Tensions continue to remain elevated as the conflict over the entire erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan has no end in sight. The end of August 2019 marks a further escalation in the problem, despite positive words from the US President Donald Trump, who tries to reconcile both Imran Khan and Narendra Modi. Could tensions continue higher? As FINQ news recently reported, the India stock exchange had been trading higher, but not the same can be said about the Pakistan market, which had been negatively impacted by the August 5th surprise move of Narendra Modi,…
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Mutual funds and foreign buying helped KSE-100 index gain 3.3%wow Summary It was a short week with only three days of trading. The market remained closed due to Ashura holidays on Monday and Tuesday. In the stock exchange on Wednesday and Friday the foreigners were buyer by $1.32m and $1.08m respectively. There was heavy buying of $7.22m on Thursday by Mutual Funds. Over all, the KSE-100 index gained 1,014 points and crossed 31,000 mark to close on Friday at 31,481.31. This is the second consecutive gain in September by the index. Previous week it gained 795 points. The average volume…
Malala shared a photo of her wearing a bright blue dress featured a similar pattern to iPhone11. Photo: File/Apple Published in Geo News on Sep 12th, 2019, Apple events are nothing short of glamorous. At the tech company’s recent event in California, the company unveiled the all-powerful new iPhone and iPad models along with its streaming TV service. However, what caught the tech world’s attention was the Silicon Valley titan’s triple-camera iPhone, which to say the least has given social media a lot to talk about in the coming days. And of course, not taking a back seat was…
FILE PHOTO: Crew members film a scene on the set of a ROK’s film in Lagos, Nigeria July 21, 2019. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja Published in Reuters on Sep 10th, 2019, Alexis Akwagyiram LAGOS (Reuters) – “Oya!” shouts the director in Nigerian Pidgin English. Actors take their marks. Lighting blinks on. The film crew snaps into action after the order to hurry up. It’s another day in Nollywood, the affectionate nickname for Nigeria’s film industry – the world’s second most prolific after India’s Bollywood, producing hundreds of films and TV episodes each month. For decades it was a factory churning out…
Published in BBC on Sep 12th, 2019, JK Rowling has donated £15.3m to support research into neurological conditions at a centre named after her mother. The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic at the University of Edinburgh was established with a £10m donation from the Harry Potter author in 2010. Her latest gift will help create new facilities and support research. Anne Rowling died aged 45 from complications related to multiple sclerosis (MS). The centre is an integrated care and research facility focusing on MS and neurological conditions with the aim of bringing more clinical studies and trials to patients.…
Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammates during the UEFA Euro 2020 Group B qualification football match Lithuania v Portugal in Vilnius, Lithuania, on September 10, 2019. Photo: AFP Published in Geo News on Sep 12th, 2019, Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first footballer to score against 40 different countries. The Portuguese captain’s latest record took also took his international tally to 93 goals when he scored four times to give the European champions a 5-1 win away to Lithuania in their Euro 2020 qualifier on Tuesday. Playing in his 161st international, the…
Iranian women watch the World Cup Group B football match between Portugal and Iran at Azadi stadium in Tehran. Image Credit: AFP Published in Gulf News on Sep 12th, 2019, AFP Move comes as fan burned herself to death after being jailed for trying to enter stadium Lausanne: Fifa said on Wednesday it will send officials to Iran “shortly” to look at the possibility of allowing female spectators into football games in the country. The announcement comes a week after an Iranian football fan set herself on fire outside a court and died after being told she would be…
Former Pakistan women cricket team captain Sana Mir. Photo: File Published in Geo News on Sep 12th, 2019, Faizan Lakhani KARACHI: Former captain of Pakistan’s women cricket team Sana Mir has been selected for prestigious Asia Game Changers Award by the Asia Society. According to a statement by Asia Society, Mir will receive the award along with five other women who have excelled in their respective fields. The award ceremony will be held in New York City on October 24, 2019. “Asia Society is honouring Sana Mir, recognized as one of the world’s greatest cricket players and former captain of Pakistan’s national team,…
Published in Samaa News on Sep 11th, 2019, AFP Sri Lanka’s cricket board said Wednesday it had received warnings its national team could be the target of a terror attack during an upcoming tour of Pakistan. The board said the Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s Office had advised it to “reassess the situation” after it received “reliable information of a possible terrorist threat” against the national squad ahead of the six-match limited overs tour. It stopped short of calling off the tour, but said a reassessment of the security situation would be sought from Sri Lankan government authorities. The Sri…
In a statement to the media, US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus urged India to take some key steps to bring normalcy to occupied Kashmir, which has been suffering under relentless curfew imposed on Aug 5, when New Delhi unilaterally annexed the disputed territory. — Screengrab courtesy US State Department video/File Published in Dawn on Sep 12th, 2019, WASHINGTON: The US State Department has urged India to resume political engagement with Kashmiri leaders and schedule promised elections in their occupied region as soon as possible. On Monday, US President Donald Trump reiterated his offer to help India and Pakistan…
Published in AlJazeera on Sep 12th, 2019, Iran says US ‘maximum pressure’ has failed and vows no talks with Americans until ‘economic terrorism’ ends. The United States should distance itself from “warmongers” after hardline national security adviser John Bolton was dismissed, Iran’s president said on Wednesday. Bolton was one of the strongest advocates of the ongoing US “maximum pressure” policy towards the Islamic Republic. “Americans have to realise that warmongering and warmongers are not to their benefit,” P resident Hassan Rouhani said in televised remarks. “They should not only abandon warmongering but also abandon their maximum pressure policy. “Iran’s policy of…
FILE PHOTO: A plaque commemorating U.S. President Donald Trump hangs on the U.S.-Mexico border fence as Trump visits the U.S.-Mexico border in Calexico, California, U.S., April 5, 2019. REUTERS/Sandy Huffaker/File Photo Published in Reuters on Sep 12th, 2019, Lawrence Hurley, Daniel Trotta (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday granted a request by President Donald Trump’s administration to fully enforce a new rule that would curtail asylum applications by immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, a key element of his hardline immigration policies. The court said the rule, which requires most immigrants who want asylum to first seek safe haven…
UK government documents warn of ‘extreme risks’ to a no-deal Brexit. [Vickie Flores/EPA-EFE] Published in AlJazeera on Sep 12th, 2019, ‘Yellowhammer’ documents warn of food and drug shortages, panic buying and public disorder if UK crashes out of EU. The British government’s plans for a “no-deal” Brexit highlight “severe risks” including disruption to supplies of medicine and fresh food that could unleash protests and public disorder. The details of “Operation Yellowhammer” – government documents outlining worst-case scenarios of crashing out of the European Union without an agreement – were published on Wednesday by the government of Boris Johnson after parliament passed legislation forcing…
GULF STATES- ECONOMICS & FINANCE UAE banking sector assets surge to Dh2.87t The UAE banking sector maintained its position as the largest in the Arab world with the combined assets of all banks growing 6.5 percent to Dh2.87 trillion in 2018 as the amount of credit extended grew five percent to Dh1.66 trillion, according to the UAE Banks Federation. “As the sector embraces new initiatives and developments, and with increased regulation and compliance requirements, prospects for 2019 and beyond appear promising,” UBF said in a statement on Wednesday. In its annual report, the UBF shed light on the its significant…
INDIAN ECONOMY: OVERVIEW, GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT Why last 15 minutes of lander Vikram are most crucial? In less than 13 hours, the Chandrayaan-2 mission’s lander Vikram is going to enter the most challenging phase of its journey as it attempts to soft land near the Moon’s hitherto unexplored south pole. In fact, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has described it as “15 minutes of terror”. According to the space agency, the lander hopes to touch down in a high plain between two craters, Manzinus C and Simpelius N. The 1,471 kg lander successfully separated from the orbiter on Monday…
ECONOMIC TIMES OF PAKISTAN Italian firms encouraged to invest in energy sector The government has an open door policy for investment, said Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Petroleum Nadeem Babar. In a meeting with Italian Ambassador to Pakistan Stefano Pontecorvo, who called on him on Friday, Babar assured complete cooperation and facilitation to Italian companies operating in the energy sector of Pakistan. The special assistant further informed the envoy regarding investment opportunities in oil and gas exploration and production sector of the country. He added that the government had planned to hold open bidding for awarding new oil…
ALHUDA CIBE and Center Of Excellence in Islamic Finance to promote Islamic Finance sign MoU Islamic finance, the globally emerging phenomenon is captivated its roots in Muslim, European countries and in America as well. The built-in features of sustainability and best alternative financial solution make this phenomenon prominent and attracts the attention of professionals and researchers. Keeping in view the importance, AlHuda CIBE FZ LLE, Dubai-UAE and Center of Excellence in Islamic Finance (CEIF), Institute of Management Sciences (IM Sciences), Peshawar- Pakistan have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Mr. Zubair Mughal, the CEO of AlHuda CIBE said that…
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 13.16 13.76 2 – Week 13.22 13.72 1 – Month 13.30 13.80 3 – Month 13.65 13.90 6 – Month 13.79 14.04 9 – Month 13.78 14.28 1 – Year 13.70 14.20 2 – Year 13.09 13.59 3- Year 13.03 13.53
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Tim Schweisfurth, University of Southern Denmark[/box] The mountain bike wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for disgruntled customers. In the 1970s, some cyclists wanted to ride off-road but were let down by existing bikes that weren’t suited to rugged terrain. They adapted road bikes, fitting them with strong frames, motorcycle drum brakes and balloon tyres, and so the mountain bike was born. And the GoPro camera only exists because its creator, Nick Woodman, wanted to take photos of himself while surfing. He strapped a disposable camera to his wrist, but soon realised the limitations of this setup:…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Louis Roy President and founder, Optel Group This article is part of the Sustainable Development Impact Summit[/box] We all know the world is rife with environmental, economic and social problems. What few of us realize is that many of these issues arise because today’s supply chains lack visibility and transparency at every stage of the journey, from raw materials to consumer products. Counterfeit medications, faulty medical devices, contaminated foods and unsustainable sourcing practices threaten public safety, waste precious natural resources, erode consumer confidence, and destroy brand reputation. An even lesser-known fact is that today’s technologies can help…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Johnny Wood Senior Writer, Formative Content[/box] Imagine a world free of malaria. It’s not such a far-fetched idea, as this deadly disease could be completely eradicated within a generation, according to new research. But how? The answer lies in using existing vaccination, information and prevention methods more effectively, together with cutting-edge approaches to tackling the disease. A major new report published in The Lancet points to several emerging technologies being developed to fight the spread of malaria. Eliminating this global threat is a mammoth – and expensive – task. Malaria control and elimination efforts cost an estimated…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Nick Longrich, University of Bath[/box] In the past half-billion years, Earth has been hit again and again by mass extinctions, wiping out most species on the planet. And every time, life recovered and ultimately went on to increase in diversity. Is life just incredibly resilient, or is something else going on? Could mass extinctions actually help life diversify and succeed – and if so, how? Given that we’re currently facing another extinction event, there’s extra urgency in trying to work out how mass extinctions affect diversity. Mass extinction is probably the most striking pattern in the…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]David Benton, Swansea University and Hayley Young, Swansea University[/box] Fruit juice was once viewed as part of a healthy diet, but today it is often seen as supplying little more than a high dose of sugar. Increasingly, fruit juices are seen as junk foods, and consumption is falling. But, as we argue in our recently published paper, fruit juice should not be cut from our diets. Major reasons for not consuming fruit are that it involves effort and it is often inconvenient. But fruit juice avoids the problems of intact fruit while providing the same range…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Ayla Majid Managing Director, Financial Advisory Services, Khalid Majid Rehman[/box] Pakistan has been the 8th-most affected country when it comes to climate change. Although the government recognizes that vulnerability, there is a lot of room for forming an effective adaptation plan. Pakistan has set aside 7.6 billion rupees ($47 million) for addressing climate change in its 2019-2020 budget. This will be spent on new initiatives and ongoing schemes including climate-resilient urban settlements, the establishment of a Geomatic Centre for Climate Change and of a Pakistan Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Strategic Planning and Coordination Cell, as well as…
Freddie Mercury is seen in this undated still image, in an unknown location. Simon Fowler/Mercury Songs Ltd/Handout via REUTERS Published in Reuters on Sep 5th, 2019, LONDON (Reuters) – A new video animation featuring two white blood cells in love was released on Thursday to mark what would have been Freddie Mercury’s 73rd birthday and help raise awareness of the continued global fight against AIDS. The British singer, songwriter and lead vocalist of the rock band Queen died in 1991 aged 45 due to complications from AIDS. The four-minute video clip released by Universal Music Group (UMG) accompanies the…
The men behind Avengers Endgame said that they hoped the movie would become a turning point in the way Muslims were portrayed on the big screen. Published in Arabian Business on Sep 4th, 2019, Every line in Mosul, based on the Iraqi police’s Nineveh SWAT team and produced by Joe and Anthony Russo, is in Iraqi dialect The makers of the world’s biggest blockbuster unveiled the first Hollywood action movie shot entirely in Arabic Wednesday at the Venice film festival. Every line in “Mosul”, based on the Iraqi police’s Nineveh SWAT team, whose members fought to take back their…
Published in ARY News on Sep 5th, 2019, Actress Mehwish Hayat is glad that Hollywood is taking a step forward for Muslim representation with superhero Ms.Marvel. The 36-year-old actress has lately been vocal about vilification of Muslim characters in Hollywood and Bollywood films and called for a fair representation of the group. Hayat took to Twitter and wrote “Great news! Glad to see that the tide is turning. Hollywood seems to be accepting the problem. Long way to go, but it is a start. Hope others will also take heed about representation.” [ads1] Hollywood’s portrayal of Muslims is mostly…
FILE PHOTO: Gamers and visitors take a rest at the booth of Netflix during Europe’s leading digital games fair Gamescom, which showcases the latest trends of the computer gaming scene in Cologne, Germany, August 21, 2019. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo Published in Reuters on Sep 3rd, 2019, Ali Kucukgocmen, Kenneth Li ISTANBUL/NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. online streaming service Netflix (NFLX.O) has applied for a license to continue operating in Turkey under new online broadcasting rules that have raised fears over possible censorship in the future. Turkey last month granted its radio and television watchdog sweeping oversight over all online content,…
Ariana Grande accepts the award for artist of the year at the 2016 American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., November 20, 2016.—Reuters/File Photo Published in Geo News on Sep 4th, 2019, Reuters The singing superstar Ariana Grande has sued Forever 21 for $10 million, accusing the fashion retailer and a beauty company started by its billionaire founders’ daughters of piggybacking off her fame and influence to sell their wares. In a complaint filed on Monday, Grande said Forever 21 and Riley Rose misappropriated her name, image, likeness and music, including by employing a “strikingly similar” looking model,…
Uzbekistan is among those hoping to mount a challenge for one of the four guaranteed berths at the finals. 1 AFP/File Published in Dawn News on Sep 4th, 2019, Reuters HONG KONG: Asia’s lesser lights will look to steal a march on their more illustrious rivals on Thursday when the second round of the continents qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup begins in 16 cities around the region. With the top seeds in each of the eight groups — including World Cup regulars such as South Korea, Japan, Australia and Iran — not commencing their campaigns until next…
Misbah is Pakistan’s most successful Test captain with 26 wins in 56 Tests Published in BBC on Sep 4th, 2019, Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq has been appointed Pakistan’s new head coach and chief selector. The 45-year-old fills the role vacated by Mickey Arthur, whose contract was not renewed after they failed to reach the World Cup semi-finals. Former skipper and paceman Waqar Younis is the new bowling coach. “I know expectations are high, but I am absolutely ready and up for the task,” said Misbah, who scored 5,222 runs in 75 Tests at an average of 46.6. “We have some…
Williams will face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, who she leads 4-1 in head-to-head, in the semi-finals [Getty Images] Published in AlJazeera on Sep 4th, 2019, The American overpowers China’s Wanq Qiang, firing off 25 winners compared with zero from her opponent. Serena Williams has claimed her 100th victory at the US Open in style, overwhelming her quarter-final opponent Wang Qiang of China in a blistering 44-minute performance. “I never thought that I would get to 100,” Williams said on court after the match on Tuesday. “It didn’t cross my mind I would still be out here. I love what I do.…
Published in BBC News on Sep 4th, 2019, By Andrew Benson Chief F1 writer Formula 1 has secured the future of the Italian Grand Prix until at least the end of 2024. The new contract was announced at an event held in Milan on Wednesday to celebrate the race’s 90th anniversary ahead of Sunday’s grand prix at Monza. The historic track has held 68 F1 world championship races, more than any other. Only Italy and Britain have hosted F1 rounds every year since the championship’s inaugural year in 1950. Monza first held the Italian Grand Prix in 1921. [ads1]…
The 13th edition of South Asian Games is scheduled to be held in Nepal. — File photo Published in Geo News on Sep 4th, 2019, By Faizan Lakhani KARACHI: The Pakistan Sports Board has advised the Pakistan Olympic Association minimise the number of athletes and officials in Pakistan’s contingent for this year’s South Asian Games, sources have revealed. The 13th edition of South Asian Games is scheduled to be held in Nepal in December this year, with teams competing in 28 different disciplines. According to sources, the Pakistan Olympic Association was eyeing to send a contingent of over 300…
The Qatar 2022 World Cup logo projected onto Doha Tower [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera] Published in AlJazeera on Sep 4th, 2019, Emblem simultaneously revealed in the host country as well as 24 other major cities across the world. The official emblem for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup has been unveiled in the capital Doha. The unveiling took place at 8:22pm local time (17:22 GMT), as thousands of spectators gathered to witness the synchronised projection of the emblem onto a number of the country’s most iconic buildings, including Burj Doha, Katara Cultural Village Amphitheatre, Souq Waqif and Al Zubarah Fort – a…
SAUDI Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir (third left) and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan (fourth right) meet Prime Minister Imran Khan at the PM Office on Wednesday.—White Star Published in Dawn News on Sep 5th, 2019, ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday apprised the visiting foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of the situation arising from New Delhi’s illegal and unilateral actions in occupied Kashmir, stating that the international community has the responsibility to urge India to halt and reverse its illegal actions and aggressive policies and…
Reports said more than 4,000 people have been detained since August 5 in Kashmir [Akash Bisht/Al Jazeera] Published in AlJazeera on Sep 5th, 2019, by Akash Bisht Thousands have been detained and many of them tortured since India revoked Kashmir’s autonomy a month ago. Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir – A month since India’s powerful Home Minister Amit Shah announced the removal of the disputed Kashmir region’s special status, thousands have been detained, with some alleging torture by the Indian security forces. In a village in southern Kashmir, a 22-year-old man said he was picked up in a midnight raid and tortured for more than…
Red Crescent medics walk next to bags containing the bodies of victims of Saudi-led airstrikes on a Houthi detention centre in Dhamar CREDIT: REUTERS Published in The Telegraph on Sep 3rd, 2019, By Josie Ensor, middle east correspondent Britain, the US and France may be complicit in war crimes in Yemen by supporting a Saudi-led coalition that starves civilians as a war tactic, the United Nations has said. UN investigators recommended that the UK and others, who have since 2015 been arming and providing intelligence and logistics support to the coalition, impose a ban on arms transfers to prevent them from…
President Rouhani gave European nuclear-deal partners two months to revolve US-blocked oil sales [File: Mohammad Berno/AP] Published in AlJazeera on Sep 5th, 2019, Tehran announces third step in scaling back commitments under the 2015 nuclear agreement. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has ordered the removal of all limits on nuclear research and development – the third major step to scale down commitments to the 2015 nuclear accord with world powers. “I, as of now, announce the third step,” Rouhani said on state television late on Wednesday, just as the United States announced that it was imposing sanctions against an oil shipping network with ties…
FILE PHOTO: New bollard-style U.S.-Mexico border fencing is seen in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, U.S., March 5, 2019. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson Published in Reuters on Sep 5th, 2019, Bryan Pietsch WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Pentagon said on Wednesday it would pull funding from 127 Defense Department projects, including schools and daycare centers for military families, as it diverts $3.6 billion to fund President Donald Trump’s wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. Schools for the children of U.S. military members from Kentucky to Germany to Japan will be affected. A daycare center at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland – the…
The chancellor’s spending plans include investment in healthcare, education and policing Published in BBC News on Sep 4th, 2019, By Dearbail Jordan Business reporter The government has declared it has “turned the page on austerity” as it set out plans to raise spending across all departments. Chancellor Sajid Javid outlined £13.8bn of investment in areas including health, education and the police in what he said was the fastest increase in spending for 15 years. The plans cover one year and come amid intense political turmoil over Brexit. Labour criticised the spending plans as “grubby electioneering”. Mr Javid said: “No…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Niall McCarthy, Sep 3, 2019[/box] In March, a petition to revoke Article 50 and cancel Brexit collected over five million signatures on the UK government’s website. In fact, the volume of traffic on the website was so great that it crashed on multiple times. Theresa May of course rejected the message of the petition citing worries that cancelling Brexit would cause “potentially irreparable damage to public trust”. The latest Brexit-related petition to amass large numbers of signatures is aimed at Boris Johnson’s proroguing of parliament in a bid to force through the country’s exit from the EU at any…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Katharina Buchholz, Sep 2, 2019[/box] The U.S. is once again the country imprisoning the most people as a share of its population. The country was mostly identified as the one imprisoning the biggest share of its population (as well as the most people in total per country) since the World Prison Brief began publishing in 1997, but in 2016, the Seychelles temporarily became the country imprisoning the most people. 799 per 100,000 people were in prison or jail in the island nation, compared to the United States’ 698 per 100,000 in 2016. In 2018, the U.S. ranked ahead of El…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Niall McCarthy, Sep 3, 2019[/box] It’s back to school season and across much of the world, teachers and students are gearing up for another academic year. The date when U.S. schools actually open their doors after the summer break varies considerably between regions which can mean anywhere between July and early September. Many schools actually open after the long Labor Day weekend which is considered the unofficial end of summer. While many kids will be experiencing a nerve-wracking first day of school, many teachers will also be having their first day as well. In 2017, a…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Niall McCarthy, Sep 2, 2019[/box] It’s no secret that some tourists have a bad reputation abroad. A new YouGov survey has now looked into the countries who think their tourists are viewed negatively by locals overseas. Brits certainly have a bad reputation for drunken and late nights on the town when they go on holiday and YouGov found that 61 percent of people in the UK think their tourists are viewed badly by the locals. Some say it’s a myth but many say they’ve experienced it: German holidaymakers getting up early in the morning with their towels to lay claim…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Katharina Buchholz, Aug 30, 2019[/box] Hurricanes can cause a staggering amount of human losses as well as economic hardship for those affected. Total monetary losses habitually exceed insured losses in the case of hurricanes, as our graphic with data from Munich Re shows. Of the estimated US$125 billion in total damages caused by Hurricane Katrina, the worst storm on the insurer’s list, in 2005 just more than $60 billion were insured losses. The ratio is worse for Hurricane Harvey, which devastated parts of the U.S., the Caribbean and Central America in 2017. Here only a third, US$30 billion out…
Bears return as rally short-lived, KSE-100 index down 5.4pc wow Summary The stock exchange which gained 9% or 2,585 points last week declined this week by 1,678 points or 5.4%. It shows how mature our stock market is? Also it points to the changing sentiments of investors about the market so rapidly. It also suggested the dominance of few brokers or institutions to manipulate the Index. Definitely the presence of handful investors of around 250,000 is the cause of wide fluctuation in the market. Last week there was positivity in the market due to three news — The Army Chief…
Published in Samaa news on Aug 29th, 2019, Todd Phillips’ Joker is going to be the most anticipated film of 2019. The trailer dropped Wednesday and it shows the dark side of the DC Comics’ laughing psychopath. Starring Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, the film promises to be “a gritty origin story of one of the most iconic villains ever”. Arthur is a struggling and depressed stand-up comedian and amateur clown living in Gotham City. The film shows how the character slips towards insanity and how he fights against a cruel society. The trailer shows that Arthur is in therapy, talking…
Mehwish Hayat is on the list of The Muslim Vibe’s top five Muslim women who are striving to make the world a better place. Photo: File Published in Geo news on Aug 28th, 2019, Earlier this month, one of the most sought after actresses of our country, Mehwish Hayat received the Pride of Performance in Norway. This was followed by multiple appearances on various international platforms where she spoke about how the world of cinema is fueling Islamophobia. Meanwhile, the Chhalawa actress has also been appointed as the Brand Ambassador of Muslim Islamic Charity, Penny Appeal. The good news…
Published in The Nation on Aug 27th, 2019, The group’s Amazon Forest Fund will provide financial aid to local partners and indigenous communities as they work to protect the Amazon LOS ANGELES – Leonardo Dicaprio has donated $5 million in aid to the Amazon rainforest, which is being destroyed by wildfires. The 44-year-old actor has pledged the money through his environmental foundation, Earth Alliance, which he created with philanthropists Laurene Powell Jobs and Brian Sheth. The group’s Amazon Forest Fund will provide financial aid to local partners and indigenous communities as they work to protect the Amazon. A statement…
Published in Geo News on Aug 27th, 2019, The rise of hip hop in Lyari mirrors the genre’s own birth decades ago in New York’s Bronx borough KARACHI: Haunted by gang violence and poverty for decades, Lyari was once considered one of Pakistan’s most dangerous areas, but those grim realities also inspired a generation of artists and spawned a burgeoning hip hop scene. With its close proximity to the sea and history of smuggling, the largely ethnic Balochi neighbourhood in Karachi stands apart for its history of violence and lawlessness — even by Pakistan’s standards. When Karachi served as…
Published in Samaa News on Aug 27th, 2019, Sports-entertainment stars are all set to entertain Pakistani fans as the “Ring of Pakistan” competition kicks off in Islamabad on Wednesday, Radio Pakistan has reported. The three-day event is being organised by the Pakistan Wrestling Federation (PWF) with the support of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) as part of Independence Day celebrations. Former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Total Nonstop Action (TNA) stars Chris Masters, So Cal Val alongwith Badshah Khan, Tiny Iron, Drake Destroyer, Armitis and others will participate in the event. [ads1] Managing Director Ring of Pakistan thanked…
A five-member panel will interview candidates for the roles of Pakistan cricket team’s player support personnel. Photo: File Published in Geo News on Aug 29th, 2019, LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will start its interview process for the posts of head coach and bowling coach today. A day earlier, the PCB announced a five-member panel to interview the candidates for the roles of Pakistan cricket team’s player support personnel. The panel comprises former captain and team manager/coach Intikhab Alam, former cricketer and commentator Bazid Khan, Board of Governor member Asad Ali Khan, PCB Managing Director Wasim Khan and…
Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot against Juan Ignacio Londero of Argentina during their Men’s Singles second round match on day three of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 28 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. — Getty Images/AFP Published in Dawn News on Aug 29th, 2019, Novak Djokovic’s US Open title defence just got a little tougher on Wednesday as a recent shoulder issue flared up and nearly knocked the Serbian out of a second-round match that tested his resolve. Djokovic struggled…
Published in The Nation on Aug 29th, 2019, ISLAMABAD – Former WBA unified light-welterweight world champion England’s Amir Khan of Pakistani-origin slammed Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir, saying he is in Pakistan to show his all-out support for the brave people of Jammu and Kashmir. Amir, 33-year old, expressed these views during a press conference held at Amir Khan Boxing Academy, Islamabad on Wednesday. He said huge Kashmiri community resides in United Kingdom. “I went to border areas of Azad Kashmir with Pakistan Army, I wanted to show the world, what is happening in Kashmir. Women, children, old and youth are being butchered…
Published in ARY Sports on Aug 27th, 2019, By Reuters Fans of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have together submitted a list of demands to European soccer’s governing body UEFA after numerous complaints following the Champions League and Europa League finals last season. A joint statement by Arsenal Supporters’ Trust, Chelsea Supporters’ Trust, Spirit of Shankly and Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust covers various problems such as inadequate ticket allocations and inconvenient travel arrangements. “We have drawn up a six-point action plan to improve the supporter experience,” the statement read. “It has been referred to the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA)…
England´s Ben Stokes reacts after England won the third Ashes cricket Test match between England and Australia at Headingley in Leeds, northern England, on August 25, 2019. Photo: AFP Published in Geo News on Aug 27th, 2019, LONDON: The accolades keep coming for Ben Stokes after his astonishing match-winning innings in the third Ashes Test against Australia with icon Ian Botham anointing him English cricket’s ‘Special One’. Until Stokes lit up Headingley on Sunday with his series-saving 135, Botham’s titanic 149 not out in the second innings of the 1981 Test against the Australians had been the benchmark. A…
Indian paramilitary soldiers close a street using barbwire in Srinagar in Indian occupied Kashmir. — AP Published in Dawn News on Aug 29th, 2019, India says it plans to hire tens of thousands of government workers in occupied Kashmir after New Delhi stripped Kashmiris of the constitutional rights they had for seven decades through a rushed presidential order. Satya Pal Malik, the New Delhi-appointed governor, called it the largest recruitment drive in the disputed region, with officials planning to fill up “50,000 vacancies in various government departments in the next few months”. At a news conference on Wednesday in Srinagar,…
China had warned that Beijing would not ‘sit by and watch’ as the unrest in Hong Kong continues [File: Damir Sagolj/Reuters] Published in AlJazeera on Aug 29th, 2019, Beijing describes as ‘routine’ the movement of Chinese forces, estimated at between 8,000 and 10,000 soldiers. China rotated thousands of new troops into its garrison in Hong Kong on Thursday days before protesters planned to hold a march calling for full democracy after three months of sometimes violent demonstrations. China’s military will make even greater contributions to maintaining Hong Kong’s “prosperity and stability”, state news agency Xinhua cited the People’s Liberation…
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks to U.S. military personnel at Naval Air Station Sigonella following the G7 Summit, in Sigonella, Sicily, Italy, May 27, 2017. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi Published in Reuters on Aug 29th, 2019, Steve Gorman, Alex Dobuzinskis (Reuters) – Some children born to U.S. citizens stationed abroad as government employees or members of the U.S. military will no longer qualify for automatic American citizenship under a policy change unveiled on Wednesday by the Trump administration. Effective Oct. 29, certain parents serving overseas in the U.S. armed forces or other agencies of the federal government must…
On Thursday, Erdogan spoke to Trump on the phone about the latest developments in Syria [File: Ludovic Marin/Reuters] Published in AlJazeera on Aug 29th, 2019, Washington and Ankara remain at odds over issue of Kurdish YPG militia, which is part of a US-backed force against ISIL. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared that Turkey would not allow the United States to delay its plan to set up a “safe zone” in northeast Syria, while insisting that the deal he reached with Washington was still the correct step to take. Erdogan was quoted in a CNN Turk report published on Thursday as saying that Ankara would…
Published in The Nation on Aug 28th, 2019, Even if the odds of success are not 90% but are 20% or 10%, we must move ahead with it. We should not miss opportunities, says Rouhani TEHRAN – Iran’s president back-pedalled Tuesday on possible talks with Donald Trump, saying the US president must first lift sanctions imposed on Tehran, otherwise a meeting between the two would be a mere photo op. Hassan Rouhani’s change of heart came a day after Trump said Monday that there’s a “really good chance” the two could meet on their nuclear impasse after a surprise…
GULF STATES- ECONOMICS & FINANCE UAB to offer housing finance solutions to uae nationals United Arab Bank (UAB) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment (MBRHE), under which UAB would offer housing finance solutions to UAE nationals who are under the umbrella of Al Yusr program. Al Yusr program is one of MBRHE’s initiatives aiming to provide financial options for UAE national beneficiaries to obtain MBRHE-owned ready properties via partner banks. The MoU was signed at the MBRHE headquarters by Sheikh Mohamed Al Nuaimi, deputy chief executive officer of UAB and Sami Abdullah…
INDIAN ECONOMY: OVERVIEW, GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT Q1 GDP numbers to be out today; India likely to grow at 5.2 to 5.7percent The Central Statics Office (CSO) is likely to release GDP growth data for the April-June quarter (Q1) at around 12 noon on Friday. Continuing on its downward slide, the economic growth in the first quarter of FY20 is expected to be in the range of 5.2 to 5.7 percent, which is down from 5.8 percent in the previous quarter, predict various polls. According to a Reuters’ poll, the Indian economy will likely grow at a year-on-year pace of 5.7…
ECONOMIC TIMES OF PAKISTAN PIA seeks pkr 10bn more to stay afloat The government on Friday showed its reluctance to bail out Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) due to its hands being tied by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan agreement as the PIA management sought another injection of nearly Rs10 billion to remain afloat. The PIA management demanded the bailout package in a meeting with Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. After coming to power, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has already given two bailout packages costing the exchequer nearly Rs38 billion. The fresh assistance was…
Jazz business partners with VMware to provide best-in-class cloud services Aimed at facilitating access to cloud-based business solutions; Jazz Business signed a partnership with VMware, Inc. a leading innovator in enterprise software. The partnership enables Jazz to provide current and prospective customers with the country’s largest seamless cloud platform that will catalyze future-forward innovations in an increasingly digitalized global economy. In alignment with the National Digital Pakistan initiative; Jazz’s partnership with VMware will hasten the digitalization and transformation of businesses. Facilitating access to VMware’s cutting-edge cloud solutions, Jazz will offer businesses access to cost effective, reliable and locally hosted cloud.…
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 13.21 13.71 2 – Week 13.26 13.76 1 – Month 13.31 13.81 3 – Month 13.68 13.93 6 – Month 13.83 14.08 9 – Month 13.89 14.39 1 – Year 13.95 14.45 2 – Year 13.79 14.29 3- Year 13.79 14.29
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Robert Govers Author, “Imaginative Communities” This article is part of the World Economic Forum on Africa[/box] For too long, tourist destinations have focused on things like growth in arrivals, number of beds, receipts and revenue: a race to keep up with the competition. At the same time, the existing tourism system is outdated. The result? Tourist destinations end up with standardized policies and proven solutions—copy and-paste behavior that also copies the mistakes of the past. Now, it is giving way to overtourism and citizen retaliation. What is needed is for destinations to position themselves as imaginative communities – neighborhoods, cities, regions,…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Maria Damanaki Global Managing Director, Oceans, Nature Conservancy[/box] What if I showed you evidence suggesting the global supply of beef, chicken or pork could collapse over the coming decades? You might well panic at the thought. This threat, while not eminent for land-based animals, is very real for the ocean and the critical sources of wild seafood that we harvest from them. While most of us may think of land-based sources as providing the majority of our animal protein, the ocean’s contribution to human nutrition is incredibly important. Seafood provides as many as 3 billion people…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Alex Liu Managing partner, AT Kearney This article is part of the World Economic Forum on Africa[/box] Africa has taken three significant steps in recent months on its journey to a stronger economic future. In March, the African Union launched the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This landmark agreement aims to create a single market expected to generate a combined GDP of more than $3.4 trillion and benefit over 1 billion people. In April, the South African government announced the launch of a new Affiliate Centre of the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR).…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Pushan Dutt, INSEAD[/box] Japan and South Korea are showing no signs of resolving an escalating trade dispute, which traces back to 1910. It now poses a threat to the world’s tech supply chain and has potentially severe consequences for the global economy. And the dispute is being played out within a complex confluence of historical grievances, domestic politics, the ongoing US-China trade war and a looming global recession. Japan has officially removed South Korea from its list of trusted trade partners that receive preferential treatment for importing sensitive Japanese-made goods, as of August 28. The list…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Peter Thomson United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, United Nations[/box] Sustainable Development Goal 14.6 is the UN’s clarion call for harmful fisheries subsidies to be prohibited by 2020, a task of global importance assigned to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Specifically, SDG14.6 says: “‘[B]y 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies”. This target was set in the context of the SDGs and consensually adopted by the UN in September 2015. The…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Brigitte van de Pas, Aug 26, 2019[/box] In June 2019, the United States was the country with the largest gold reserves. The reserves of the U.S. were over twice as large as those of second-placed Germany, and nearly four times as large as the reserves of number three, Italy. The largest producer of gold worldwide, China, ranked sixth, with a gold reserve of almost 2,000 metric tons. In 2018, the country mined roughly 400 metric tons of gold, or nearly 100 tons more than Australia, the second-largest gold producer in the world. With the uncertainty on the stock market caused by…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Martin Armstrong, Aug 26, 2019[/box] For most people nowadays, their smartphone is within arm’s reach 24 hours a day. It’s in their pocket while they’re at work, it’s in their hand on the train ride home and it’s on their bedside table as they go to sleep. With this level of proximity and usage, many can’t quite shake the niggling feeling that they might be risking damage to themselves in the long run. While conclusive longitudinal research on the effects of cell phone radiation is still hard to come by, for those looking to hedge their…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Martin Armstrong, Aug 26, 2019[/box] Of 558 places around the world, climate data collected by the German Meteorological Service shows that when compared to the 1961-1990 temperature norm, a vast majority – 511 – saw an increase in 2018. 11 experienced no change and only 36 recorded a decrease. Selecting locations with a view to providing maximal geographical coverage, this infographic gives an overview of how the world is getting warmer. Uelen, located just south of the Arctic Circle in the far east of Russia, registered the largest increase for 2018 – deviating by 5.1 degrees Celsius above the…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Katharina Buchholz, Aug 26, 2019[/box] Brazil was the biggest exporter of beef and veal in the world in 2017 as well as in 2019 (forecast). Despite alreading being the biggest exporter of the meat, Brazil was also one of the countries growing its exports the strongest, together with Argentina. While Brazilian beef is certainly is a sought-after product abroad, Brazil has also been criticized for its cattle industry which is strongest in the central states of the country and has caused a lot of deforestation. Cattle need feed and room to graze. Millions of acres have been cleared to make…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Katharina Buchholz, Aug 26, 2019[/box] A research paper published last month in scientific journal Obesity Review suggest that India is the country with the unhealthiest packaged food. The survey by researcher from the University of Oxford tested packaged food items like sweets, non-alcoholic beverages, cereal, dairy, snacks and sauces for their saturated fat, sugar and sodium contents as well as their energy density. The study was carried out between 2013 and 2018. India scored only 2.27 index points on the scale of 0.5 (unhealthiest) to 5 (healthiest). Out of the 12 countries surveyed, the UK and the…
Remarkable bulls control subsides on last day of trading Summary It was a fantastic week for the investors as the Pakistan Stock Exchange Index gained back healthy 2,585.39 points after seven weeks of depressing trend of decline. It was a gain of almost 9% in single week. The market crossed levels of 28:29:30 and 31 thousands to close at 31,350.02. Heavily oversold stocks were trading at 11-year low price-to-earnings ratio of just five time inviting value customers. The reason could be the change of SECP team who immediately paid visit to Stock Exchange, approval of “Murahaba Share Financing”, calmness at…
© JIM YOUNG, AFP/Getty Images Former President Barack and Michelle Obama just debuted the first documentary from their Higher Ground production company on Netflix. Published in MSN on Aug 22nd, 2019, Carly Mallenbaum If their first film from is any indication, more fantastic movies and shows are on the way from former President Barack and Michelle Obama’s new production company The Obamas launched Higher Ground Productions last spring in partnership with Netflix, promising a company that would “harness the power of storytelling” and touch on “issues of race and class, democracy and civil rights, and much more.” “American Factory,” the first title from…
Lana Wachowski will helm the project returning to write, direct and produce the latest installment of the ‘Matrix’. Photo: Variety Published in Geo News on Aug 21st, 2019, LOS ANGELES: Sci-fi franchise The Matrix will return for a fourth film with Keanu Reeves reprising his role as kung fu-kicking, shades-wearing hero Neo, studio Warner Bros said Tuesday. Lana Wachowski will helm the project, returning to write, direct and produce the latest installment of the hugely popular series about humans trapped in a virtual reality by machines, which has netted more than $1.6 billion worldwide. “We could not be more excited to…
Tom Holland in Spider-Man Homecoming Published in Gulf News on Aug 21st, 2019, Holland’s iteration of Spider-Man has appeared in five Marvel Studios and Sony films Los Angeles – The Marvel movies have together grossed $22 billion at the global box office, and British actor Tom Holland’s Spider-Man has become an increasingly central figure in the most lucrative franchise in film history. But while the teen web-slinger has for decades been the “crown jewel” of the Marvel comic book empire on which the films are based, Sony owns the character’s movie rights. He only began appearing in Marvel’s “cinematic…
Dwayne Johnson will star in Jumanji: The Next Level later this year Published in BBC on Aug 21st, 2019, Dwayne Johnson was the highest-paid actor of the last year, according to the latest annual rankings from Forbes. He climbed from his number two placing last year – despite his $89.4m (£73.6m) earnings actually being less than the $119m (£98.1m) he made in 2018. Last year’s number one actor George Clooney has dropped out of the top 10. That’s because his high earnings on 2018’s list were down to the sale of his tequila company, in a deal worth $1bn…
Published in Geo News on Aug 20th, 2019, Writer and director Aziz Jindani’s animated film, The Donkey King hit cinemas across Pakistan in October last year and had a great run at the box office. The political satire broke previous box office records made by other animated films in Pakistan, grossing Rs. 24.75 crores after running in the cinemas for 25 weeks. According to latest reports, the film is all set to become the first-ever Pakistani film to release in South Korea later this month. “The Donkey King is dubbed in the local language and will be released in…
Messi and Ronaldo have won the coveted Ballon d’Or five times each Published in Geo on Aug 22nd, 2019, LISBON: Cristiano Ronaldo admitted on Wednesday his long-time rivalry with Lionel Messi has made him “a better player” and that he enjoys a “healthy” rivalry with the Argentine great. However, Portuguese star Ronaldo, whose influence at Real Madrid mirrored that of Messi at Barcelona before he left for Juventus, admitted that the pair have never socialised together. “I really admire the career he has had and from his side, he has already talked of the disappointment when I left Spain…
Published in AlJazeera on Aug 21st, 2019, by Leah Harding Once completed, it will be the first FIFA World Cup stadium that can be fully dismantled. The designs for the latest World Cup stadium in Qatar are coming to life, one container at a time. The Ras Abu Aboud stadium in Doha will be the first fully reusable FIFA stadium for the 2022 event. All of its components are recyclable and the container-sized building blocks are arriving to port filled with the materials used to make the stadium. The containers themselves will be used to make everything from the stadium’s bathrooms, offices and…
Published in Gulf News on Aug 21st, 2019, By Matthew Smith, Deputy Editor Sports Forward expects more penalties and more goals under new EPL rules Dubai: Mohamed Salah does not like the introduction of video assistant referees (VAR) to the Premier League, but he will take full advantage of the change in the rules as he thinks it will mean more penalties for him and Liverpool. The Anfield favourite scored 71 goals in all competitions for the Reds during his first two seasons and — while he is not a fan — he believes VAR will mean even more…
Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, bounces the ball before serving to Andreas Haider-Maurer, of Austria, during the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Published in Dawn on Aug 22nd, 2019, ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Squash Federation is set to organise the Pakistan International Squash Tournament from Aug 26 to 30 here at Mushaf Squash Complex. The tournament carries a prize money of $10,000 for the men’s event and $5,000 for the women’s version. The event is recognised by the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and therefore help Pakistani players to improve their international ranking.…
Published in Gulf News on Aug 21st, 2019, Paytm will pay 3.27 billion rupees ($45.78 million) for the 2019-23 period to the BCCI Mumbai: India’s cricket board (BCCI) said on Wednesday it will earn 58% more per match for the next four years as Paytm retained the title sponsorship rights for international and domestic matches, underlining the game’s undiminished popularity in the country. Cricketers are the highest profile athletes and enjoy rockstar status in the world’s second most populous country and Paytm’s bid showed the semi-final defeat to New Zealand in the recent 50-over World Cup has not dented…
Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke to New York Times on Wednesday at the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad. — Photo courtesy New York Times Published in Dawn on Aug 22nd, 2019, Amid rising tension over occupied Kashmir, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said there is “no point” talking to Indian officials, adding that his overtures for peace and dialogue with New Delhi so far have proven futile. In an interview with The New York Times journalists Salman Masood and Maria Abi-Habib, published on Wednesday, Prime Minister Imran said: “There is no point in talking to them. I mean, I have done all the…
FILE PHOTO: A migrant, part of a caravan of thousands traveling from Central America en route to the United States, tries to look at U.S. border patrol officers through a hole in the border wall between the U.S and Mexico in Tijuana, Mexico November 25, 2018. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo Published in Reuters on Aug 22nd, 2019, By Andy Sullivan, Mica Rosenberg WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Trump administration on Wednesday unveiled a rule that allows officials to detain migrant families indefinitely while judges consider whether to grant them asylum in the United States, abolishing a previous 20-day limit. The rule, which…