Saudi energy minister's visit seeks to reinforce brotherly ties between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan

Saudi energy minister's visit seeks to reinforce brotherly ties between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan

GWADAR, JAN 12 - Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy and Industry, Khalid Al-Falih visited the Gwadar port on Saturday.

The dignified guest was welcomed on arrival in Pakistan by Petroleum Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Minister of State for Port & Shipping Ali Zaidi and the Deputy Ambassador of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Habibullah Bukhari.

The aim of the visit is to reinforce the affiliation between both the brother countries, deliberating the definitive approaches of reconciliation memorandums for investment in the fields of refining, petrochemical, mining and renewable energy in Pakistan, to gain awareness on the prospects and plans existing in the Gwadar port, consider methods to increase exports between the two countries, encouraging the private sector investor in terms of investment and also making it easy for them to capitalize in Pakistan.

Soon as the Honorable Minister Khalid Al-Falih arrived, a meeting was held with the Minister of Petroleum and Minister for Port & Shipping to discuss likelihoods of economically supporting Pakistan in the arenas of energy, sanitation and mineral resources.

Hence, in order to reflect strong ties between the two countries, both parties reviewed possibilities of expanding exports amongst the two republics and the facilitating ways for Saudi investors in Pakistan too came under discussion.

Thereafter, the Dignitary visited Gwadar Port, where he received information regarding opportunities existing at the port. The VIP was also briefed by the port officials about future projects and the ongoing programs in Gwadar Port.

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Peshawar BRT project started to crumble before its completion

Peshawar BRT project started to crumble before its completion

PESHAWAR, JAN 12 - Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project has been left in a dilapidated condition well before its completion as cracks in walls of its bridges could be observed near several underpasses due to substandard material, improper maintenance and poor feasibility study of the project.

Reportedly, cost of the project started in October 2017 was evaluated at Rs 49 billion with a timeline of 6 months, however, the cost has escalated to Rs70 billion with a delay of 6 months.

Meanwhile, residents of the area fear that the structure might crumble and termed the delay and poor management of the project “failure of the government”, and urged the concerned authorities to take notice of the matter on the priority basis.

BRT-Reach 3 Project Engineer expressed his views, and said that the cracks appeared due to change of climate and as the project would proceed, the cracks would be fixed.

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Ivanka Trump among possible World Bank nominees: report

Ivanka Trump among possible World Bank nominees: report

WASHINGTON, JAN 12 - Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and US President Donald Trump’s daughter and adviser Ivanka are among possible US candidates to replace outgoing World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.

Kim abruptly announced Monday he was cutting short his tenure as the bank’s president more than three years before his second term was due to end.

In addition to Trump and Haley, who stepped down as US Ambassador to the United Nations last month, other names being floated include Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs David Malpass and Mark Green, head of the US Agency for International Development.

Ivanka Trump in 2017 was the driving force behind a $1 billion, Saudi-supported World Bank fund to promote entrepreneurship by women.

The Treasury Department told on Friday that it had no comment in potential candidates.

The department has received a “significant number of recommendations,” a spokesperson said.

“We are beginning the internal review process for a US nominee. We look forward to working with the governors to select a new leader.”

Under an unwritten agreement, the United States, which is the bank’s largest shareholder, has always chosen its leader since the institution was founded following World War II.

But the success of a US candidate no longer appears completely assured.

Kim was the first American nominee to face a contested election for the World Bank presidency in 2012 and the bank’s board has said its selection process will be “open, merit-based and transparent,” implying non-US candidates would not be ruled out.

The World Bank Board said Thursday it would start accepting nominations for a new leader early next month and name a replacement for Kim by mid-April.

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Pakistan is most patriotic nation in Asia: report

Pakistan is most patriotic nation in Asia: report

World Index’s latest report has ranked Pakistan as the most patriotic nation in all the Asian Countries as 89 percent of its citizens are ready to fight for the country.

World Index’a report titled “ASIA: Willing to fight for the country” ranks Pakistan and Vietnam on first and second spot with 89% of people expressing patriotism towards their homeland.

The report is based on the data collected by the Gallup survey in Asian countries.

ASIA: Willing to fight for country:

 Pakistan: 89%
 Vietnam: 89%
 Bangladesh: 86%
 Afghanistan: 76%
 India: 75%
 Philippines: 73%
 Thailand: 72%
 China: 71%
 Indonesia: 70%
 Malaysia: 63%
 South Korea: 42%
 Hong Kong: 23%
 Japan: 11%

Bangladesh, formerly part of a United Pakistan, was on the third spot with 86% patriotism among the citizens, as per the index.

While Afghanistan, remained in the fourth position with 76%, India was ranked fifth in the index with only 75% of the people agreeing to fight for the country in time of needs.

The list goes on to rank Philippine, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan respectively.

 

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Dr Asad Majeed Khan presents credentials to US President Donald Trump

Dr Asad Majeed Khan presents credentials to US President Donald Trump

WASHINGTON, JAN 12 - Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Dr Asad Majeed Khan presented his credentials to President Donald Trump in a ceremony held at the White House on Friday.

On the occasion, Ambassador Khan conveyed the greetings by Pakistan’s leadership to President Trump who reciprocated similar sentiments for Prime Minister Imran Khan.

While responding to Trump’s welcome remarks, the ambassador reiterated the intent to work tirelessly to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

The US president said that he wants to explore opportunities for the two countries to work closely together and renew their partnership.

 

On Friday, President Trump called Pakistani ‘people from the Middle East’ in his argument to build a wall along with his country’s Mexican border and step up the ante in a drawn-out battle with Congress over the release of funds amid a government shutdown.

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Flu sends up to 84,000 Americans to hospitals in just 3 months

Flu sends up to 84,000 Americans to hospitals in just 3 months

An estimated 69,000 to 84,000 Americans were hospitalised due to the flu in the last three months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday.

The nation saw one of the worst flu outbreaks in nearly a decade during the 2017-2018 season, with more than 900,000 cases of hospitalisations and over 80,000 deaths, the CDC estimates here.

Between Oct. 1, 2018, and Jan. 5, 2019, about 6 million to 7 million people were reported to have contracted the flu, according to data collected by the health agency.

Flu sends up to 84,000 Americans to hospitals in just 3 months Health regulators have been trying to combat flu outbreaks in the United States, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first new flu medication in nearly two decades last year.

The CDC last month signalled the start of the flu season (click here), saying that 24 states and Guam were reporting widespread cases, with the H1N1 virus being the predominant strain.

The dominant flu strain during the last season, H3N2, has been linked with severe disease and death, particularly among children and the elderly.

The agency continues to recommend vaccination as the best way to reduce the risk of flu and advised people who are at high-risk category to approach hospital for treatment with a flu antiviral drug.

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Apple plans to launch three new iPhone models this year: report

Apple plans to launch three new iPhone models this year: report

NEW YORK, - Apple plans to release three new iPhone models this year, including a successor to its struggling XR model, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

The iPhone maker also intends to introduce new camera features, WSJ reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Apple was not immediately available for comment outside regular business hours.

It is pertinent to note here that another publication, the Nikkei Asian Review, however, reported on Wednesday that Apple Inc which slashed its quarterly sales forecast last week, has reduced planned production for its three iPhone models by about 10 percent for the January-March quarter.

Apple asked its suppliers late last month to produce fewer-than-planned units of its XS, XS Max and XR models, the Nikkei reported, citing sources with knowledge of the request.

That rare forecast cut exposed weakening iPhone demand in China, the world’s biggest smartphone market, where a slowing economy has also been buffeted by a trade war with the United States.

Many analysts and consumers have said the new iPhones are overpriced.

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