Friday, February 20, 2015
Tropical cyclone pounds Australia
Tropical Cyclone Marcia packed powerful winds as it slammed into Australia's eastern coast Friday morning.
Mian Mansha plans $300 million cement plant in Pakistan
Mian Mansha’s DG Khan Cement Ltd — the county’s third-largest maker of the construction material – plans to build an $ 300 million plant near Karachi as economic growth boosts demand, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.
“There will be a shortage domestically in three years if there is 10 percent growth in demand each year,” Chief Financial Officer Inayat Ullah Niazi said in an interview at the company’s headquarters in Lahore on Thursday. The company’s two cement plants have operated near full capacity in the past two years, Bloomberg reported.
The company is building its first plant since 2007. Pakistan’s output is projected to expand 4.3 percent in the year ending June 30 and 4.75 percent in the following fiscal year by the International Monetary Fund, the news outlet reported.
The new plant near Hub, west of Karachi, will produce about 2 to 2.5 million tons of cement a year, Niazi said. Construction is targeted for completion late in 2018. The plant will be financed 40 percent through internal cash and the rest through debt, Niazi said.
“Expansion means the company will enter the southern region of the country,” Tahir Abbas, an analyst at brokerage Arif Habib Ltd. said by phone in Karachi. “This will impact the entire industry and could start a price war.”
Earnings
Earlier in the month, DG Khan Cement announced a net income of Rs3.39 billion for the first six months ended December 2014, up by a healthy 27% compared to Rs2.67 billion in the same period of previous year.
Earnings per share (EPS) also jumped to Rs7.75 compared to an EPS of Rs6.09 in the first half of the previous year.
On a quarterly basis, the company’s earnings surged by 93% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) to Rs2.24 billion or an EPS of Rs5.10 during the second quarter of fiscal year 2015.
“The earnings were significantly above our estimates due to higher-than-estimated other income and lower-than-expected taxation charges,” Global Research reported on Tuesday.
With stable off-take and prices, the revenues increased by 2% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs12.66 billion during the first half of fiscal year 2015 because of an improved sales mix.
Revenues jumped by 18% QoQ to Rs6.8 billion during the second quarter because of a likely 16% QoQ increase in total off-take to one million tons.
Margins of the company declined by one percentage point YoY to 33% during the first half because of higher average energy costs and increased maintenance expenditures.
On a quarterly basis, margins recovered by three percentage points QoQ to 34% because of higher volumetric off-take and an improved sales mix.
DG Khan Cement’s other income improved by 18% YoY to Rs1.13 billion during the first half because of higher income from its investments. Meanwhile, other expenses declined by 11% YoY to Rs315 million during the first half because of a lower quantum of exchange losses.
Financial charges plummeted by 57% YoY to Rs156 million because of a 43% YoY decline in the company’s average debt to Rs5.3 billion.
On a quarterly basis, financial costs increased by 34% QoQ to Rs89 million during the second quarter because of an increase in short-term borrowings.
Mother and child safety a top priority, says PM Nawaz
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif said on Friday that mother and child safety through proper immunisation and better nutrition are a major priority for the government.
He was talking to a high-level mission of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) led by GAVI CEO Dr Seth Berkley at the PM House. Other members of the delegation included WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ala Alwan and Bill Gates Foundation Global Development Program President Dr Christopher Elias.
Excellent mtg with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif & senior leadership of @gavi high level mission; honest discussion of immunisation challenges
— Seth Berkley (@GaviSeth) February 20, 2015
The prime minister said that routine immunisation is important and that provincial governments have been directed to take effective measures for speeding up the process so that the areas lagging behind in immunisation can catch up.
The delegation appreciated the personal interest the prime minister took, and the Health Ministry’s role in the implementation of the polio eradication programme and routine immunisation. They also appreciated the Punjab government for setting a target of 80% coverage in routine immunisation in the province by the end of the year.
Just finished a press conference with @WHO & @UNICEF leadership in #Islamabad on improving Pakistan EPI performance pic.twitter.com/SFqXyyXmFv
— Seth Berkley (@GaviSeth) February 19, 2015
Federal Minister for Health Saira Afzal Tarar informed the premier that the confusion regarding procurement of vaccines in the aftermath of the 18th Amendment has recently been cleared and now the federal government will procure vaccines through a National Procurement Committee composed of representatives from all provinces. She said this would not only streamline the system but also save Rs1 billion annually.
Grt for @gavi high level mission 2meet w Pakistan Minister of National Hlth regul. services & coord Saira Azal Tarar pic.twitter.com/avNuYcC6ak
— Seth Berkley (@GaviSeth) February 19, 2015
Talking about the polio eradication initiative, she said a concrete and robust plan has been put in place and its proper implementation would bring about drastic reduction in polio cases.
The WHO representative informed the meeting that 25% reduction can be brought about in child mortality in Pakistan through immunisation and 30% cases of child mortality can be prevented through better nutrition.
#DYK? ~3 million kids in #Pakistan miss out on a full course of basic vaccines every year. Together we can change that! #vaccineswork
— Gavi (@gavi) February 19, 2015
The prime minister said these two are closely linked to each other and concerned provincial government departments should work in coordination with the Ministry of Health to overcome the challenges. He said international best practices should be replicated in Pakistan to achieve better results.
The delegation appreciated the ministry of health for taking the bold step of increasing tobacco health warnings.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal also attended the meeting.
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Cyclone lashes Australia
Tropical Cyclone Marcia packed powerful winds as it slammed into Australia's eastern coast Friday morning.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Misbah rubbishes reports of panic, voices concerns over batting
CHRISTCHURCH: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq dismissed talk of panic in the ranks on Friday but conceded their batting woes needed to be addressed ahead of their crunch World Cup match against the West Indies.
The two sides go into Saturday’s match at Hagley Oval in Christchurch desperate to get points on the board after both lost their first matches in Pool B.
Pakistan suffered a dramatic batting collapse when they were outclassed by India while the West Indies were upset by Ireland.
“This is an important game, and both teams need to win. We know that,” Misbah said, adding Pakistan knew they had to rectify their problem batting.
But he added “we are not panicking,” when questioned whether there would be changes to the side to face the West Indies.
Misbah’s 76 against India was the only half century in the Pakistan innings but he said he should not have been responsible for holding the innings together.
“It doesn’t mean that all the time it should be me. It should be two other guys out of six or seven batsmen that are playing,” he said.
“This is how normally cricket is being played. Every time all seven batsmen don’t perform and maybe two or three just score runs and you just win the game.
“The guys who are not at the moment performing, we know that they are good enough players, and they can just come to the party in the next games.”
Pakistan reached 102-2 against India before the batting imploded with three wickets for one run before they limped through to 224, well short of India’s 300.
Misbah said moving him up the order from his number four slot was not the answer.
“We just collapsed in the middle order, so it wasn’t a problem at the top. What we are missing, I think, is that we need to have better partnerships on a regular basis, whether it’s at the top, whether it’s in the middle order.
“Any pair who is batting, they need to just develop a partnership, and that’s what we missed in India’s game. After losing the second wicket we just lost three wickets in nine balls and that really cost us the game.”
Although Pakistan are without proven match-winner Saeed Ajmal — who pulled out of the Cup because of his disputed spin bowling action — Misbah felt comfortable with his bowlers.
“It’s a little bit difficult when you are used to somebody (Saeed) for three or four years, but I think now our pacers are really doing well in the last two, three games,” he said.
“They are really coming to the party in the way they are bowling, especially in the death overs, improving, so we’ll have to live with that.”
He said speedster Mohammad Irfan, whose form against India dropped away after he was twice warned for stepping on the wicket, had been working on his action in practice since then and “he’ll be fine in the next game.”
Caracas mayor accused of Venezuela coup plot
The mayor of Venezuela's capital was arrested during a raid carried out by more than 150 intelligence agents, his office told CNN en Español on Thursday.
DSK pimping trial protested by topless women
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Seb Ogier: What drives the rally champion
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Crowds pack streets to protest Argentine prosecutor’s death
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Frozen Niagara Falls draws tourists
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Opinion: Terror not driven by deprivation
Terrorists spring out of all backgrounds, including the middle class and the wealthy, writes Peter Bergen.
Ukrainian troops abandon key battleground city
In the midst of a supposed ceasefire, the important town of Debaltseve has changed hands. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports.
UK jets intercept Russian aircraft
Two UK Royal Air Force jets intercepted a pair of Russian aircraft flying near British airspace this week, the British Defence Ministry said Thursday, marking the latest in what NATO has said is an increase in Russian military flights near alliance members' territory.
Child protection: Employer arrested for child’s maid torture
LAHORE:
Johar Town police on Thursday arrested a man after his wife was accused of torturing a 12-year-old maid. Police said they were unable to arrest the woman because the raiding team did not include a policewoman.
The child servant told The Express Tribune the woman had beaten her on Wednesday after her son complained that she had snatched a book from him. “She beat me with steel hangers. I am hurting all over my body,” she said.
TV footage showed her speaking to the media with swollen eyes. She said she had come to work in Lahore from a village in Sargodha six months ago and was paid Rs5,000 a month. She said she had seven sisters and two brothers. The Child Protection Bureau has taken the girl into its custody. Separately, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the TV reports and sought a report from police in this regard. He ordered that the girl be provided proper medical care.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2015.
Collateral damage: Passer-by killed in clash
FAISALABAD: A passer-by was killed on Thursday in a scuffle between some armed men and students of the Government Islamia College. Muhammad Amjad, a witness, said a student was on his way near National Hotel when a man, under the influence of liquor, joked at him. The student swore at the man who slapped him, Amjad said. “The student called his class fellows who chased the man but he went inside the hotel and called his friends.” Amjad said some armed men then arrived there in a while and opened fire killing a passer-by who was identified as Imran, a resident of Gulistan Colony. More college students then arrived there and broke windowpanes of the hotel and nearby shops by pelting them with stones, Amjad said. The clash resulted in a traffic chaos on Faisalabad-Sargodha Road. A large contingent of police rushed to the scene but the armed men had fled by then. The Civil Lines SHO said no one had filed a complaint about the clash.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2015.
Obama urges world to focus on extremism causes
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Brutal ISIS has sophisticated cash flow
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Ban threatened for racist incident caught on camera
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Without govt aid: Shimshalis build irrigation channel on self-help basis
GILGIT:
Bereft of government development schemes in the region, the people of Shimshal Valley, the last village near Pakistan’s border with China, have begun digging a water channel on self-help basis to irrigate their fields.
The canal was deemed necessary because as spring approaches, time is running out for ploughing. Government help is hard to come by in this remote valley located 300 kilometres from Gilgit, and if the channel is not built, locals might lose the season’s yield.
The building of the Korband channel began earlier this month and is being undertaken by scouts and volunteers led by Sifat Khan and Abdul Hassan, respectively.
A group of men flatten the land, smash rocks and cut through the mountains without any protective measures to pave way for the four-kilometre Korband channel in the valley which is inhabited by nearly 2,000 people.
However, this is not the first project that has been initiated and completed entirely by the locals, according to Abdul Joshi, a resident of Shimshal. “Dozens of other schemes have been completed by communities on their own,” Joshi told The Express Tribune.
Since the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) government has failed to address issues like load-shedding and law and order in the regional capital, Gilgit, it is least expected to do wonders for Shimshal. For this reason, the locals don’t often look to the government for help.
“Our elected representatives have failed us. We wanted our leaders to do what former chief minister Mehdi Shah did for his hometown Skardu,” said another resident.
The 55-km-long road that connects Shimshal Valley with the rest of the country tells the story of locals’ resolve; it was constructed in 2003—56 years after independence—with overwhelming support from the locals. The road, unpaved and narrow, twists through high mountains and over wooden bridges, and has reduced the duration of the journey to the valley from three days to three hours by jeep.
In Shimshal, there is no running tap water in homes and electricity is available only through solar panels the locals buy from neighbouring China. However, despite its remoteness and lack of government aid, literacy rate in the valley is 98%—almost double the national average.
Though Shimshal is one of the most remote regions of G-B, its residents are serving across the country in various fields including government service and the media. The people of Shimshal depend on tourism for income and the village has produced one mountaineer on average from every household. Renowned mountaineer Samina Baig, the first Pakistani woman to scale Mount Everest, also belongs to the valley.
According to former speaker of the G-B Legislative Assembly, Wazir Baig, the people of Shimshal are resilient and know how to meet their needs on their own. “We did try to provide relief to them during our government,” said Baig, referring to a 200-kilowatt power project which is under construction in the valley.
The first settlement in Shimshal is estimated to have arrived some 400-500 years ago when the valley was under the rule of the Mir of Hunza who sent criminals and society outcasts to Shimshal for punishment.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2015.
Dinner with high commissioner: CAS students visit Sri Lanka
KARACHI: The Pakistan High Commissioner in Colombo, Major General (retd) Qasim Qureshi, hosted 12 students and two teachers of the CAS School on Monday. Their hosts from Ladies College and St Thomas College, Mount Lavinia, were also present for tea at the high commissioner’s residence. All the students interacted with the staff and were given an opportunity to widen their horizons about the facts and figures of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. These students from Karachi are on a 10-day visit to Colombo as part of the CAS School Nelson Mandela Peace Fellowship programme.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2015.
Pakistan-Turkey relations
LAHORE: The fresh agreements and the memorandums of understanding signed by the premiers of Pakistan and Turkey at the Pak-Turk High Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting is another feather in the cap of exemplary relations enjoyed by two brotherly nations. Turkey is one of the most consistent allies of Pakistan and has supported Pakistan in its fight against terrorism by extending every possible help.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davotoglu’s statement that “Pakistan’s security is Turkey’s security” and his announcement of $ 20 million for the assistance of internally displaced persons shows his level of commitment for ensuring security and stability in Pakistan. The Turkish government’s financial and technical help enabled the Punjab government to launch various infrastructure projects, including the Metro bus project and waste management initiatives. The commitment of both countries to increase trade in the next five years will bring a new era of peace and prosperity in Pakistan.
Uzma Intezar
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2015.
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Obama urges world to focus on extremism causes
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Shattered Ukraine town in rebel hands
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Iqbal leads seniors’ category on day one
KARACHI: Lieutenant Colonel Zahid Iqbal was ahead of the pack in the seniors’ category on the opening day of the 6th Faysal Bank All Pakistan DHA Open golf championship on Thursday at the Defence Authority Country and Golf Club.
Iqbal accumulated seven bogies and a birdie to finish at eight-over-par 80, while Brigadier Shahid Ghani followed him on second with 10-over-par 82 and Asad Khan finished in third with 11-over-par 83.
In the ladies event, Cho Young Mee topped the table with 90. Aania Farooq was second at 91, while Kang En An finished third at 93.
GD Paracha led the subsidiary category at 85, while Kashif Shabbir and Abdul Majeed Paracha were tied on second at 86, with Samiur Rehman on third at 87.
Meanwhile, the professional category will start on Friday in which Pakistan number one Shabbir Iqbal will be defending the title.
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German nurse says ‘sorry’ for killing over 30 patients
BERLIN: A German former nurse who has admitted killing over 30 hospital patients with lethal injections in a thrill-seeking game to try to revive them apologised on Thursday to relatives of the victims.
“I am honestly sorry,” the 38-year-old said at his trial, where he so far faces three murder charges, adding that he had usually acted on impulse when he injected patients with lethal drug doses.
“Usually the decision to do it was relatively spontaneous,” the defendant, who was identified only as Niels H. under Germany’s strict court reporting rules, said in his first comments to the court.
He said he knew his actions could not be excused and that he hoped that if he is convicted, the verdict would help the victims’ loved ones find peace, national news agency DPA reported.
The ex-nurse went on trial in Oldenburg in northern Germany in September, accused of the murders of three patients and attempted murders of two others, using a heart medication that lowers blood pressure.
A psychiatric expert last month told the trial that the man had admitted to those crimes and that he also claimed to have over-medicated another 90 patients, 30 of whom died.
The court heard his motive was to spark medical emergencies so that he could then demonstrate his resuscitation skills, but that he also acted out of boredom.
The defendant told the court Thursday he was indeed seeking thrills, saying: “There was a tension there, and an expectation of what would happen next.”
He said he felt great when he managed to resuscitate a patient, and devastated when he failed.
Each time a patient died, he vowed to never play his lethal game again, but this determination would then slowly fade, he said.
The deaths occurred at Delmenhorst clinic, near Oldenburg, where the accused worked in the intensive care unit between 2003 and 2005.
The ex-nurse denied having killed anyone at his previous jobs in other clinics, at an elderly home and for emergency medical services.
A special commission of police and prosecutors dubbed “Kardio” (Cardio) is currently investigating all deaths that occurred in the defendants’ previous work places.
The defendant was caught by a colleague in the act of injecting patients in 2005.
In a first trial in Oldenburg, a district court in 2008 sentenced him to seven and a half years in jail for attempted murder, and he has been in detention since.
It is unclear why investigators or the hospital did not pick up on the possible extent of the alleged crimes earlier.
The shocking case is not the first of its kind in Germany.
In 2006, German male nurse Stephan Letter, who became known in the media as “the Angel of Death”, was sentenced to life in prison for administering lethal injections to 28 mostly elderly patients in what prosecutors called an “assembly line” killing spree.
A year later, a nurse at Berlin’s prestigious Charite hospital was sentenced to life in prison for killing five seriously ill patients with drug overdoses.
White House wants $1.2 billion to combat ‘superbugs’
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VIDEO: Americans watch cricket for the first time … expect the ridiculous
Cricket may be the life our nation but it’s a sport largely unheard of in the United States of America. So what happens when you make a few Americans watch cricket for the first time?
Buzzfeed video took it upon themselves to find out. If you need any proof for how ridiculous the reactions can be and how unaware some people are of our favourite pastime, watch the video below.
The video starts with explaining the basics of cricket, elaborating on how the game is played worldwide with a bat and a ball and two teams of 11 players compete for runs on a field.
But then, what is the wicket?
Puzzled, a woman in the video claims, “The bat is called a wicket.”
But it doesn’t stop there as one of them differentiates between arch-rivals Pakistan and India merely by the colours of their kits. “So, green is Pakistan and blue is India,” one of them says.
Lo and behold, a ‘cowboy’ (umpire) is spotted on the field by one of them. While one American claims he must be the referee, another compares him to the Canadian Mountie, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who also dons a hat.
Do you see the similarity? PHOTO: REUTERS
And just when you think it can’t get any worse, there is confusion about what the sport really is about.
“So, may be the goal is not to catch the ball,” says one woman, as a clip of a fielder dropping a catch appears on her computer screen.
“There are no outfielders,” says another, when a batsman hits a four. While another comments, “Where are they trying to get the ball, its like it can go anywhere.”
So how confusing is the sport to the average American. The final comments from some of the Americans sum it up:
“I know less about cricket now than I knew before we watched it.”
“I will definitely not look out for it on ESPN.”
Ukraine retreats from key town
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Abused Metro man wants ‘fans locked up’
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United Nations investigates claim of ISIS organ theft
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Clash between students leaves one dead in Faisalabad
FAISLABAD: An armed clash between two groups of students in Faisalabad on Thursday claimed the life of a pedestrian, Express News reported.
Some of those involved in the clash were attending a hearing in court as they were alleged suspects in a murder case. As they exited the court, they attacked. Surrounding roads and traffic was blocked by the students, who exchanged fire, and as a result, a pedestrian was caught in the clash and killed.
Windows of adjoining buildings were broken owning to the clash as students also threw stones at one another.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Sources: Nigerian airstrike kills 37 mourners in Niger
A military plane on Tuesday dropped a bomb on mourners in a Niger village on the border with Nigeria, killing 37 people and wounding 20 others, residents and a regional security source in Niger told CNN.
Egyptian village mourns its sons
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Official: ISIS burned up to 40 people alive in Iraq
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Start here: Latest developments in fight against ISIS
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