[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]This article was originally published by The Applied Ecologist 03 Dec 2020 Karen D. Holl Professor of Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz Pedro H. S. Brancalion Professor of Tropical Forestry, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo [/box] Around the world, there is a major push to plant trees, but the process is much more complicated than it seems on the surface. Haphazard tree planting can have unintended consequences. To have a beneficial impact, the process requires extensive planning and preparation. With a growing number of tree planting initiatives at regional to…
Author: PAGE
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson, United Nations University[/box] Out of the 79.5 million people who were forcibly displaced in 2019, an estimated 26 million were refugees. Approximately a third of the world’s refugees live in camps. Most displaced people, a total of 50.8 million in 2019, were internally displaced within their own countries. Recent media reports indicate that COVID-19 is spreading in refugee camps such as Idlib in north-west Syria, as well as within temporary settlements hosting refugees in Bangladesh, Greece, Lebanon and Palestine. When the pandemic struck, COVID-19 handwashing guidelines did not pose a problem for many people.…
Ports are responsible of handling 90% of all global trade happening today. Regional economies rely heavily on developing shipping infrastructures that can support national as well as international trade. Pakistan is no exception. The development of the CPEC is testament to the significance Pakistan holds as a cargo destination in this part of the world. Pakistan also serve as channels to allow countries situated in far flung areas or places where sea routes are inaccessible to take advantage of trade by sea. One of the foremost advantages that countries derive through ports is development of infrastructural facilities like road networks,…
Says govt making good plans to fully support business professionals, entrepreneurs Etimad Online and Pakistan Public Forum organized a seminar on “ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY & CREATING EMPLOYMENT BY MOTIVATING ENTREPRENEURS” at a local hotel in Karachi. The event focused on the role of government institutions as well as professionals in motivating and training the budding entrepreneurs. Mr. Azim A. Sheik, Chairman – Etimad Online said “with the help of Pakistan Public Forum, for young and budding entrepreneurs, we have formed an organization with the name of Etimad Online, which is gathering all the experts under one platform to train and…
Remote is the new normal. Through programs such as Skype, WhatsApp and FaceTime, customers have enjoyed the benefits of using video chat in their personal lives. Naturally, it was only a matter of time before they expected the same from their customer service experiences. Integrating video chat into your customer service is, therefore, a logical way to adapt to the way your customers want to communicate. For instance, banks that can’t afford to have mortgage experts in each branch can make those specialists available via video from a branch or even from customers’ homes. Illinois-based Consumers Credit Union reported that…
KSE-100 index bounces three-day rally but gains 620 points wow Summary Covid-19 rising cases remained the main threat to the economy during the week and compelled government to shut educational institutions once again and upsurge poses risk to economic recovery termed the Ministry of Finance. However, Prime Minister rules out shutdown of factories, businesses on Wednesday. State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) kept interest rate unchanged at 7 percent, while foreign exchange reserves reached to almost three-and-a-half year high, improving government’s ability to meet its external liabilities. There was consistent increase and decrease in international oil prices; the political changes in…
(Clockwise, from top left) Sandy Crood (Kailey Crawford), Grug Crood (Nicolas Cage), Thunk Crood (Clark Duke), Gran (Cloris Leachman), Eep Crood (Emma Stone) and Ugga Crood (Catherine Keener) in DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods: A New Age, directed by Joel Crawford. – Image Credit: AP Published in Gulf News on Nov 30th, 2020, Animated film had one of the best opening weekends of the pandemic Testing a novel release strategy, Universal Pictures’ animated sequel ‘The Croods: A New Age’ had one of the best opening weekends of the pandemic, grossing $14.2 million (Dh52.16 million) over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend,…
Sajal Ali receives love from fans, fellow stars after winning DIAFA award Published in Geo News on Nov 30th, 2020, Leading Pakistani actress Sajal Ali received love and congratulatory messages from fellow showbiz stars and fans after she was awarded for her contribution to film and television by the Distinctive International Arab Festivals Awards (DIAFA). Zara Noor Abbas and best friend of Sajal turned to Instagram and shared an adorable photo of Sajal on her story and wrote, “Super super proud of you @sajalaly” followed by a heart emoticon. Momal Shaikh commented on Sajal’s post, “MashAllah congratulations and you…
Published in The Nation on Nov 28th, 2020, Pakistani actor and director Sarmad Khoosat’s controversial film Zindagi Tamashahas been selected to be submitted as Pakistan’s official entry to the 93rd Academy Awards. The film was selected by the Pakistan Academy Selection Committee in the International Film Category with the final list of nominees to be decided by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences next year. The Sarmad Khoosat-directorial stars Eman Suleman, Arif Hassan and Samiya Mumtaz in key roles. The film had stirred quite a chaos in the country with its release being halted after hurting the sentiments…
Published in Geo News on Nov 30th, 2020, The K-pop boy band BTS is offering up their outfits from the music video of their hit single “Dynamite” to the highest bidder in a Beverly Hills, California, charity auction in January. The pink, blue, yellow and lavender pastel outfits the seven singers wore in the record-setting video are expected to fetch what Julien’s Auctions on Monday called a conservative estimate of $20,000 – $40,000. “This is the first time that BTS has ever sold any costumes,” said Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien’s Auctions. The costumes include the T-shirts, hats,…
Published in The Nation on Nov 29th, 2020, Maliha Waqas Islamabad-Model Georgia Fowler has ranked among some of the biggest names in the business. The New Zealand-born beauty has been listed in the top 50 best earning models in 2020. The 28 year old is in esteemed company, with big names like sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber ranking alongside her. The site lists Georgia’s demand with labels such as Victoria’s Secret for her great success. She’s also fronted campaigns for Witchery, Seafolly, Mumm champagne and modelled for high end designers like Miu Miu, DKNY and…
Published in Gulf News on Nov 30th, 2020, New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) would like to see traditional rivals India and Pakistan play bilateral series regularly, and in each other’s territories, said chairman Gregor John Barclay on Monday, but he also pointed out that he didn’t have the mandate to ensure that it actually happens. India-Pakistan bilateral series always depends on the political relations that the two Asian neighbouring countries have, and they haven’t played a Test series against each other for 13 years. That was when Pakistan toured India in 2007 for a three-Test series while…
This handout images courtesy of Getty Images for Triller shows Roy Jones Jr. (L) and Mike Tyson celebrate their split draw during Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr. presented by Triller at Staples Center on November 28, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. -AFP Published in Geo News on Nov 29th, 2020, LOS ANGELES: Roy Jones was unhappy on Saturday after his fight with former champion Mike Tyson ended in a draw in an eight-round exhibition battle of former heavyweight champions. Fifteen years after retiring with a 2005 loss to journeyman Kevin McBride, Tyson made his comeback at Staples Center…
Published in ARY News on Nov 27th, 2020, Rawalpindi: Pakistan’s first-ever female cricket match referee Saman Zulfiqar has started performing her duties in the ongoing National Triangular T20 Women’s Cricket Championship. Saman is the only female match referee on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) development panel. She was the match referee in the fourth match of the tournament between PCB Dynamites and PCB Blasters. While talking to a local newspaper, Saman said that she is happy to officiate as the first female match referee. Saman has aimed to seek more experience and her message for girls is to come in…
Published in Bol News on Nov 26th, 2020, Fahad Pervez Two Pakistani cricket players chosen with former captain Misbah-ul-Haq and leg spinner Yasir Shah have been selected for ICC Awards of the Decade announced on Wednesday. The International Cricket Council (ICC), in a media release, set out a special edition of ICC Awards of the Decade to celebrate and reward the top performances in the earlier ten years by both men and women in the game of cricket. ICC has stated a list of 10 award classes for the event with 67 player’s selection. Only two Pakistani players were listed…
Argentina’s coach Diego Maradona celebrates his team’s goal against Nigeria during the 2010 World Cup at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg June 12, 2010. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh/Files Published in Geo News on Nov 25th, 2020, Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona has passed away aged 60 after suffering cardiac arrest, his lawyers confirmed on Wednesday. Diego Armando Maradona was recently in the headlines over his health issues and had undergone an emergency surgery for a subdural haematoma — or brain blood clot — a few weeks ago, according to Reuters. Argentine soccer great Diego Armando Maradona kicks the ball during a charity…
Published in The Express Tribune on Nov 30th, 2020, Islamabad looks forward to hosting 48th Council of Foreign Ministers session in 2021, says FO Pakistan on Monday expressed gratitude for reaffirmation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) steadfast support on the Kashmir dispute during the 47th Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) session in Niger, a country in West Africa. The CFM, attended by the foreign ministers and representatives of OIC member states, adopted a comprehensive and strongly-worded resolution on the decades-long Kashmir issue. “We extend our deep gratitude to Niger (as the new CFM Chair), Saudi Arabia (as…
Mourners attend the burial ceremony of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh at the shrine of Imamzadeh Saleh in Tehran [Hamed Malekpour/WANA via Reuters] Published in AlJazeera on Nov 30th, 2020, By Maziar Motamedi Tehran, Iran – Iran has laid to rest assassinated nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, in the capital Tehran as authorities blamed Israel for the killing and repeated vows to avenge it. The funeral on Monday, scaled down due to coronavirus protocols and attended only by Fakhrizadeh’s family and some military commanders, was held at the defence ministry headquarters in Tehran. Fakhrizadeh’s coffin, wrapped in an Iranian flag, was then taken…
Published in The Nation on Nov 30th, 2020, Azerbaijani experts continue demining the territories in Karabakh that were recently liberated from Armenian forces, officials said on Sunday. Since Sept. 27 at least 750 unexploded missiles and rockets, 4,500 anti-personnel mines and 2,000 anti-tank mines have been found and destroyed, according to Idris Ismayilov, who is heading the operation under the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA). Mine-clearing and destruction operations on the 10-kilometer-long (6.2 miles) road between the cities of Tartar and Sugovushan have been continuing for 10 days, he told reporters, adding that up to eight kilometers…
A man stands outside the U.S. Supreme Court where the court ruled that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration did not give an adequate explanation for its plan to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census, delivering a victory to New York state and others challenging the proposal in Washington, U.S., June 27, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Barria Published in Reuters on Nov 29th, 2020, By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Supreme Court on Monday is set to take up President Donald Trump’s unprecedented and contentious effort to exclude illegal immigrants from the population totals used to allocate U.S. House of…
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets senior White House adviser Jared Kushner in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in September 2020 [File: Saudi Press Agency via AP Photo] Published in AlJazeera on Nov 30th, 2020, Riyadh gives approval night before low-cost Israir due to fly its first planned route to the UAE, using Saudi airspace. Saudi Arabia agreed to let Israeli airliners cross its airspace en route to the United Arab Emirates after talks between Saudi officials and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, news agency Reuters and Israeli media outlets have reported. Kushner and Middle East envoys Avi Berkowitz…
Saudi to invest $20 billion in AI by 2030 -Pakistan & Gulf Economist Saudi Arabia announced Thursday it will invest $20 billion in artificial intelligence projects by 2030, as the oil-rich country seeks to diversify its economy amid slumping crude prices. Arab world’s top economy introduces AI strategy in Vision 2030, led by Crown Prince, to reduce oil dependency. “Saudi Arabia will invest $20 billion from now until 2030,” said Abdullah A Ghamdi, head of the Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, which was established in 2019. “We aspire to have artificial intelligence as a component of an alternative economy through…
Producing generation of skilled workers Pakistan has quite a few competencies in abundance. Among those, population tops the charts. However, not-so-abundant are the (quality) job opportunities. If you’re reading this, chances are high that you too – as the author – grew up being told to become a doctor, engineer, CSS-aspirant or an MBA. A majority of us didn’t have it the other way. Outside Pakistan, earning “Rozgar” is driven by your passion, wage rate, government policies and frankly, the want to convert ideas into reality. Supported by economic policies or national security considerations, the policymakers “nudge” or “guide” the…
Pakistan News: Govt to provide the latest version of e-office for provinces: The federal government has decided to provide the latest version of the e-Office to the provinces. The consensus was reached during a meeting regarding the implementation status of the e-Office chaired by the Federal Minister for Information and Telecommunication, Syed Amin Ul Haque. The Federal Secretary Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, and the CEO of the National Information Technology Board (NITB), Shabahat Ali Shah also attended the meeting. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] ZTE watch live brings heart-rate, blood oxygen tracker and 21-day battery: The Chinese…
[divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] International institutions draining resources of poor countries: Mian Zahid Hussain Chairman of National Business Group of FPCCI, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum and All Karachi Industrial Alliance, and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Friday said peace and prosperity is impossible in presence of colonial international institutions like the IMF and World Bank. These institutions will continue to fan poverty, hunger and illiteracy to fulfil the economic and political needs of the developed world, he said. Mian Zahid Hussain said that IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, FATA etc. are…
Kibor rate is the average interest rate at which term deposits are offered between prime banks in the Pakistani wholesale money market or interbank market. KIBOR as a benchmark, to encourage transparency and improve management of the market risk undertaken by banks. [ads1] Kibor Rates In Pakistan TENOR BID OFFER 1 – Week 6.87 7.37 2 – Week 6.89 7.39 1 – Month 6.91 7.41 3 – Month 7.05 7.30 6 – Month 7.10 7.35 9 – Month 7.15 7.65 1 – Year 7.18 7.68 Updated on 11 Sep, 2020
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Martin Armstrong, Nov 27, 2020[/box] Trust me, I’m a doctor. So goes the well-worn phrase, and as survey by Ipsos MORI reveals, medical professionals are indeed the most trusted group in Britain. A convincing 93 percent said they think nurses are trustworthy, followed by doctors with 91 percent and engineers with 89 percent. At the bottom of the pile are advertising executives who enjoy the trust of only 13 percent of the population – outdoing even politicians in terms of distrust. In the era of so-called ‘fake news’, journalists also make an appearance at the latter end of the list…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Niall McCarthy, Nov 27, 2020[/box] American billionaires haven’t been just immune to the pandemic, they have been thriving in it, drastically increasing their collective wealth. An analysis by Chuck Collins at the Institute for Policy Studies found that American billionaires have been their wealth grow by $1 trillion since March of this year – more than 34 percent. That was not the case during the 2008 financial crisis when it took Forbes’ 400 richest people three years to recoup their losses from the Great Recession. Collins’ findings highlight a wealth gain by a mere 650 individuals that seems obscene at…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Katharina Buchholz, Nov 26, 2020[/box] Italy and China are home to largest number of UNESCO world heritage sites in the world. Both countries boast 55 world heritage sites each, including the historic city centers of Rome and Florence or the Amalfi Coast for Italy and the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City for China – all magnets for tourism. In total, the UNESCO list includes 1,121 monuments in 167 countries as world heritage sites. With 49 world heritage sites, Spain ranks third ahead of Germany. The U.S. has 24 listed sites, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park,…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Niall McCarthy, Nov 25, 2020[/box] The OECD’s latest edition of its “Education at a Glance” report provides an insight into education systems on all of the organization’s member states. One interesting aspect of the research is the amount of time teachers actually spend in the classroom. On average, school teachers in OECD countries have to teach 723 hours per year in public institutions (average of primary and secondary instruction hours), though there are big differences in teaching time between countries. Generally, teachers spend between three and six hours each day in the classroom, though there is no set…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Niall McCarthy, Nov 25, 2020[/box] The number of people killed in terrorist attacks across the world has now fallen for the fifth consecutive year according to the latest edition of the Global Terrorism Index. 13,826 deaths were recorded last year, a 15.5 percent reduction on 2018 and a 59 percent reduction on 2014 when 33,438 people lost their lives. Even though Afghanistan and Nigeria experienced the largest declines in deaths from terrorism in 2019, they remained the only countries that experienced a death toll of at least 1,000 people. Afghanistan’s 5,725 deaths last year accounted for 41 percent of the…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Niall McCarthy, Nov 24, 2020[/box] OECD data reveals that there are around 120 million migrants living in OECD member countries. 30 to 35 percent of these migrants are considered highly educated, meaning they have received vocational or academic training. Among the most common birth countries for highly educated migrants, these shares are a lot higher, however. For India, which topped the list as of 2015/16 with more than three million highly educated migrants in the OECD, the share of those considered of high education status was nearly 65 percent. China had a rate of 48.6 percent highly…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Imran Khan Prime Minister of Pakistan, Prime Minister’s Secretariat[/box] Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan calls climate change a “defining global challenge” of our time. Pakistan is the fifth most climate-impacted country in the world. Khan is committed to a “clean and green” Pakistan. The country is targeting nature-based solutions like planting billions of trees. This article is part of the World Economic Forum’s Country Strategic Dialogue on Pakistan 2020. Climate change is one of the defining global challenges faced by our generation. It has far-reaching adverse economic, social and political impacts. The world is already witnessing unprecedented…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Geoffrey See Founder, Choson Exchange[/box] How the two Koreas cooperate on the Gangwon province could make it the site for the next stage of the peace process. North Korea realizes that diversifying its economic relations is critical for its autonomy and development. The United States should consider providing the opportunity to reconnect both Koreas through Gangwon Province On 5th November 2020, shortly after the US elections, the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Korean Peninsula hosted a panel discussing inter-Korean economic development of Gangwon (Kangwon) province in the two Koreas, together with the Jeju Peace…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Bilge Serin, University of Glasgow and Annette Hastings, University of Glasgow[/box] Historically, suburbs have been considered as places which are less diverse than cities, particularly with regard to their racial and social class composition. This is a result of many social and economic drivers influencing the development of city regions. But suburban districts and towns surrounding metropolitan cities, from which people often commute into the central city for work, are changing. More people have been moving to the suburbs due to the increasing unaffordability of city centres. This makes suburbs more diverse in terms of class…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]This article was originally published by Reuters Praveen Menon Reporter, Reuters[/box] The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, is putting forward a motion to declare a climate emergency on Wednesday. If passed, New Zealand would join countries like Canada, France and Britain in similar efforts on tackling climate change. Ardern returned to power in October, after winning the biggest election victory for her centre-left Labour Party in half a century. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s government is to declare a climate emergency in a symbolic step to increase pressure for action to combat global…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]This article was originally published by McKinsey & Company Achim Berg Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company Anna Granskog Partner, McKinsey & Company Libbi Lee Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company Karl-Hendrik Magnus Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company[/box] This article was originally published by McKinsey & Company, www.mckinsey.com. Copyright (c) 2020 All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission. The fashion industry was responsible for at least 4% of global greenhouse-gas emissions in 2018 – more than the carbon output of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom combined. McKinsey research shows that without action, the industry will fail to meet the…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Rafi Kretchmer VP, Product Marketing, Check Point Software Technologies[/box] Hybrid working between home and office has required a recalibration of how organizations provide secure, productive and digitally enabled environments for their employees. A recent study revealed that 78% of employees put data at risk inadvertently. What major cyber-security related changes and events can we expect in the cyber landscape over the next 12 months? Covid-19 introduced a paradigm shift in working culture. The new era of the “hybrid employee” has required a recalibration of how organizations provide secure, productive and digitally enabled environments for their employees. Security teams…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””] Jawad Khan Chief Executive Officer, Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) Mashal Yousaf Manager, Research Policy and Donor Management, Parwaaz Country Manager, Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) Myra Mufti Associate, Punjab Skills Development Fund[/box] Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world, with 64% of its population below the age 30 and youth unemployment rate as high as 8.5%. Efforts to re-skill and upskill the population by the public sector are patchy. A new multistakeholder approach is taking flight with a number of pilot projects underway to bridge the skills gap. Like other emerging markets, Pakistan’s rising investment…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Amna Khan, Manchester Metropolitan University[/box] Friday November 27 marks a key date in the UK’s retail calendar as consumers head online to take advantage of thousands of so-called “Black Friday” discounts. Although the name was traditionally used in the US for the Friday following Thanksgiving, in recent years the shopping event has risen to prominence in the UK as the biggest sales day of the year. The event has now also expanded over the weekend to include “Cyber Monday”. In 2020, people in the UK will spend an estimated £6 billion on Black Friday and Cyber…
Shaikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, President, UAE FA: Tony Douglas, Group CEO and Mohammad Al Bulooki, COO of Etihad Aviation Group, alongwith top officials of the UAEFA pose after signing the landmark deal on Monday. Image Credit: Supplied photo Published in Gulf News on Nov 10th, 2020, Shaikh Rashid signs multi-year landmark sponsorship agreement with national airline Dubai: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has signed a major partnership agreement with the UAE Football Association (UAE FA). The partnership was officially announced at a signing ceremony at the UAE FA Headquarters in Dubai, by Shaikh Rashid…
“The new BoG was constituted during its 59th meeting held here on Monday under PCB chairman Ehsan Mani. \u2014 Dawn\/File” Published in Dawn on Nov 10th, 2020, Mohammad Yaqoob LAHORE: For the first time in history an unelected Board of Governors (BoG) was formed on Monday as the Pakistan Cricket Board included four more nominated members in place of four elected ones, while still all the three elected members are yet to come as the PCB continues to make the mockery of its affairs. The new BoG was constituted during its 59th meeting held here on Monday under PCB…
Published in Samaa News on Nov 10th, 2020, It talks about gay relationships, sexual exploitation, male dominance A fiery online series about a group of women who unleash revenge on men has sparked a backlash in conservative Pakistan, where tough censorship rules prevent such shows from appearing on television. Filmed in Karachi but released by an India-based streaming service, “Churails”, or “Witches” in English, centres on four women who open an underground detective agency under the guise of a clothing store to catch cheating husbands. The storylines cover often untouched topics such as gay relationships, sexual exploitation, male dominance…
Keegan-Michael Key gushes over ‘absolutely historic’ Netflix casting Published in Geo News on Nov 10th, 2020, American actor Keegan-Michael Key recently dubbed the 2020 Christmas film Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, an ‘absolutely historic’ moment for Netflix. Reason being that the festive piece features people of color, all while being set in the Victorian era. During his interview with Metro UK, Key spilled the beans on all of his thoughts regarding the new release and even touched on his personal excitement over getting to become a part of something so “absolutely historic.” The actor was quoted telling the leading daily, “Sitting outside of…
Published in Ary News on Nov 10th, 2020, Reuters The handgun used by the late Sean Connery in the first James Bond film is the star attraction in a Hollywood auction next month. The semi-automatic Walther PP gun, which along with its smaller model the PPK became one of the film franchise’s best-known images, is expected to fetch between $150,000 and $200,000 at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills on December 3, the auction house said on Monday. The de-activated gun was used by Connery in Dr. No in 1962. Connery, who originated the James Bond role on screen, died on October…
Meghan Markle, Prince Harry will be spending Christmas occasion on their own following their own rules Published in Geo News on Nov 10th, 2020, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will not be following royal tradition of celebrating Christmas continuing their streak of breaking royal traditions. Harry and Meghan will be spending the occasion on their own in their Montecito abode along with son Archie following their own rules. According to an insider, “Christmas is Meghan’s favorite holiday and she cannot wait to get into the festive spirit. She and Harry will buy a ginormous Christmas tree for the new…
Published in The Nation on Nov 10th, 2020, Anadolu With Democrat candidate Joe Biden projected to become the next US President after defeating Donald Trump, the popular mood has turned upbeat in faraway Iran. Since Friday, when Biden’s lead over Trump grew significantly, Iran’s forex market has appeared to regain a semblance of stability, with national currency rial marking a considerable recovery. Over the past three years, following the unilateral US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, sanctions imposed by the Trump administration virtually decimated the country’s financial market. The unprecedented sanctions, targeting key sectors, prompted Iranians to…
About two dozen people have been arrested under the new national security law China imposed in Hong Kong in June [Jayne Russell/ AFP] Published in AlJazeera on Nov 10th, 2020, Washington places sanctions on four more Hong Kong officials over a China-imposed national security law. The United States has slapped sanctions on four more officials in the mainland and Hong Kong, accusing them of threatening the peace and security of the semi-autonomous city over their role in enacting the national security law imposed by Beijing at the end of June. The US Department of State identified the four as…
The tone of PSX bullishly inclined as KSE-100 index recovers 2.1% WOW Summary The movement of KSE-100 Index during the week had the tendency for upward flow as it ultimately brought the Index from 39,000 level to 40,000 touching all-time high of 41,000 to finally close on Friday at 40,731.61. The added affecting factor for the PSX this week was US election. There was consensus view that Donald Trump victory could give the market boost, while it may sink in case of victory of his opponent. Already the scare over rising cases of Covid-19 supported by the officially released figure…
Published in Ary News on Nov 09th, 2020, Agencies K-pop stars BTS picked up four prizes at the MTV Europe Music Awards on Sunday, including best song for Dynamite and best group, capping a year in which the Korean band underlined its status as a major global act, reported Reuters. The group’s first English-language song, Dynamite logged nearly 34 million US streams and 300,000 sales in its first week, making BTS the first Korean act to debut at No. 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The seven-member band also snagged MTV awards for best virtual live act and the biggest…
Published in Bol News on Nov 06th, 2020, Arhama Altaf WEB EDITOR Spanish Tennis icon Rafael Nadal was handed an opening night fright by his good friend Feliciano Lopez at the Paris Masters as he claimed his 1,000th ATP Tour win. Rafael Nadal becomes just the fourth man to achieve 1,000 singles victories in the Open Era, behind Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer and Ivan Lendl. “One negative thing about 1,000 wins is you are very old because to win 1,000 matches you need to have a very long career, but I am super happy,” Nadal said in courtside. “I’m proud of…
Pakistan´s captain Babar Azam (R) celebrates with teammate Mohammad Hafeez after hitting a boundary during the first Twenty20 cricket match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on November 7, 2020. — AFP Published in Geo News on Nov 07th, 2020, Faizan Lakhani KARACHI: Pakistan’s white-ball captain Babar Azam on Saturday achieved another feat after he became the first-ever Pakistani to score back-to-back 1,000 runs in a calendar year. The 26-year-old scored a match-winning 82 against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi to complete 1,000 T20I runs in the calendar year 2020. Azam had also scored 1,607 runs…
Imran Khan bats for Sussex during the summer of 1981. Photo Courtesy: espn.cric.info Published in The News on Nov 09th, 2020, Prime Minister Imran Khan was the first captain in the history of cricket to call for neutral umpiring in order to ensure impartiality and a fair shake to either team, according to a post on the premier’s Instagram account. Posting a video on Instagram, the PM shared how cricket, dubbed as “the gentlemen’s game” lacked neutrality as most countries would field their own umpires against touring sides. However, changing the face of the game in 1986, the legendary…
A Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon. Published in Arabian Business on Nov 07th, 2020, By Tony Akleh Tensions rise between locals and Syrian refugees over competition for lower-skilled jobs and services such as healthcare and utilities Over 20 million refugees have been granted protection in another country in the last 10 years, with Lebanon bearing most of the responsibility in the Middle East, according to new figures. While most countries in the world have scarcely received any refugees at all, Lebanon is suffering under a heavy burden. But most of all, it affects refugees themselves, according to a report…
People celebrate in the streets after it was announced that Democratic nominee Joe Biden would be the next US President, in Times Square on November 7, 2020 in New York City. Image: Getty Images Published in Arabian Business on Nov 08th, 2020, By Bernd Debusmann Jr President-Elect and his incoming administration will continue to work closely with the UAE and other key US allies in the Arabian Gulf Tens of thousands of people held impromptu street festivals in major cities across America on Saturday following news that former Vice President Joe Biden was declared to be the 46th President…
More than 1,000 people have been reported killed in the conflict [Reuters] Published in AlJazeera on Nov 09th, 2020, Nikol Pashinyan announces ‘painful’ agreement with presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia to end weeks-long conflict. Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement on Tuesday to end six weeks of fierce fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh in a deal Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan described as “unspeakably painful” in an emotional Facebook post. The post was the first indication of a deal, with Pashinyan saying the agreement would take effect from 1am on Tuesday (21:00 GMT on Monday) to end a conflict that…
UAE job market signals rebound with 9.5pc hiring surge in Oct Job market in the UAE signalled a gradual turnaround with hiring activity returning to pre-pandemic levels at a 9.5 percent year-on-year uptick in October, latest research data from LinkedIn suggests. The report said despite this improvement, the labour market has not returned to consistent growth and it is unclear whether this will offset the potential global economic impact of a second wave of infections facing many countries. Ali Matar, head of LinkedIn Emerging Markets, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), said over the past three months there has been an…
POL sales hit 2-year high The sales of petroleum oil products in Pakistan hit two-year high level of 1.7 million tons in October with high speed diesel (HSD) leading the rally from the front. The overall sales increased 11 percent to 1.7 million tons in October compared to 1.52 million tons in September. The growth in the sales may be attributed to revival of economic activities as large scale manufacturing sector ie fertiliser, cement and steel are showing gradual growth in production over the past couple of months. The growth in overall sales is “backed by a sharp 43 percent sequential…
PAKISTAN NEWS: Govt to regulate digital assets, virtual assets and cryptocurrencies: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has decided to issue a regulatory framework for regulation and monitoring of the digital and virtual assets, including Crypto Assets, to control the misuse of virtual currencies in Pakistan having a global market value of over EUR 7 billion worldwide. In this regard, the SECP has drafted a document on the regulation of Digital Asset Trading Platforms in Pakistan. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] Apple unveils M1-powered Macbook pro for $1299: Apple’s “One More Thing” event kicked off last week where the…
Mian Zahid demands reintroduction of zero-rating to lift exports Chairman of National Business Group of FPCCI, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum and All Karachi Industrial Alliance, and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Friday said government borrowed Rs14.7 trillion in last two years. Foreign debt stood at $95 billion on 2018 which jumped to $113 billion in June 2020 which is a threat to the economic stability. Borrowing can be reduced by reforms on lower and energy sectors, increased exports and reduced imports, reducing unnecessary imports and non-developmental expenditures, leasing out state land to the business community through…
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 6.86 7.36 2 – Week 6.90 7.40 1 – Month 6.92 7.42 3 – Month 7.05 7.30 6 – Month 7.10 7.35 9 – Month 7.15 7.65 1 – Year 7.19 7.69 Updated on 11 Sep, 2020
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Willem Roper, Nov 6, 2020[/box] The U.S. officially removed themselves from the Paris Agreement on Nov. 4, an international coalition aimed at strengthening the global response to the rapidly evolving threat of climate change. America is now the only country in the world not participating in the climate plan, leaving it up to individual states to craft their own plans for transitioning to a renewable, carbon-free energy future. According to data collected by InsideClimate News, there are five states in the U.S. that have passed legislation for transitioning toward a renewable or carbon-free energy infrastructure in the coming…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Katharina Buchholz, Nov 6, 2020[/box] 5G mobile technology will bring major changes to many industries. According to IT executives from around the world, the automotive industry will be particularly affected. This is according to a survey by the Business Performance Innovation Network (BPI). Other areas expected to be disrupted by the 5G rollout are cloud services and manufacturing. According to the experts, the financial services sector as well as government and agriculture will be among the least affected. The 5G technology standard increases mobile upload and download speed significantly, reduced latency times (lag) while preserving energy. The low latency…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Dyfed Loesche, Nov 4, 2020[/box] The 2020 US Presidential election is one of the most important in decades – not just for Americans but also for its trading partners. As our Statista chart shows, when it comes to overall trade with the United States, Mexico and Canada are nearly are on par, according to the latest figures of the U.S. Census Bureau. Nearly a third of America’s exported goods was in fact delivered to trade partners Canada and Mexico while China ended up in the third place in overall trade (13.8%). However, China remains America’s most important trading partner when it…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Katharina Buchholz, Nov 3, 2020[/box] Netflix leads the video-on-demand market in the United States, but several other players have been able to reach good levels of market penetration, making the U.S. a denser market than others. As the Statista Global Consumer Survey shows, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Disney+ are on Netflix’s heels at 68 percent, 54 percent and 46 percent of adults saying they paid for them in the last 12 months, respectively. In the UK and Germany for example, Netflix and Amazon Prime could each call between 70 and 80 percent of adults their recent customers,…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Felix Richter, Nov 3, 2020[/box] Confirming earlier reports, Apple officially announced a third product launch event for this fall, after holding seperate events for new iPads and Apple Watches in September and the latest iPhones in October. The upcoming event, headlined ‘One More Thing’ in reference to Steve Jobs’ famous practice of saving best for last, will be held virtually on November 10 and is all but certain to be about new MacBooks using Apple’s own chips as opposed to Intel processors, which Apple has been using since 2006. In the recently ended fiscal year 2020,…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Martin Armstrong, Nov 2, 2020[/box] This regularly updated infographic keeps track of the countries with the most confirmed Covid-19 cases. The United States is still at the top of the list, with a total now over the nine million mark, according to Johns Hopkins University figures. Take a look here to see how the story changes when looking at cases per million population. If the below infographic does not match the figures quoted in this text, please delete your browser’s cache and refresh this page. You will find more infographics at Statista
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Jessica Long Founder and CEO, Next Now Strategies[/box] The circular economy is a way of building a world with no waste. Circular business models are a $4.5 trillion in opportunity over the next decade. The natural world offers powerful lessons on building a circular economy. The circular economy is one of the few disruptive concepts with universal appeal – with business leaders, investors, activists, economists and environmentalists. While gaining in populatity, the concepts of circularity have been around for centuries – from regenerative agriculture and bartering, to repair and reuse, to renewable energy and plant-based meat…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Ahmed Galal Ismail Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim – Properties This article is part of the Race to Zero Dialogues[/box] There is a unique opportunity for businesses to lead the way when it comes to sustainable investments. But it needs the support of governments and regulators, and it will require hard dollars and soft power. By seizing the opportunities and working together, the private sector can not only create a more sustainable future, but can unlock significant long-term value, for business and for society. In 2019, impact investing was a $715 billion global market. Looking beyond the pure financial…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Bill Lee, Bangor University and Michael Rushton, Bangor University[/box] Nuclear power has provided low-carbon electricity to the UK for over 60 years and today it generates 17% of the country’s electricity. Until mid-2018, 15 nuclear reactors were the country’s largest source of low-carbon energy. Of these, only Sizewell B is planned to remain operating in 12 years’ time. The only new plant under construction is Hinkley Point C, and with a total generating capacity of 3.26 gigawatts, it would provide just 8% of the UK’s current electricity demand. The Committee on Climate Change advises the UK…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Dan Schawbel Managing Partner, Workplace Intelligence[/box] • COVID-19 has piled multiple additional pressures on to people’s mental health. • AI is already providing assistance in the mental health domain. • Having mental health technology in place is beneficial for employers as well as employees. The global pandemic we’ve been dealing with since March has had a profound impact on our mental health. If this feels like the universe is piling on, it’s because it’s true. More than 264 million people worldwide suffer from depression, according to a January 2020 report from the World Health Organization. Now, workers around…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]This article was published in collaboration with Reuters Aaron Sheldrick Journalist, Reuters This article is part of the Race to Zero Dialogues[/box] Japan has set itself the target of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. The move could fire up Japan’s nuclear industry, 10 years after the Fukushima disaster, which shut down most of the country’s reactors. Before the disaster, 50 were in operation, and Japan was the third-largest consumer of nuclear in the world. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has specifically flagged the greater use of renewable energy and nuclear power. Japan’s move to embrace a climate target…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Chema Vera Interim Executive Director, Oxfam International[/box] • Last year, OECD members only gave 0.3% of their GNI to aid – less than the 0.7% promised. • 0.7% would help the world’s poorest countries meet the SDGs for a decade. • Stable aid flows are needed more than ever during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. On 24 October 1970, the world’s richest countries made a promise that would better the lives of people around the world. They committed to give a small percentage of their income – just 0.7% – in international aid to help low- and…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Natalie Marchant Writer, Formative Content[/box] There could be 14.4 million tonnes of microplastics at the bottom of the sea, new research says. The findings show there’s more than twice the amount of plastic on the seabed than on the water’s surface. Scientists made the estimate after examining an area off Australia’s south coast. The amount of microplastics in sediment is 25 times higher than previously thought. Experts say a circular economy for plastic is needed to address the issue. Plastic pollution in the ocean could be an even bigger problem than first feared, with 14.4 million…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Adam Taylor, Lancaster University[/box] We use our phones three hours and 15 minutes a day on average. So perhaps it’s hardly surprising people are reporting a “new” injury on social media and in the news – “smartphone pinky”. People claiming to have the condition report a change in position of their pinky finger, or having developed a dent in their little finger, on the middle bone. There hasn’t yet been any research looking into smartphone pinky, so it’s prevalence, causes are unclear. But the way we hold our mobile devices is of interest – as the…
In 1860, Sheikh Noor Elahi, who came from an agrarian background in Gurdaspur, established a general store in Dalhousie, which was a hill station on the border of Kashmir and Punjab in un-divided India. After migration to Lahore in 1947 their first venture was a retail pharmacy located on the Mall, which was started by Mumtaz A. Sheikh. This pharmacy is still located in the same place. This was a start to the Fazal Din’s Group as it exists today and today the company is over 150 years old. The name Fazal Din’s stands out for its commitment to quality…
Communications service providers (CSPs), despite being at the forefront of the telecommunications industry, have been slow to invest in customer experience. In part, this has been because CSPs have primarily focused on the growth and evolution of their network infrastructure for coverage, capacity, and resilience. This focus means that CSPs often miss opportunities to provide better service and improve their Net Promoter Scores by providing better service. Here are four key areas that CSPs should consider for investment in improved customer experience: Lowering the barriers to service To improve customer satisfaction, CSPs need to reduce the overall net effort for…
KSE-100 index springs back 2.7% wow on positive macros and better corporate results Summary Pakistan had presented the case on October 13-14, last week and this week plenary meeting of FATF (Financial Action Task Force) took place from October 21-23 to decide Pakistan’s status on Friday around 7 pm PST. ‘Hopefully Pakistan would remain on grey list’ disclosed a senior official of the Finance Ministry. As such most of the uncertainty in the market regarding FATF status died down but still market has to wait for the decision at the end of the trading time on Friday. The bullish trend…
Pompeo and US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster greet each other at New Delhi airport [Adnan Abidi/Reuters] Published in AlJazeera on Oct 26th, 2020, US secretary of state on five-day Asia trip aimed at strengthening strategic ties in the face of growing Chinese influence in the region. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has landed in India, the first leg of a five-day Asia trip aimed at strengthening strategic ties in the face of growing Chinese influence in the region. Pompeo is due to meet India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar later on Monday. On Tuesday, he and US Secretary…
Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg seeking a ban on Islamophobic content. \u2014 Photo courtesy PM’s Instagram\/Reuters” Published in Dawn on Oct 26th, 2020, Syed Irfan Raza • Writes to Facebook seeking a ban on such statements • Says France needs a healing touch as given by Nelson Mandela • FO alarmed at statements of politicians justifying such acts ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday denounced French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks on blasphemous caricatures, calling them “encouragement of Islamophobia”. He was referring to comments made on Wednesday by President Macron in which he criticised Islamists and…
Ethnic Armenian soldiers at their fighting positions on the front line during the conflict against Azerbaijan’s armed forces in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh [File: Reuters] Published in AlJazeera on Oct 26th, 2020, Third attempt at halting fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict collapsed, both sides trading accusations of violating truce. Armenia and Azerbaijan have accused each other of violating a new “humanitarian ceasefire” in the conflict over the mountainous enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh shortly after it had been due to take effect on Monday. On Sunday, a joint statement from the US Department of State and the two governments said the truce would…
Published in Dawn on Oct 26th, 2020, Sanjay Kumar India has never looked so vulnerable and edgy in its own neighbourhood as it looks now. Be it India’s economy, its handling of the Coronavirus pandemic, its socio-political landscape, its foreign policy, its handling of security and its democratic institutions and instincts — all are in a varying degree of crisis today, endangering the nation’s rise as a credible and stable global player. Indian economy is passing through a historic low being witnessed for the first time since its independence in 1947. With the economy witnessing a negative growth of…
Published in Reuters on Oct 26th, 2020, By Michael Martina (Reuters) – President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden on Monday are down to the final full week of campaigning before the Nov. 3 election, as surging coronavirus cases and a COVID-19 outbreak within Vice President Mike Pence’s staff keep the focus of the race on the pandemic. Trump claimed progress in combating the disease even as the United States set records in recent days for daily infections, while Pence forged ahead with campaigning on Sunday despite close aides testing positive. Biden accused the president of surrendering to the…
Oman exempts key sectors from 5pc vat Gulf: Oman has exempted some key sectors such as healthcare, education and finance from the value-added tax which will be levied over the next six months. State-run Oman TV last week said that five percent VAT will be imposed on goods and services, but with some exceptions. In addition to financial services, provisions of healthcare and education and their related goods and services, other exemptions are undeveloped lands (bare lands); resale of residential properties; local passenger transport; and renting real estate for residential purposes, said Thomas Vanhee, Partner at Aurifer Middle East Tax…
Wapda decides to build Rohtas Dam Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has decided to build Rohtas dam in a bid to effectively mitigate floods and store floodwater for its use in agriculture. In a meeting presided over by Wapda Chairman Lieutenant General (Retd) Muzammil Hussain, the authority revealed that it had been evaluating the possibility of constructing the project more vigorously. Highlighting the need for construction of dams, the chairman said Rohtas dam, like other water reservoirs, would play a pivotal role in saving the country from devastating floods and conserving floodwater to bring additional land under plantations.…
PAKISTAN NEWS: PITB is developing Punjab labor app for small businesses: The Punjab Labour & Human Resource Department (PL&HRD) is going to introduce a Mobile application for the registration of small businesses across the province. The app will be developed with the help of the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB). This was announced during a recent meeting with PL&HRD Secretary Ahmed Javed Qazi in the chair. The participants were briefed on the salient features of the application by PITB Additional Director Saima Sheikh. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] Huawei watch GT2 Porsche design launched: At the Huawei Mate 40 series launch,…
Mian Zahid lauds import of tomatoes and onions from Iran President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum and All Karachi Industrial Alliance, and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Wednesday lauded the move of the government to allow the import of tomatoes and onions from Iran which will reduce its price in Pakistan. Dozens of trucks loaded with these vegetables have arrived in Pakistan to discourage profiteers and bring the price down, he said. Mian Zahid Hussain said that all the steps against price hike have remained counterproductive therefore import of edible items from all the neighbouring countries should be…
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 6.84 7.34 2 – Week 6.86 7.36 1 – Month 6.90 7.40 3 – Month 7.05 7.30 6 – Month 7.09 7.34 9 – Month 7.14 7.64 1 – Year 7.18 7.68 Updated on 11 Sep, 2020
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Felix Richter, Oct 22, 2020[/box] When Apple unveiled its latest line of smartphones at a virtual event last week, not only did the company introduce more models than ever before at a single event, namely four, but it also kept more of the older models around than many had anticipated. Apart from the iPhone 11, which was expected to remain available as an entry-level model, Apple also extended the shelf life of the 2018 iPhone XR, which remains on sale as an alternative to the iPhone SE. As the following chart shows, Apple now has an iPhone for…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Martin Armstrong, Oct 22, 2020[/box] With the Tuatara, the US car manufacturer Shelby SuperCars (SSC) has broken the speed record for a production car. Over a distance of approximately eleven kilometers, the sports car achieved an average speed of 509 kilometers per hour, clearly putting the previous record holder, the Chiron from Bugatti, in its place. As this infographic, based on figures from auto motor sport shows, the SSC Tuatara is the first car in the list of the fastest Super Cars to break the 500-kilometer-per-hour barrier. In its record attempt, the car even managed a top speed of 533…