and Australia. Interestingly,…
ECONOMIC TIMES OF PAKISTAN Chinese investors keen to pour $2 bn into PSX Chinese investors have expressed keen interest in pouring at least $2 billion into Pakistan’s stock market. “Small Chinese stockbrokers having $52 billion in assets under management have shown interest in investing at least $2 billion in shares at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX),” announced PSX Chairman Sulaiman S Mehdi on Friday, as the bourse was being integrated with regional and international stock markets at a cost of $2.85 million. The Chinese investors expressed the interest in a meeting held last week in China. Low share prices hovering…
Multidimensional Pak-US relationship is in the larger strategic interest of both nations: Ali J. Siddiqui Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), one of the world’s leading international relations and national security think tank, invited Ambassador Ali Jehangir Siddiqui to speak on the scope of an evolving Pak-US relationship that looks beyond common security interests. Senior scholars and policy influencers Daniel Runde and Seth Jones engaged in a series of conversations with Ambassador Siddiqui on topics including the limited scope of the current US-Pak relationship, future of economic partnerships, CPEC, and regional connectivity at the CSIS headquarters in Washington. The…
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 13.07 13.57 2 – Week 13.09 13.59 1 – Month 13.14 13.64 3 – Month 13.39 13.64 6 – Month 13.36 13.61 9 – Month 13.11 13.61 1 – Year 13.06 13.56 2 – Year 12.37 12.87 3- Year 11.72 12.22
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Joanna Rubinstein President & CEO, World Childhood Foundation, USA Lina Fernandez Special Projects Manager, World Childhood Foundation USA[/box] This year the World Wide Web celebrates its 30th anniversary. In that time, the internet has transformed every facet of our lives, from how we learn and work, to stimulating economic growth and increasing access to markets. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most widely ratified convention in the world. As we mark both birthdays, it is important to take stock of how this transformational technology…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Ian Jones, University of Leeds; Anthony Whiteing, University of Leeds, and Greg Marsden, University of Leeds[/box] Black Friday and the ensuing Cyber Monday are once again upon us. Billions will be spent trying to snag a bargain in the approach to Christmas. But as scrutiny turns to whether or not the deals on offer are genuine discounts, as opposed to marketing tricks, spare a thought for the thousands of extra deliveries that will be made and the resulting congestion, CO₂ emissions, and stress that this shopping holiday creates. The logistics of meeting the rising number of…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Katharine Rooney Senior Writer, Formative Content[/box] Whales store huge amounts of CO2 They support the growth of phytoplankton, which stores 40% of all carbon produced A 1% increase in phytoplankton productivity is equivalent to 2 billion mature trees They are majestic, massive and mysterious – and they could hold a secret for combating climate change. Now, researchers have put a price on the value that whales bring to the world. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated the value of a single great whale at more than $2 million – which comes to more than $1…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Kate Kelland Correspondent, Reuters This article is published in collaboration with Thomson Reuters Foundation trust.org[/box] A global study has found children are particularly vulnerable to the health risks of a changing climate because their bodies are still developing If limited action is taken, the study found children would be vulnerable to malnutrition and rising food prices Scientists called for urgent action to reduce outdoor and indoor pollution through the introduction of cleaner fuels and vehicles Children are particularly vulnerable to the health risks of a changing climate, as their bodies and immune systems are still developing,…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Emma Farge This article is published in collaboration with Reuters[/box] The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rose from 405.5 parts per million in 2017 to 407.8 ppm in 2018 The World Meteorological Organization found the annual increase in another greenhouse gas methane was the highest since 1998 The figures come ahead of the U.N. climate change summit in Madrid next week Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere hit a new record in 2018, exceeding the average yearly increase of the last decade and reinforcing increasingly damaging weather patterns, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Katica Roy CEO, Pipeline[/box] The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) upends current economic frameworks. Who makes money – and how – has changed. Demographics have changed. Even the skills that brought our society to where we are today have changed. Leaders must account for these transformations or risk leaving behind their companies, their customers and their constituents. The top three economic frameworks in most urgent need of a 4IR overhaul include income generation, labour force participation and gross domestic product (GDP) measures. Let’s unpack these concepts one at a time and redefine what they mean as we…
A.P. Moller — Maersk enables its customers to trade and grow by transporting goods anywhere. Maersk works to provide customers with a simple end-to-end offering of products and services, seamless customer engagement and a superior end-to-end delivery network, taking the complexity out of global supply chains. As Maersk is striving to be a true integrator of container logistics connecting and simplifying their customers’ supply chain through global solutions they just made their customers´ life a lot easier. Regardless of your industry, your commodity, or your key markets, they have solutions that offer both small and large business the opportunity to…
Roller coaster week adding up 342 points to close at 37,926 Summary During the week two important political events were concluded. JUI-F party ended their Azadi March. The decision to allow permission to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to travel abroad for medical treatment. On economic front the investors had expectation of some positive announcement of monetary policy on November 22 due to reduction in National Savings Scheme and higher than expected inflation for October. On the economic front the good news of current account rises into surplus by $99 million in October and the jump of foreign investment by…
GULF STATES – ECONOMICS & FINANCE 75PC of UAE companies don’t set aside assets for end-of-service gratuities Three quarters of companies in the UAE do not set aside specific assets for end-of-service benefits, according to a new survey from Swiss insurer Zurich. The study follows up on a similar report in 2016, which found 83 percent cover their end-of-service liabilities from their operating cash flow. “It still indicates that there is a dearth of setting funding aside for end-of-service benefits,” says Reena Vivek, senior executive officer at Zurich Workplace Solutions, a new entity in the process of being incorporated in…
Pakistan’s external debt, liabilities rise $600mn Pakistan’s total external debt and liabilities increased $600 million to $106.9 billion in first quarter (Jul-Sept) of the current fiscal year as the country borrowed more, mainly from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to improve its international payment capacity. External debt and liabilities had gone up by $500 million to $106.3 billion in the previous quarter ended June 30, 2019, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported on Friday. However, the figure swelled $10.2 billion in the past one year as it had been at $96.1 billion on September 30, 2018, the central bank…
TPL sponsors 58th Sindh open boys swimming championship TPL Corp, a technology driven conglomerate, was the proud Sponsor of the 58th TPL Sindh Open Boys Swimming Championship this year. Organized by the Sindh Swimming Association (SSA), the three-day championship is one of the largest sporting events of the province with over 400 contestants from schools, colleges and recreational clubs. Swimmers compete in six age groups, the open age category and races from the Special Olympics Squad. Held at the Karachi Parsi Institute (KPI) recently, the event was live streamed by Sports Vision. The first day kicked off with a grand…
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 13.07 13.57 2 – Week 13.09 13.59 1 – Month 13.13 13.63 3 – Month 13.35 13.60 6 – Month 13.30 13.55 9 – Month 13.05 13.55 1 – Year 13.02 13.52 2 – Year 12.41 12.91 3- Year 11.74 12.24
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Andrew J Tanentzap, University of Cambridge[/box] Lakes and ponds are the final resting place for many of the Earth’s plants. Rivers collect much of the planet’s dead organic matter, transporting it to rest in calmer waters. But on a microscopic scale, lakes are anything but calm. An invisible metropolis of microbes feeds on these logs and leaves, producing greenhouse gases as a byproduct. As a result, lakes may be responsible for as much as a quarter of the carbon in the atmosphere – and rising. New research conducted with my colleagues in Cambridge, Germany and Canada…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Sean de Cleene Member of the Executive Committee, Head of the Future of Food, World Economic Forum[/box] If we are to achieve the UN’s SDGs by 2030, immediate and urgent action is required to transform how food is produced, accessed, valued and consumed. Recognition of this need is growing, driven by rapidly increasing concerns regarding diet-related health effects, the damage to ecosystem services, links to climate change and distress among multiple millions of small-scale food producers. The transformation of our food systems is an idea whose time has come but which poses one of the greatest…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Deljana Iossifova, University of Manchester; Purva Dewoolkar, University of Manchester, and Youcao Ren, University of Manchester[/box] Don’t take toilets for granted. Their connection to a managed sewage disposal system protects you from diseases and infections that can stunt your growth, harm your nutrition and even kill you. For some 670 million people, this basic service is not provided. In rapidly growing cities in low and middle income countries, expensive serviced residential areas stand alongside makeshift settlements, whose poorer residents lack access to sanitation and suffer from preventable diseases and infections. In India, for instance, more than…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Dan Schawbel Partner and research director, Future Workplace[/box] Artificial intelligence (AI) will impact every job, in every industry and every country. There are significant fears that AI will eliminate jobs altogether. Many reports have exposed the harsh realities of workforce automation, especially for certain types of jobs and demographics. For instance, the Brookings Institution found that automation threatens 25% of all US jobs, with an emphasis on low-wage earners in positions where tasks are routine-based. A separate study by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research found that women comprise 58% of jobs at highest risk of automation. Yet despite these realities,…
One of the top notch hotel in Karachi, ‘Hotel Mehran’ inaugurated a three day ‘Bar-Be-Que’ Festival. A Three day food festival was started on Friday evening November 01 till 03 November 2019 at the ‘Killay Restaurant’ of the hotel. During the festival, His Excellency Bakheet Ateeq Al-Romaithi, Counselor, Consulate of the United Arab Emirates was the chief guest who also inaugurated the Bar-Be-Que Festival. Speaking to ‘The News Vision’, Counselor of UAE said that Pakistan and Dubai enjoys a very cordial relationship in various fields of interest and with each passing day our relations are further strengthening. Giving his views…
Bulls toss KSE-100 4.7% WoW, near 36,000 mark Summary The positivity in the economic scenario emerged for the investors as the IMF delegate concluded its mission on Friday lauding government’s performance. Higher than expected Oct. CPI inflation up 11.04pc YoY. Prospect of cut in policy rate in the upcoming monetary policy. Downward adjustment in rates of National Saving Schemes. Pakistan maintains weight in MSCI EM Index are some forward moving indicators for the stock exchange. On the political front government-opposition talks stall over call for PM’s exit and the Azadi March postponed its plan to march towards D-Chowk while it…
Published in Ary News on Nov 7th, 2019, Syed Omer Nadeem Actress Mahira Khan has been appointed as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Goodwill Ambassador of Pakistan. UNHCR, the refugee agency took to Twitter to make the announcement. They are “delighted” that she is joining them. The 34-year-old actress wrote, “Grateful and honored” to be a UNCHR goodwill ambassador for Pakistan. She went on to write about how proud she is, being born in a country that is taking refugees for more than 40 years with arms wide open. “I feel privileged to have been chosen to…
Top Hollywood film critics have also endorsed Martin Scorsese’s position. Photo: Marvel Published in Geo on Nov 7th, 2019, LOS ANGELES: Martin Scorsese’s dismissal of Marvel films as “not cinema” has split Hollywood and moviegoers, sparking reactions from full-blooded support to accusations of hypocrisy and elitism. The Oscar-winning director penned a New York Times op-ed this week in which he argued superhero blockbusters lack the sense of risk, mystery and complex characters vital to the “art” of filmmaking. Marvel films are “market-researched, audience-tested, vetted, modified, revetted and remodified until they´re ready for consumption,” wrote the Goodfellas director. “They lack something essential to cinema:…
Published in Samaa on Nov 6th, 2019, Documentaries based on the lives of slain T2F founder Sabeen Mahmud and trained classical dancer and women rights activist Sheema Kermani won big at the South Asian Film Festival of Montreal. Meanwhile, Indus Blues, another documentary on Pakistan’s folk music claimed the Jury award for Best Documentary Feature. After Sabeen After Sabeen’s Director Schokofeh Kamiz followed Sabeen’s mother and friends to record not only her accounts and memories, but also to create a portrait of the woman the German director did not know. The short documentary won the Director’s Choice Award at the film…
Published in Geo on Nov 5th, 2019, Legendary playwright Anwar Maqsood, who last wrote the script for the critically acclaimed Naach Na Jaanay that concluded earlier this year after successful spells in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, is back in the spotlight. While we wait for the announcement of Maqsood’s next project, we can see the man live in action later this month. The 84-year-old will take the stage later this month, in his one-man show, called Faqat Anwar. The segment will feature storytelling, letter reading and recitation by the man himself. [ads1] “Witness the legend, Anwar Maqsood, in his one man…
Published in Ary News on Nov 6th, 2019, Reuters Doris Day’s four Golden Globe awards, her piano, and a collection of her gowns are among 800 items going up for auction next year, along with dozens of artifacts reflecting her passion for animals, Julien’s Auctions said on Wednesday. Day, the cheery, girl-next-door who was one of the biggest stars of the 1950s and 1960s, died in May at the age of 97 in the Carmel, California, home she had made her refuge from Hollywood. The auction in April 2020 will also include dozens of pieces of her furniture, art…
Published in Cricket Pakistan on Nov 7th, 2019, Former the Men in Green head coach was optimistic about the team’s future Former Pakistan Head Coach Mickey Arthur believes that the Men in Green will become a formidable Twenty20 unit once again, despite the recent dip in form. Pakistan have won none of their previous five T20I matches, with three losses at home against Sri Lanka and a washout followed by a defeat against Australia — going one-nil down in the ongoing three-match series. While talking during a television show, Arthur said that the team’s confidence will be restored once…
Half of the funds will go toward storing samples from pre-Olympics testing for 10 years. — Reuters/File Published in Dawn on Nov 6th, 2019, KATOWICE: The incoming leader of the World Anti-Doping Agency asked for more money. The International Olympic Committee said “Yes.” IOC president Thomas Bach pledged $10 million to fight doping in sports, half of which would go toward storing samples from pre-Olympics testing for 10 years and the other half toward investigations and research. It was a fitting entre for Witold Banka, the incoming president of WADA who, after taking the stage following Bach’s presentation at…
Published in Ary News on Nov 6th, 2019, By Reuters ZURICH: Global soccer’s governing body FIFA said on Wednesday it has told Iraq to play two 2022 World Cup qualifiers they were due to host this month at a neutral venue due to the security situation in the country. Iraq played their first competitive match on home territory for eight years last month when they hosted Hong Kong in a World Cup qualifier in the southern city of Basra where this month’s games were also scheduled to be played. However, they must again look for an alternative venue for their…
IOC’s decision to move 2020 Olympic marathon and race-walking events from Tokyo to Sapporo was taken after after seeing athletes struggle to cope with hot and humid conditions at the world championships in Doha in September. — AFP/File Published in Dawn on Nov 6th, 2019, TOKYO: Japanese athletics officials on Tuesday slammed the decision to move the 2020 Olympic marathon and race-walking events from Tokyo to Sapporo, saying the move did not put competitor interests first. The IOC ordered the move last month after seeing athletes struggle to cope with hot and humid conditions at the world championships in…
Pakistan last hosted India’s Davis Cup team in Lahore in March 1964 [File: AP] Published in AlJazeera on Nov 5th, 2019, by Saba Aziz ITF decides to relocate Davis Cup from Islamabad citing safety concerns amid cross-border tensions over Kashmir. A highly anticipated Davis Cup tennis fixture between India and Pakistan this month has been moved from Islamabad to a neutral venue due to security concerns amid heightened political tensions over the disputed Kashmir region. The decision by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on Monday was condemned by the Pakistani side as “discriminatory” and “unfair”, but welcomed by the All India Tennis Association (AITA). “The ITF and Davis…
Kuwaiti demonstrators take part in a demonstration against corruption in Kuwait City Published in Arabian Business on Nov 7th, 2019, The demonstrators called on speaker of parliament Marzouq al-Ghanim to step down Hundreds protested in front of Kuwait’s parliament on Wednesday evening against the state’s perceived unwillingness to fight corruption, in a country where such events have periodically triggered political crises. The demonstrators called on speaker of parliament Marzouq al-Ghanim to step down. Speaker of parliament Marzouq al-Ghanim “Resign! Resign, Marzouq, the Kuwaiti people don’t want you!”, they chanted. Other lawmakers have accused the speaker of corruption. The…
Published in AlJazeera on Nov 7th, 2019, Latest step means Fordow facility will move from its permitted status as a research plant to an active nuclear site. Iran stepped up activity at its underground Fordow nuclear plant early on Thursday – a move France said showed for the first time that Tehran explicitly planned to quit a historic deal with world powers that curbed its disputed nuclear work. “With the presence of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran started injecting [uranium] gas into centrifuges in Fordow,” state television reported. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran also confirmed…
Published in Independent on Nov 7th, 2019, Lizzy Buchan Chancellor seeking to get on the front foot after a bruising few days for the Tories Sajid Javid will compare Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell to “anti-vaxxers” who refuse to listen to the experts over the economy. In his first appearance on the campaign trail, the chancellor will liken his Labour rivals to those who oppose immunisation, claiming they could heal the country but would prefer it “sick and unhealthy again”. Mr Javid will seek to get on the front foot after a bruising few days for the Tories, which saw Welsh secretary Alun Cairns…
Published in Gulf News on Nov 7th, 2019, This will mark the start of his fourth term as the President of the UAE Abu Dhabi: The UAE Supreme Council has re-elected His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan as President of the UAE for a fourth five-year term. The Council expressed its deep confidence in the wise leadership of the President, the Council statement said, praying that he would continue to lead the UAE to strengthen the pillars of the Union and its prosperity and fulfil the aspirations of its honourable people, WAM reported. Shaikh Khalifa was first…
Those charged were Twitter employees Ali Alzabarah and Ahmad Abouammo, along with Ahmed Almutairi, a marketing official with ties to the royal family [File: Amr Nabil/AP] Published in AlJazeera on Nov 7th, 2019, Two Saudi citizens, one American, accused of working together to unmask ownership of dissident Twitter accounts. Saudi Arabia’s government, frustrated by growing criticism of its leaders and policies on social media, recruited two Twitter employees to gather confidential personal information on thousands of accounts that included prominent opponents, prosecutors alleged on Wednesday. The complaint unsealed in US District Court in San Francisco detailed a coordinated effort by Saudi…
Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Lindsey Graham (R-SC) speaks during the reauthorization of Freedom Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 6, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts Published in Reuters on Nov 7th, 2019, WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican and Democratic U.S. senators asked President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday to let them know – and to respond with touch sanctions – if reports are true that Turkey is violating a ceasefire agreement in Syria. “Given the stakes, time is of the essence,” Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Marsha Blackburn and Democratic Senators Chris Van Hollen, Richard Blumenthal and Jeanne…
GULF STATES – ECONOMICS & FINANCE GCC launches investigation to protect steel industry The GCC has started a safeguard investigation on certain steel products to protect the region’s domestic steel industry, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has said. Oman, which is the president of the Cooperation Council for the GCC, submitted the application to the WTO on behalf of the member states. A safeguard investigation seeks to determine whether increased imports of a product are causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury to a domestic industry. During a safeguard investigation, importers, exporters, and other interested parties may present evidence and…
ECONOMIC TIMES OF PAKISTAN Pakistan decides to continue supplying imported lng Pakistan decided on Friday to continue supplying imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) to two power plants, even after their privatisation, for six more years, which the Power Division claimed would place an extra burden of Rs471 billion on consumers due to a high fuel cost. For the second consecutive meeting, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet discussed a summary of the Power Division about gas sale and power purchase issues related to the National Power Parks Management Company Limited (NPPMCL). NPPMCL owns two power plants located at…
PMEX posts highest ever profit for fy June-2019 Pakistan Mercantile Exchange Limited (PMEX), the country’s only multi-commodity futures exchange, has posted the highest-ever profit after tax for the financial year ended June 30, 2019 (FY19), since commencement of its operations in 2007. The Exchange has earned profit after tax of PKR 52.347 million for the FY19. The operating income of the Exchange grew to PKR 318.976 million for the year under review from PKR 264.607 million posted for FY18, registering an increase of 20.55 percent. The trading volume for FY19 was recorded at PKR 2.912 trillion as compared to PKR…
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 13.03 13.53 2 – Week 13.03 13.53 1 – Month 13.03 13.53 3 – Month 13.14 13.39 6 – Month 13.16 13.41 9 – Month 12.82 13.32 1 – Year 12.71 13.21 2 – Year 11.88 12.38 3- Year 11.50 12.12
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Fred Krupp President, Environmental Defense Fund[/box] With the US administration turning its back on the Paris Climate Agreement, demands for corporate climate leadership are mounting. At a time when executives should be filling the leadership gap, too many CEOs continue to be trapped by short-term, profit-only thinking. Positive return on investment (ROI) is one sign of a healthy business. But equating ROI with profits alone is dangerously outdated thinking. For business leaders, especially those based in the US, the stakes have changed and the pressure is on – from consumers, employees and shareholders alike – to build a…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Liz Sharp, University of Sheffield[/box] When even Boris Johnson, the UK’s Conservative prime minister, interprets severe flooding as a probable consequence of climate change, it’s a sign that everyone is recognising that the weather is becoming weird. It’s hard not to – the recent UK floods were prompted when the average rainfall for the entire month of November fell in South Yorkshire and north Derbyshire in 24 hours. The damage from the floods is still being assessed, but roads and rail lines were closed, people were stranded, hundreds of properties were inundated, and one woman lost…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Mark Shackleton, Lancaster University[/box] The largest oil and gas producer, Saudi Aramco, is due to become the world’s most valuable publicly listed company. The Saudi government is planning to sell a small fraction of the firm’s shares on the Riyadh stock exchange before seeking a listing for 5% of the firm on an international market. The company is so big that this would be the largest ever initial public offering (IPO) and could value the whole company at around US$1.5 trillion. This is less than the government’s hoped-for valuation of US$2 trillion, but would still make…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]This article is published in collaboration with The Conversation Komali Kantamaneni Research Fellow, Solent University[/box] Before today, sea level rise and flooding were already forecast to wreak havoc for millions now and in the coming decades. Now, the story looks much worse – three times worse, to be precise. According to new research, hundreds of millions more people are already at risk from climate breakdown-caused coastal flooding and sea level rise than previously thought. And by the end of the century, large swathes of the coastal land we live on today could be unihabitable – even with…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Marcus Enoch, Loughborough University[/box] The way people get around is starting to change, and as a professor of transport strategy I do rather wonder if the modes of transport we use today will still be around by the turn of the next century. Growing up, my favourite book was a children’s encyclopaedia first published in 1953. One double page spread featured an annotated cityscape, showing all aspects of the built environment – most of which we would still be familiar with now. The various modes of transport illustrated – trains, buses, lorries, taxis, motorcycles, bikes, pedestrians…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Sean Fleming Senior Writer, Formative Content[/box] Between 2007 and 2017, the volume of renewable energy produced in the European Union’s 28 member states rose by 64%. That energy comes from diverse sources, from the burning of wood and biomass to wind, geothermal and solar. In countries across the continent, renewable energy is providing an increasing share of the power mix – the top five nations for renewables as a share of consumed energy are Sweden (54.5%), Finland (41.0 %), Latvia (39.0 %), Denmark (35.8 %) and Austria (32.6 %). Here are some of the projects helping the…
Fertilizer contribution to food production is around 50% and FFC is one of the major stakeholder of agriculture sector through its fertilizer business. Our premium quality fertilizers alongwith advisory services for farmers on modern cultivation techniques help increasing crop output and enhances the production capacity of land, which is an imperative to ensure sustainable agri. productivity to meet the nutritional needs of the growing population & raw material for agriculture industry. Implementation of 4Rs nutrient stewardship helps providing balanced crop nutrition, protecting plants from diseases, and ultimately optimum crop yields. Pakistan’s key natural resources are arable land and water. Agriculture…
[box type=”shadow” align=”” class=”” width=””]Profile: KFC Pakistan: It all started in the state of Kentucky when Colonel Sanders perfected the art of finger lickin’ good chicken at his small restaurant. Soon, the recipe became world-famous and traveled across borders and in the year 1997, the multinational company as a subsidiary of Yum! Brands landed in the bustling city of Karachi, Pakistan.Since then, there has been no looking back. KFC Pakistan now operates in 26 different cities and successfully manages 90 restaurants nationwide. KFC is one of the quick service restaurant (QSR) brands in the fast-food landscape owning the highest number…
Political noise fails to stop bullish trend, index gain 2.1% wow Summary It was an interesting week when the economic forces and political forces stood face to face. The week started with the arrival of IMF and World Bank mission in Pakistan to assess State of Pakistan’s economy. The Azadi March on Islamabad of Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman kicks off on Sunday from Karachi, calling for resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The end result of the two events –economic and political nature culminated at the end of the week Friday as follows: President World Bank David R. Malpass after meeting Imran…
Published in Ary News on Oct 31st, 2019, English singer Ed Sheeran has been named the richest UK celebrity aged 30 or under as his fortune nearly doubled over the past 12 months. According to Heat Magazine’s annual list of the richest musicians, movie stars and TV personalities, the 28-year-old singer’s wealth reportedly jumped from £94 million to £170 million, reported BBC. He reached the spot as Adele aged gracefully and turned 31 in May. The Thinking Out Loud singer, who topped the list last year, had an estimated fortune of £147.5 million. [ads1] Harry Potter fame Daniel Radcliffe, 30, falls second on…
HBO has reportedly scrapped plans for another ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel starring Naomi Watts. Photo: HBO Published in Geo on Oct 30th, 2019, Reuters HBO ordered 10 episodes of a Game of Thrones spinoff called House of the Dragon, the network said on Tuesday, shortly after reports emerged that the premium cable channel had nixed another series set in the world created by author George RR Martin. House of the Dragon will take place 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones, a medieval fantasy series that became a global phenomenon before it ended its eight-season run in May. The new series will…
Published in Variety on Oct 30th, 2019, By BRENT LANG Toby Emmerich has extended his contract as chairman of Warner Bros. Pictures Group and elevated top lieutenant Carolyn Blackwood to the newly created position of chief operating officer. The move follows the box office success of “Joker,” the gritty comic book adaption that became the highest-grossing R-rated movie in history with an $875 million haul. Made for $62 million, it will also be one of the most profitable superhero movies of all time. In her new role, Blackwood will be responsible for the day to day operations of the picture group including physical…
Published in The Nation on Oct 29th, 2019, KARACHI-Netflix, the world’s leading internet entertainment service, is all set to release SharmeenObaid-Chinoy’s SITARA: LET GIRLS DREAM in 2020 which will be available in over 190 countries. Indeed, SITARA is the first Pakistani Animated Film to be released and distributed by NETFLIX USA. Written and directed by two-time Academy and three-time Emmy Award-winning director SharmeenObaid-Chinoy, SITARA: LET GIRLS DREAM takes the audience on a journey through the old city of Lahore, where, Pari, a fourteen-year-old girl dreams of becoming a pilot and whose story is told through the perspective of her…
Published in Samaa on Oct 28th, 2019, Warner Bros’ comic book film Joker has become the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix, who plays the iconic DC Comics villain. According to Warner Bros, the movie has made roughly $788million at the worldwide box office. The comic book film surpassed Deadpool, which earned $783million when it released in 2016. Ryan Reynolds, the lead of the film, offered his congratulations to the team of Joker on social media on Friday. [ads1] The movie has been breaking records ever since it released earlier this month. It was successful in finding its…
Published in Samaa on Oct 30th, 2019, Pakistan whitewashed Bangladesh in the three-match women’s T20I series as they won the dead-rubber third fixture at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium by 28 runs on Wednesday. The hosts were struggling at 19-2 in six overs but veteran Javeria Khan and Omaima Sohail put on a 66-run partnership to get the side out of trouble. After Omaima was dismissed for her 29-ball 31, the side began to lose wickets at regular intervals. Javeria, who made a crucial half-century, top-scored with her 54 from 48 deliveries. [ads1] The middle-order did not provide much resistance…
England’s Eoin Morgan and team mates celebrate winning the world cup with the trophy in July, 2019. — Reuters/File Published in Dawn on Oct 30th, 2019, CHRISTCHURCH: England wicket-keeper/batsman Jonny Bairstow believes New Zealand will be intent on exacting World Cup revenge in the Twenty20 International series that begins at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Friday. The Black Caps suffered the cruellest of defeats in the final of the one-day showpiece, when the scores were tied after a Super Over but England won because they had hit more boundaries. Cricket chiefs have since scrapped the obscure tie-breaker rule but Bairstow…
Published in The Express Tribune on Oct 30th, 2019, Barcelona star Lionel Messi has opened up about his appreciation for another player and many believed he would name his former teammate Ronaldinho or Argentinian legend Diego Maradona. However, he has named a Brazilian who he thinks was the best player he has ever seen kick the ball. Ronaldo Nazario is Messi’s selection for the ‘best’ striker in the world. “Ronaldo Nazario was a phenomenom. Of all the strikers I have seen, for me he was the best. An impressive player from any aspect,” Messi told TyC Sports. [ads1] But…
Published in Samaa on Oct 30th, 2019, Bulgaria must play their next home game behind closed doors and have been handed a fine of €75,000 after racist chanting by supporters marred their Euro 2020 qualifier against England earlier this month, UEFA said Tuesday. The disciplinary arm of European football’s governing body also ordered Bulgaria to play a second match behind closed doors, but that punishment is suspended for a “probationary period” of two years. The punishment means Bulgaria will play their final European Championship qualifier at home to the Czech Republic, on November 17, in an empty stadium. UEFA…
Al Hasan will be able to play again from October 29, 2020, the ICC said [File:John Sibley/Reuters] Published in AlJazeera on Oct 29th, 2019, The all-rounder is banned for two years, with one year of the sentence suspended, after failing to report fixing offer. Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has been banned from all forms of cricket for two years, with one year of the sentence suspended on Tuesday, after the player was found to have breached the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption code. The ICC said Al Hasan, the national side’s captain and one of the highest run-scorers…
Fire was caused by a cylinder blast, says Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid. — Photo provided by Adnan Sheikh Published in Dawn on Oct 31st, 2019, Adnan Sheikh | Taser Subhani | Dawn.com | APP The death toll from a fire in three bogies of a Tezgam train near Liaquatpur city jumped to 73 around 1pm, while many remain under critical condition, Rahim Yar Khan district government said on Thursday. About 40 people, including women and children, were injured, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid told AFP earlier. The dead and injured are being shifted to DHQ Hospital in Liaquatpur. Some of the injured have also been shifted…
The army called on anti-government protesters to open all major roads they blocked for two weeks [Bilal Hussein/AP Photo] Published in AlJazeera on Oct 30th, 2019, Prime Minister Saad Hariri asked to remain on caretaker capacity as army clears roads after weeks of mass protests. Lebanese President Michel Aoun has asked the resigned government of Prime Minister Saad Hariri to continue on a caretaker basis until a new cabinet is formed, as security forces began opening major roads after two weeks of huge protests that paralysed the country. The army had asked demonstrators earlier on Wednesday to voluntarily clear…
Afghan and international military forces have been responsible for 484 civilian deaths, the United Nations says [File: AP] Published in AlJazeera on Oct 31st, 2019, by Ali M Latifi In a damning report, Human Rights Watch says night raids and aerial strikes have led to mounting civilian casualties. Kabul, Afghanistan – CIA-backed Afghan strike forces are once again under fire in Afghanistan, this time for tactics – night-time raids into homes in remote villages, forced disappearances, attacks on healthcare facilities and summary executions – that Human Rights Watch says amount to “atrocities” and possible “war crimes”. In a damning 50-page report released on…
Published in ARY News on Oct 30th, 2019, Reuters India will formally split up disputed Jammu and Kashmir state into two federal territories on Thursday (Oct 31), aiming to tighten its grip on the restive region that has been in the grip of a harsh security clampdown for nearly three months. Street protests against the measures have erupted sporadically, while a dozen people have been martyred in recent weeks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government withdrew Kashmir’s autonomy in August. In addition, it also announced the division of the state into two territories to be directly ruled from…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was flying to Saudi Arabia to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) [Adnan Abidi/Reuters] Published in AlJazeera on Oct 29th, 2019, Indian PM Modi took a circuitous route to Saudi Arabia because of Pakistan’s refusal of overflight rights. The United Nations’s aviation agency asked Pakistan for more information about an overflight request from India, it said on Tuesday after Islamabad denied permission to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cross its airspace on an overseas tour. Tension has flared between the neighbours over disputed Kashmir after India stripped the Himalayan region of its autonomy and severed telecommunications links for months, with flights over…
GULF STATES – ECONOMICS & FINANCE Top gold, jewellery, fashion brands offer up to 90pc discount in Dubai As shoppers across the GCC count down to the anticipated 3-Day Super Sale running from October 31 to November 2, 2019, organiser Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) has announced the brands participating in its seventh edition. With over 500 brands and 2,000 retail outlets confirmed, the sale will offer huge savings of up to 90 percent off on merchandise from the fashion, beauty and health, homeware, electronics, footwear, accessories, gold and jewellery and kids’ categories. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] 4,000 more…
ECONOMIC TIMES OF PAKISTAN Pak unveils strategy to move to cashless economy Pakistan has launched a strategy for transforming its payment system from the one mainly based on cash to an almost cashless system with the support of the World Bank, as it will launch a mobile app and install one million digital access points nationwide over the next three years. “The cost of cash right now is huge in Pakistan…[it] is one of the countries which stands out with a very large ratio of cash,” said State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Reza Baqir, before he along with World…
Women in FocusPK: celebrating women of substance The PAS 2017 award winner, FocusPK held its much-awaited annual event, Women in FocusPk successfully initiated last year and focusing on dynamic women who have contributed immeasurably to society and their country at large, here, at the Governor House, Sindh, earlier today. The exclusive event was attended by corporate personalities, celebs, socialites, media and enterprising women from various professions. These awards were held in support of breast cancer awareness as a national cause for women’s health in Pakistan. The event was hosted by renowned TV and film actor and chairperson of FocusPK, Atiqa…
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 13.03 13.53 2 – Week 13.04 13.54 1 – Month 13.07 13.57 3 – Month 13.08 13.33 6 – Month 13.08 13.33 9 – Month 12.85 13.35 1 – Year 13.66 13.16 2 – Year 11.75 12.25 3- Year 11.56 12.06
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Anna Davies, Trinity College Dublin; Agnese Cretella, Trinity College Dublin; Monika Rut, Trinity College Dublin; Stephen Mackenzie, Trinity College Dublin, and Vivien Franck, Trinity College Dublin[/box] Eating alone, once considered an oddity, has become commonplace for many across the Western world. Fast food chains are promoting eating on the go or “al desko”. Why waste time in your busy day sitting down at a table with others? Surveys indicate that a third of Britons regularly eat on their own. Open Table, an online restaurant booking app, found that solo dining in New York increased by 80%…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Mark Graham Professor of Internet Geography, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford This article is part of the Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils[/box] You’ve probably heard at least two things about the gig economy. First, that it’s big. In 2019, roughly one-in-10 workers in the UK earns a living in the gig economy. In the US, the equivalent figure is an estimated 8%. Earlier this year, there was a pan-African survey that showed that 1.3% of adult Africans now earn money from gig economy platforms (the online companies that provide the work). All over the world, a…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Philip Goff, Durham University[/box] Explaining how something as complex as consciousness can emerge from a grey, jelly-like lump of tissue in the head is arguably the greatest scientific challenge of our time. The brain is an extraordinarily complex organ, consisting of almost 100 billion cells – known as neurons – each connected to 10,000 others, yielding some ten trillion nerve connections. We have made a great deal of progress in understanding brain activity, and how it contributes to human behaviour. But what no one has so far managed to explain is how all of this results…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Anahita Thoms Partner, International Trade Practice, Baker McKenzie, Germany[/box] Public support for free trade is shrinking and the long-standing political consensus that trade liberalization is beneficial is under attack. The US in particular has recently shifted towards protectionism by imposing tariffs and continuously threatening its largest trading partners, in particular the EU and China. Brexit, too, is partly driven by a protectionist attitude: although the UK intends to enter into Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with other countries, the move away from the single market is itself a rejection of free trade within the EU. The US strategy Despite the potential…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Leïla Choukroune, University of Portsmouth[/box] “Peace is the natural effect of trade. Two nations who traffic with each other become reciprocally dependent … their union is founded on their mutual necessities.” Montesquieu’s idealised vision of trade, put forward here in his 1748 treatise, The Spirit of Laws, still informs thinking today. But the reality of commerce has long turned out very differently and Britain’s future trade relationships with the EU and the rest of the world remain some of the big unknowns of the Brexit process. There is more to trade than simply exchanging goods and…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Paige H. Adams Global Chief Information Security Officer, Zurich Insurance Group[/box] Cybersecurity leaders are also business leaders, working to protect data without business interruption. But the complexities and magnitude of today’s cybersecurity challenges are daunting for many organizations and not every executive is a cybersecurity professional, nor do they necessarily need to be. What’s important is that those with the primary responsibility for cybersecurity in an organization communicate risk effectively among their colleagues and across the business. The World Economic Forum’s recently-published Cybersecurity Guide for Leaders in Today’s Digital World provides a practical guide to dealing with cybersecurity…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Timocin Pervane Partner, Oliver Wyman Kaijia Gu Partner, Oliver Wyman[/box] For decades, the dominance of large cities has been bolstered by jobs and investment from the world’s best-known companies, causing labour markets to tighten and housing costs to soar. But could the age of the big city be coming to an end? In the US, the number of tech jobs is growing at a faster pace in communities with 1-3 million people than in major cities. The coastal giants of New York and San Francisco still have the most, but places such as Raleigh, Salt Lake…