ICC World T20 2016: Match Fixing & Corruption Warning Issued

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Mar 8, 2016

Hong Kong, who play Zimbabwe in the opening match, have been rocked by a corruption scandal in the build-up to the T20 world championship which has already led to the suspension of their all-rounder Irfan Ahmed.

And in an eve-of-tournament press conference, International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson said it was clear that non-Test playing nations, known as associate members, are vulnerable to corruption.

“Unfortunately, this is the world we are living, there are corrupt individuals all over trying their best to get hold of players,” he said.

“We are finding that the corrupters are now focusing on associate members, women’s team etc, etc. So we are going to make sure the players from all the teams are very well educated, understand their responsibility and will not get involved.”

Hong Kong is one of eight teams trying to qualify for the main phase of the tournament which begins next Tuesday, alongside cricket‘s eight more established powers such as Australia, India and England.

But their preparations have been badly shaken by the scandal which led to Ahmed’s suspension by the ICC in January as part of an ongoing investigation.

World T20 2016: Sri Lanka’s Malinga Steps Down As Captain

Ronnie Flanagan, who heads the game’s anti-corruption unit, said on Sunday that his investigators were looking into allegations that “members of a particular team had intentions to manipulate events in forthcoming matches”, without giving further details.

Although Richardson also did not refer directly to Hong Kong in his press conference, he effectively confirmed that that was the team under investigation by Flanagan’s unit.

“In recent times you would have read in the media about a particular player who was suspended from this country and the investigations relate to that same team,” said Richardson.

Clean Tournament

The former South African player said he expected the tournament to be corruption-free.

“I am very confident that we will have a very clean tournament,” he said.

“I know that our anti-corruption unit is working hand in hand with the law enforcement agencies, the police agencies in India to make sure that any information is shared.”

Hong Kong is not expected to get past the preliminary round, although they did spring an upset in 2014 when they beat Bangladesh.

The team’s skipper Tanwir Afzal acknowledged in his pre-match press conference that Zimbabwe was a much more experienced side, but added that Hong Kong had identified several frailties.

“We have a plan, and we work out the weakness of them. We’ll see,” he said.

“We have a young side, it’s always energetic and exciting, so they are ready to show the world how good they are and they believe in their ability.”

Zimbabwe skipper Hamilton Masakadza said that his team “need to be a bit more consistent”, but he was nevertheless happy with their performance in warm-up matches.

After the Hong Kong-Zimbabwe match, Nagpur will also host a game between Afghanistan and Scotland.

Bangladesh is due to face the Netherlands on Wednesday in Dharamsala before Ireland face Oman at the same venue.

ICC World T20 2016: Venues, Stadiums & Schedule

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more updates.

Pakistani Women Who Are Breaking Stereotypes

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Guest Author

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Mar 8, 2016

On 8^th of March, we celebrate International Women’s Day. It is a day that recognizes the greatest achievements of women and calls for attaining gender equality in the society. On an occasion, when we talk about all things great done by women, we cannot simply do that without mentioning a troop of influential and talented women of Pakistan who are not only making the name of our country proud but are also serving the society.

Let’s have a look at some of the names that have attained international fame and recognition for their remarkable work.

Pakistan is one place where women have broken stereotypes, overcome gender biases and with the flair of creativity, have outdone all expectations while exuding panache. Pakistani women stand tall in the face of adversity. Indeed, success comes to those who strive hard and these ladies are an awe-inspiring example of this!

Brandsynario has compiled an exclusive list of the top inspirational women who are changing the face of Pakistan:

Nergis Mavalvala

Pakistani-American Astrophysicist

Pakistan-born scientist Nergis Mavalvala made a history and gave a reason to all Pakistanis to feel proud as she was an integral part of a team who was working on gravitational waves, which is regarded as one of the biggest discoveries of the century.

Mavalvala was born in Karachi and moved to US in her teenage.

Maheen Rehman

Investment Banker

The CEO of Alfalah GHP Investment Management made it to the Forbes ‘40 under 40’ female executives list of 2015.

She is the only female CEO in the asset management and is breaking glass ceiling in this industry with her effective and results driven leadership.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

First Pakistani to Reccieve 2 Oscars

Sharmeen is the voice to those who cannot be heard. She is a Pakistani journalist and a documentary filmmaker who won an Academy Award for her documentary, Saving Face in 2012; hence becoming the first ever Pakistani to bag an Oscar.

She is globally known as a catalyst for social change. Recent news hints that Sharmeen is working on a project featuring Meryl Streep. We sure can’t wait for that!

Khalida Brohi

Women’s Rights Activist & Social Entrepreneur

These two women of substance were included in the Forbes ’30 under 30’ social entrepreneurs list of 2015. Brohi got recognition for her non profit entity Sughar, which is an entity that provides training to women in 23 villages of Pakistan to empower them.

She received numerous awards for her and recognition for her work from world’s renowned philanthropist Oprah Winfrey.

Fiza Farhan

On the other hand, Fiza Farhan the CEO of Bukhsh Foundation also made it to the esteemed list of ’30 under 30’ social entrepreneurs list of 2015. Her social enterprise works on bringing clean energy projects to poor and rural areas.

In addition to getting this recognition for Pakistan in Forbes’ list, she is also making Pakistanis proud by serving as a member of the High-Level Panel of the UN Secretary-General on Women’s Economic Empowerment.

Laraib Ata

Hollywood Visual Effects Artist

The daughter of legendary singer Ata Ulla Isa Khelwi, Laraid Ata has all the reasons to raise our head up high as she is the youngest Pakistani to work as a visual effect artist in Hollywood. She began the journey of her career when she was merely 19.

Mega hit movies of Hollywood such as: Gravity, Godzilla, X-men: Days of future past had effects given by this talented Pakistani girl.

Hamna Zubair

Editor, Dawn Images

Hamna Zubair is the only woman from Pakistan who took part in 26 miles New York Marathon. She ran in the marathon to raise money for the children of The Citizen’s Foundation.

She obtained rigorous training in the scorching heat of Karachi to run in this marathon in New York. Through the funds she raised, she supported the yearly cost of education of as many as 194 children of TCF.

Bilquis Edhi

Active Philanthropist of Pakistan

Topping the list is Bilquis Edhi- a true symbol of benevolence and patronage. She is the backbone of Edhi Foundation and holds the honor of being awarded the prestigious Hilal-e- Imtiaz along with the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1986 for public service.

The foundation provides maternity, adoption, and free medical services; it has saved over 16000 unwanted babies.

No doubt, Bilquis Edhi is a true woman of substance. We salute you!

Malala Yousafzai

Youngest Noble Peace Prize Winner

Malala Yousafzai is the youngest girl who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for advocating girls’ education in SWAT.

She was shot in the head by the Taliban gunmen in 2012; since then she has constantly strived for women’s rights and has even secured a place in the Top 100 most Influential List of People in the Times Magazine.

Malala has recently opened a school for the Syrian refugee girls in Lebanon. Nothing can back this girl down!

Ayesha Farooq

First Pakistani Female Fighter Pilot

Ayesha has broken all cultural norms by being the first female fighter pilot and that is why she deserves the 4th spot on our list!

She is the nation’s true protagonist in her own right; she is fighting to eradicate Waziristan off Taliban while jeopardizing her own life to protect the nation. The nation owes you!

Muniba Mazari

Artist & Motivational Speaker

(Muniba Mazari Facebook Page)

In a society which looks down upon disability, Muniba is one girl who has risen from the ashes and redefined herself. She is an accomplished artist and motivational speaker; with her exquisite smile and vibrant energy, she has taken over the hearts of many.

Her poise has remained indestructible, even after she met a tragic road accident; instead of wallowing in self -pity, she stood tall with elegance. She showcases her art on her blog Muniba’s Canvas and motivated many APS attack survivors by visiting hospitals. She is a true hero for all of us!

Samina Baig

First Pakistani Woman to Climb Mount Everest

(Samina Baig Facebook Page)

Samina Baig has broken stereotypes by being the first Pakistani woman and the third Pakistani to conquer Mount Everest. Samina was also the first to conquer the Chashkin Sar peak in 2010 which was then named after her.

Being a woman, she has proven that there is no task that a woman cannot succeed at, no matter how painstaking that might be, and that is why you’re on this list. Samina, you rock!

Shaheena Waqar

Women Rights Activist

7th in our list is Shaheena Waqar, the women rights activist! She established an organization by the name of Women Aid Trust in 1997. With the help of this organization, she has taught several prisoner women various skills so they remain independent once they get out into the real world again.

Her noble cause helps these women restructure their lives instead of feeling dejected and demotivated.

Shamim Akhter

First Female Pakistani Truck Driver

An example worth sharing; Shamim Akhter’s confidence and resilience of breaking through the gender biased hurdles of our society by being the first female truck driver of Pakistan, deserves a spot on the list.

Shamim is a 53-year-old single mother whose drive and determination made her accomplish what many thought was impossible.

Zahida Kazmi

First Pakistani Female Taxi Driver

This woman is a true icon of breaking taboos in a gender biased society of Pakistan by becoming the first female taxi driver.

In a society where driving a taxi is not considered a respectable profession even for men, let alone women, Zahida has proven that when it is about taking charge and feeding your family, no profession is gender specific.

Aas00 Bai

Educational Activist

Due to her remarkable passion for education, Aasoo Bai has made it to our list! Belonging to a small district of Umerkot- Sindh, Aasoo manages her own school in her home village.

Being only 22, handicapped and daughter of a poor farmer, she teaches over 200 students. Undoubtedly, she is an inspiration for all generations and her efforts are worth applauding.

Did you find the article useful? Comment below to let us know!

Written by Hareem Zafar & Nyda Mokhtar.

Fawad Khan’s Kapoor & Sons’ Song ‘Lets Nacho’ Released

By

Bismah Ahmed

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Mar 8, 2016

Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra, Fawad Khan starrer film Kapoor & Sons’ fourth song ‘Lets Nacho’ has been released. The party song of the year has arrived and we are loving it!

Fawad revealed his look for the song on his Instagram. See the pic below:

Party song of the season…Kya kar rahe hon Lets Nacho! @aliaabhatt @s1dofficial

A post shared by Fawad A Khan (@fawadkhan81) on Mar 7, 2016 at 9:09am PST

And on his Twitter:

Let's Nacho! Coming out tomo 11am #knsmarch18 @S1dharthM @aliaa08 pic.twitter.com/0uvObbXxfO

— Fawad Afzal Khan (@_fawadakhan_) March 7, 2016

Listen to the song below on Hotstar:

The party never stops with #KapoorAndSons! #LetsNacho out now @hotstartweets! https://t.co/5DJFCNHzQx @aliaa08 @S1dharthM @_fawadakhan_

— Sony Music India (@sonymusicindia) March 8, 2016

Directed by Shakun Batra, Kapoor And Sons, which also stars Rishi Kapoor, Ratna Pathak and Rajat Kapoor as the other Kapoor family members, is slated to release on March 18.

Did you like this post? Let us know in the comments below!

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more!

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel Returns to Host Emmys 2016

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AFP

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Mar 8, 2016

Late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel will host the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards in September, the ABC television network announced on Monday.

Television’s version of the Oscars rotates among the four major broadcasters — ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox — and Kimmel presented once before, when it was last aired on ABC in 2012.

“I am excited to be hosting the Emmys again. I have a feeling I’m going to be great,” the 48-year-old New Yorker said in a statement.

“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” now in its 14th season, is ABC’s longest-running late-night talk show.

ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey described the comic as “the consummate showman.”

The Emmy Awards airs live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on September 18. Nominations will be announced on July 14.

‘Pakistan’s Biggest Strength Is Its Women’ Says Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy

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Guest Author

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Mar 8, 2016

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy hosted a press conference in Pearl Continental on Saturday, March 5^th to talk about her second Oscar win in four years taking the time to respond to allegations made against her on social media.

Sharmeen opened the press conference by thanking her supporters who stayed up late to watch the Oscars and for the numerous emails congratulating her and outpouring of love and affection from Pakistan. She also thanked everyday Pakistani heroes who are working on serious social issues as well as the media for taking this issue on to prime time and talking about it. This has started conversation on important social matters.

She thanked the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for hosting the first screening of the film at the PM house and for mentioning the fact that there is no place for honour killings in Islam.

She mentioned that she had received a very positive response from the international community for the documentary however she did express her surprise at the mixed response from Pakistan for her documentary A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness.

She talked about how Pakistan’s biggest strength is it’s women and mentioned many achievements and honour they have brought to the country.

[vimeo id=”158138215″]

#socfilms press conference today #sharmeenobaidchinoy @sharmeenobaid @farhatkmehboob

A post shared by Brandsynario (@brandsynario) on Mar 4, 2016 at 10:26pm PST

Discussing the subject of her documentary Sharmeen explained she chose honor killings as her subject because of the overwhelming statistics that presented themselves in her research which showed that more than 1000 women are killed in cases of honor killing across Pakistan each year.

“Those are just the documented killings, most of the murders are not even recorded” she stated.

"In a progressive society discuss issues and make a change for the better ' Saba's story is a source of change @SOCFilms @FarhatKMehboob

— Brandsynario (@brandsynario) March 5, 2016

Sharmeen went on to emphasize that her documentary was not intended to show a negative side of Pakistan, rather to showcase how the system worked and helped save the life of an innocent girl who survived attempted murder. She added that in a progressive society people don’t hide issues , they talk about them and this is what leads to change.

“Lots of people took part in saving Saba’s life after she was shot in the face and left for dead, the person who called the ambulance, the team of surgeons who gave their best to save Saba’s life and the inspector who caught the people who shot her and threw them in jail. This shows that Pakistan is a functioning democracy”

#sharmeenobaidchinoy #socfilms #agirlintheriver @sharmeenobaid @farhatkmehboob

A post shared by Brandsynario (@brandsynario) on Mar 4, 2016 at 10:30pm PST

According to Sharmeen a lack of public discourse on the subject of honor has created a mindset where the killing of a woman is not considered something illegal. “At times the culprits don’t even serve jail time, and this gives the impression that it isn’t a big thing at all to kill a woman, the mindset persists and the cycle of violence continues”.

'Killing a woman is a crime ' and honour killings is too @sharmeenochinoy @SOCFilms @brandsynario #AGirlInTheRiver pic.twitter.com/H4RxiOa7s8

— Farhat K Mehboob (@FarhatKMehboob) March 5, 2016

She discussed the impact and the importance of making documentaries discussing her first Oscar winning documentary Saving Face and how it helped establish stricter legal action and jail sentences against acid attacks in Pakistan which resulted in less attacks being perpetrated. Now acid attacks are judged in Anti terrorism courts and receive rigorous punishment.

#sharmeenobaidchinoy with her 2 nd #oscar for #agirlintheriver #socfilms #sharmeenobaidchinoy #pressconfetence @farhatkmehboob @sharmeenobaid

A post shared by Brandsynario (@brandsynario) on Mar 5, 2016 at 12:36am PST

Sharmeen appreciated the Punjab government for approving the Woman Protection bill and expressed her hope that the nation would unite to eradicate the mindset that results in acid attacks and honor killings and develop legislation and strict sentences for Honor killings which are in her opinion nothing more than premeditated murders.

"There is no place for honour killings in Islam " Nawaz Sharif @SOCFilms @FarhatKMehboob #AGirlInTheRiver pic.twitter.com/nPhPqT9uyh

— Brandsynario (@brandsynario) March 5, 2016

She also responded to allegations made by Syed Noor who alleged that Sharmeen had copied her idea stating that it was impossible for a fictional movie to be replicated by a documentary maker, as documentaries are made on real life events.

And Saba’s suffering was in no way fictional, to even allege that Saba’s life events were somehow fabricated would be an insult to the 18 year old that survived an attempt on her life and bravely spoke out against her attackers.

The category for Documentary short film is never made for commercial success, film makers in this category make issue based films whose main objective is to bring about a positive change.

Do we really want honour killings ?Islam gives women many rights @FarhatKMehboob @SOCFilms pic.twitter.com/DMGSGfOqom

— Brandsynario (@brandsynario) March 5, 2016

Upon being asked by a reporter why Sharmeen only chooses to showcase the negative aspects of Pakistan, Sharmeen replied by asking how all Pakistani journalists portray the image of Pakistan in public media. She went on to state that her documentary was nothing less than the truth and she will only show the honest face of Pakistan without fabrication. “If anyone has a problem with how I portray the image of Pakistan the simplest solution would be to fix the issues “she said.

Shoot Location: Filmed entirely in Pakistan.

Duration of the Documentary: 39 minutes and 22 seconds

Credits of the Documentary:

Edited By Geof Bartz, A.C.E.

Music By Wendy Blackstone and Gunnard Doboze

Co-Produced By Haya Fatima Iqbal

Camera By Asad Faruqi, Nadir Siddiqui, Khurram Victor, Haider Ali, Adrian Permal, Cyrus Viccaji and Mohammad Kashif

Senior Producer Lisa Heller

Executive Producer Tina Brown and Sheila Nevins

Produced By Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

Directed By Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

Sound By Nadir Siddiqui and Jasir Abro

Article Contributed by Waqas Rabbani and Farhat Kapadia Mehboob

ICC World T20 2016: Afghans Hope For T20 Glory In India

By

AFP

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Mar 8, 2016

Afghanistan, whose cricketing fairytale has captured the hearts of fans around the world, hope to do their own supporters proud in their adopted Indian homeland with the start of the World Twenty20 on Tuesday.

Since overcoming the odds to compete in the 2010 World T20 in England, the Afghan team has managed to qualify for all the major international tournaments, including last year’s 50-over World Cup.

But this time around, the one-time nomads — many of whom were born or brought up in exile — will be playing on what is now officially home turf after they made a suburb of New Delhi their headquarters.

And with tens of thousands of Afghan expats living in the Indian capital, Asghar Stanikzai’s side can expect to be cheered on by a sizeable contingent of supporters in the game’s heartland.

“I have been with the team for the past 15 years and I am very satisfied with the side’s progress… It’s a brilliant achievement in a very short span of time,” veteran batsman Mohammad Nabi told AFP during a recent nets session in Noida, a satellite city of New Delhi.

“We have seen difficult times back home, where there are no proper cricket grounds and academies. But now we are at the big stage,” added Nabi, who is back in the ranks after a three-year spell as captain.

Although he was born in the eastern Afghan province of Logar, Nabi moved to Peshawar in Pakistan as a youngster when his family sought shelter from the civil war that wracked their homeland.

World T20 2016: 5 Players Who Will Retire After The Tournament

Cricket struggled to get a foothold in Afghanistan under the Taliban, the hardline Islamist regime which was toppled in a US-led invasion in 2001.

But the millions of Afghan refugees who fled across the border into Pakistan found themselves in a cricketing crazy nation and many youngsters soon caught the bug themselves.

Many grew up idolising Pakistan batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq who agreed last October to become Afghanistan’s new coach with a brief to make sure the team make the second phase of a major tournament for the first time.

If they are to take on the established international teams in the second week of the tournament, Afghanistan must top a group that includes Test nation Zimbabwe, Hong Kong and Scotland. The Scots will be their first opponents in Nagpur on Tuesday evening.

Inzy in charge

Inzamam, one of the finest batsman of his generation, says his charges don’t lack for talent but need greater exposure to take the next step up.

“I obviously share my experience with them, but they will only learn when put in such situations,” Inzamam told AFP.

“If you want to learn swimming then you will have to jump in the water, no matter how many lessons you get on the ground”.

“They are ready for international cricket and now they just need exposure.”

Much of the team’s hope rests on the shoulders of Mohammad Shahzad, the wicketkeeper-batsman who bludgeoned an unbeaten 118 off just 67 balls during aT20 international against Zimbabwe in January.

Shahzad, who was born in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, oozes with confidence as he practises the ‘helicopter’, the trademark shot of his idol, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

“The troubles back home are not really on our minds when we take the field,” Shahzad told AFP.

“We are not here just to participate in the tournament, we have come here to do something.”

As part of a deal with the Indian cricket board, Afghanistan is now based at Noida stadium where a group of fans could be seen seeking autographs.

“It’s wonderful, it’s a treat for us and a dream come true,” said Habib Rahman as he watched the team go through the paces.

“We will definitely go watch our team’s games. In Delhi or wherever they play, we will go,” said Badshah Khan, another expat living in Delhi.

Batsman Nabi says the establishment of a permanent base has been a boon, allowing the side to concentrate on the task at hand rather than worry about events back home.

“It’s a good facility here and we faced some good cricketers here,” Nabi said.

“There are difficult times back home, but we tend to focus on our cricket.”

ICC T20 World Cup 2016: Schedule & Match Fixtures

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more updates!

World T20 2016: Sri Lanka’s Malinga Steps Down As Captain

By

AFP

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Mar 8, 2016

Defending champions Sri Lanka announced Lasith Malinga was stepping down as captain of their World T20 side Tuesday and Angelo Mathews would instead skipper the team in the tournament in India.

“Angelo Mathews is going to be captain and (Dinesh) Chandimal will be vice captain,” Mohan de Silva, secretary the Sri Lanka cricket board, told reporters in Colombo.

“Malinga will be in the squad. He is only stepping down from the captaincy, but he has offered himself for selection after the 15th because he is undergoing some treatment here.”

Sri Lanka’s sports minister sacked the country’s cricket selectors Tuesday and appointed a new panel headed by former player Aravinda de Silva, just days before they begin their World Twenty20 campaign.

Dayasiri Jayasekera dismissed the panel appointed in April last year following Sri Lanka’s failure at the recently-concluded Asia Cup in Bangladesh, as well as other dismal performances, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

“The appointment of the National Selection Committee was carried out by the Honorable Minister citing recent failures encountered by the national team in their tours to New Zealand, India, Asia Cup in Bangladesh and the inconsistency of selection criteria,” the statement said.

The new panel headed by de Silva, a member of the 1996 World Cup winning team, includes Kumar Sangakkara, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Lalith Kaluperuma and Ranjith Madurasinghe.

The new committee is appointed on the eve of Sri Lanka’s departure to India to defend the World Twenty20 trophy they won in 2014, but Sri Lanka have slipped to eighth in the T20 team rankings, just above Afghanistan, after a losing streak at the Asia Cup, which won by India who beat Bangladesh in Sunday’s final.

The previous selection panel, headed by former Test seamer Kapila Wijegunawardene had been appointed in April and its term had been due to end next month.

Pakistan’s World T20 Squad Announced, Assesses Security Concerns

By

AFP

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Mar 8, 2016

Pakistan had sent a team to assess security for the World Twenty20 starting in India this week as selectors recalled opener Ahmed Shehzad for the tournament after the side flopped during the Asia Cup.

Pakistan has voiced repeated concern about security for the tournament, and participation could depend on the delegation’s assessment.

The South Asian adversaries have not played a bilateral series for more than three years due to diplomatic tensions.

A senior Pakistan Cricket Board official confirmed the delegation had departed and was likely to return Tuesday.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chowdhry Nisar Ali Khan said Saturday the team would only travel to India if the security assessment was positive. If cleared, they are set to fly on Wednesday.

ICC World T20 2016: Venues, Stadiums & Schedule

Chief selector Haroon Rasheed announced the decision to recall Shehzad, saying the inclusion of opener Khurram Manzoor “backfired” at the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, where Pakistan lost to India and the hosts.

“We have included Shehzad in the 15-man squad for the World Twenty20 as the decision to include Manzoor backfired, for which I take the whole responsibility,” Rasheed told AFP.

Shehzad, 25, was initially dropped from the World Twenty20 squad announced last month after he managed just 65 runs in his last five Twenty20 matches.

Manzoor scored just 11 runs in three matches of the Asia Cup, at which Pakistan beat only Sri Lanka and minnows the United Arab Emirates.

Rasheed said Shehzad batted well in the last phase of the Pakistan Super League, staged in the United Arab Emirates last month.

ICC World T20 2016: Pakistan To Send Security Team To India

“We dropped Shehzad because of poor form in New Zealand but he did well in the PSL and we need experience in the World Twenty20,” said Rasheed of the event, the first round of which starts in India from Tuesday.

Pakistan is scheduled to play their first match against a qualifier team in Kolkata on March 16.

They are due to meet India in a high-profile match in Dharamsala on March 19.

Pakistan’s revised squad:

Shahid Afridi (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Khalid Latif, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Sami.

BMW Celebrates 100 Years of Car-Making

By

AFP

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Mar 7, 2016

German luxury carmaker BMW will throw a lavish 100th birthday party on Monday, looking back at its often troubled history and forward as it seeks to adapt to the age of “personal mobility”.

In its home city of Munich the iconic headquarters, a complex dubbed the “BMW four-cylinder”, towers as a source of pride while its vast plant, offices and museum are the southern city’s main private employer, with a total of 41,000 staff.

Since its World War I beginnings, the company has grown into a multinational giant with plants in 14 countries, more than 116,000 employees and 80 billion euros ($88 billion) in annual sales.

BMW today makes cars and motorcycles and its brands also include Rolls-Royce and Mini.

Leading its rival Daimler-Benz in units sold, and with giant VW damaged by the emissions scandal, BMW remains in pole position at the high end of the auto industry and is seen as a symbol of German engineering prowess.

“It’s a great product, it’s a joy to make it,” says Stefan Eichborn, wearing a blue overall and speaking in a Bavarian accent, as he supervises huge machines that press steel sheets into car body parts.

War-time past

The auto giant started life in far more troubled times — on March 7, 1916, making aircraft engines as Germany’s “Bavarian Aircraft Factory”.

After WWI, when defeated Germany was forbidden from manufacturing aircraft, it renamed itself Bayerische Motoren Werke (“Bavarian Engine Factory”) in 1922.

BMW adopted a propellor-shaped logo as a salute to its aerospace origins, in Bavaria’s traditional blue-and-white colours.

“The product for which BMW is best known nowadays was actually the last product to be taken into its portfolio,” says Manfred Grunert, the company’s in-house historian.

After producing its first motorcycle in 1923, BMW began making cars in 1928. During the 1930s it started on its own designs, such as the 326 limousine and the 328 roadster.

As the Nazis came to power, BMW again became involved in armament efforts, once more building aircraft engines. From 1939 it used forced labour from concentration camps — one of BMW’s darkest chapters, which it only began to open up about in the 1980s.

At the end of World War II, with Germany in ruins, the company survived by making household utensils. It resumed motorcycle production in 1948 and car production in 1952, but its success initially remained limited.

“During the 1950s, BMW had serious financial problems,” historian Grunert told AFP. “BMW did not participate in Germany’s post-war economic miracle.”

Start-up spirit

In 1959, the group was about to be taken over by its arch-rival Daimler-Benz, but a group of shareholders rebelled. One of them, Herbert Quandt, son of a well-known industrialist, came to BMW’s rescue, investing massively in the company.

“Without his involvement, BMW would today simply be a factory of Daimler,” said Grunert. The Quandt family today remains BMW’s biggest shareholders with a stake of 47 percent.

Peter Fuss, automobile expert at consultants EY, said the presence of a “strong shareholder” willing to take risks is a key factor behind the company’s success.

But the Quandt name is also associated with the darkest period of Germany’s history. Herbert’s father, Guenther Quandt, was one of Germany’s leading industrialists during the Third Reich, enjoying the spoils of wealth confiscated from Jews.

During the 1960s, BMW launched its “Neue Klasse” limousines and in 1965 coined the advertising slogan “the joy of driving”.

From the 1970s to 90s, it expanded abroad. BMW bought British Rover in 1994, but the company remained a financial millstone and was sold off again in 2000.

BMW however held on to the Mini brand, transforming it into a premium marque.

It has since diversified into four-wheel drives, compact cars and the fully electric i3 model range.

As tech giants such as Google and Apple are eyeing the personal mobility market, the company launched its BMWi division in 2011 which also offers services like car sharing platform DriveNow.

The idea now is to “instill the spirit of a start-up in BMW, which is not obvious in an industry where product cycles are long,” said Henrik Wenders, responsible for managing BMWi products.

So far, BMWi generates only one percent of the group’s total turnover, said Wenders, but he declared confidently that “without us there may not be a 200th anniversary” for BMW.

Samsung Electronics & Six Flags Announces First Virtual Reality Roller Coasters

By

AFP

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Mar 7, 2016

According to ABI Research, this year’s Mobile World Congress proved the perfect springboard for showcasing virtual reality, so much so that the company is now predicting that 50 million headsets will be shipped globally every year by the end of the decade, including devices that work with a smartphone.

The most basic virtual reality design, Google’s Cardboard, has already hit 5 million orders and it’s very simplicity – the fact that it can be used with an Android smartphone – is what really giving consumers a taste for VR.

“Smartphones are the perfect platform for the VR market because they already have the power and technological functionality necessary to create a fun, in-depth simulated environment,” said ABI Research Analyst Eric Abbruzzese.

This simplicity is creating a host of immersive opportunities and partnerships. On Thursday, the US theme park Six Flags announced that it is working with Samsung to create Virtual Reality roller coasters.

“[It] is certainly a new and thrilling proposition,” said Marc Mathieu, chief marketing officer at Samsung Electronics America. “Now, people can be immersed into a totally new universe while riding a roller coaster.” “This remarkable technology is a definite game-changer for theme park rides,” added John Duffey, Six Flags President and CEO.

The growing accessibility of headsets is drawing more firms into VR to examine its potential beyond gaming.

“The VR content ecosystem is opening up to include casual and traditional VR gaming, as well as education experiences,” said Sam Rosen, a ABI Research VP. “360-degree video also saw notable investment from Facebook and YouTube, pointing to another promising VR growth opportunity, while content developers are still learning how consumers engage with mobile-reliant VR systems.”

At the other extreme of the market, the Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR and the HTC Vive are all serious gaming headsets at serious price points that need to be connected to a computer or console to work. Despite the premium, demand is strong. For example, 15000 HTC Vive headsets, which cost $799 each, were snapped up within the first 10 minutes of pre-orders going live on February 29.

However, one group of consumers that won’t be getting a taste of premium VR gaming in the immediate future are Mac users. Speaking to Shacknews, Oculus VR’s co-founder, Palmer Luckey said when asked why the Oculus Rift headset isn’t Mac compatible that: “If they ever release a good computer, we will do it.”

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Shraddha Kapoor Is Veet’s New Brand Ambassador

By

Web Desk

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Mar 7, 2016

Veet, the best global depilatory brand, launched the latest Veet hair removal cream recently by the name of Veet Silk & Fresh, featuring Shraddha Kapoor as Veet’s new brand ambassador.

The new and improved Veet uses silk and fresh technology which gives salon-like silky smooth skin in no time. In addition, it has a pleasant fragrance, unlike other unbranded hair removal creams that leave a specific odor on the skin after the use.

“We are excited to launch the new and improved Veet with Shraddha Kapoor as our brand ambassador. This new silk and fresh technology will give the users salon like smoothness in just 5 minutes,” says Maha Changez, Brand Manager on Veet.

The new Veet is available in three sizes 25 grams, 50 grams and 100 grams. Its three variants are suitable for normal, dry and sensitive skin users.

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‘Toyota Setsuna’ New Concept Car To Release Soon

By

AFP

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Mar 7, 2016

Next month Toyota will debut its new “Setsuna” concept car at Milan Design Week. The automobile is made primarily of wood. Toyota chose this material as it is durable yet changes in coloration and texture over time. Toyota used a variety of wood types for different parts of the car, including the exterior panels, frame, floor and seats.

The car’s name “Setsuna” is Japanese for “moment”. Toyota chose the name to reflect people’s fleeting moments together with cars.

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Colouring Craze Poses Problems For Crayon Makers

By

AFP

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Mar 7, 2016

Colouring books for grown-ups may be the new lifestyle craze, promising ways to combat stress, unleash our creative spirit and generally take time out from our increasingly tech-frazzled, gadget-obsessed lives.

But for the makers of crayons and colour pencils, the trend also poses a fundamental strategic question: is the current boom in demand just a passing fad or is it a new sustainable trend?

“I dream about crayons at night,” says Andreas Martin, who manages a factory of the manufacturer Staedtler in Nuremberg, southern Germany.

Staedtler is a small family-run firm employing a workforce of around 2,000 and has seen demand for some of its coloured pencils explode, more or less overnight.

“These are models we’ve been making for years and demand always chugged along unspectacularly,” Martin said.

“But then all of a sudden, we weren’t able to manufacture enough. It’s incredible.”

An employee of the German pencil maker Staedtler picks up the pencils out of a machine, in a production hall of the company in Nuremberg.

Just behind him, a machine spits out yellow ink pens at a rate of around 6,000 per hour. Another next to it is currently programmed to produce orange ones.

On the next floor down, finished crayons in a kaleidoscope of different colours are packed into boxes of 20 or 36 for shipping to the United States, Britain or South Korea.

Those are the countries at the centre of the current adult colouring craze, said Staedtler chief, Axel Marx.

In the USA, nine colouring books are currently among the top 20 best-selling products on Amazon.A slice of the cake –

A slice of the cake

Gradually “we’re seeing a similar development in European countries, too,” said Horst Brinkmann, head of marketing and sales at rival Stabilo Schwan, which makes fluorescent marker pens and coloured pencils as well.

All the players in the sector are keen to get a slice of the cake. Stabilo has launched a set of crayons and book with spring motifs. Swiss upmarket maker Caran d’Ache has published its own colouring book of Alpine scenes.

Without revealing any figures, Brinkmann said Stabilo’s sales of crayons had risen by more than 10 percent while the colouring craze enabled Staedtler to lift its sales by 14 percent last year to 322 million euros ($350 million).

“That’s remarkable, in this age of digitalisation,” said Marx.

But the hype also constitutes something of a headache for factory chief Martin.

“No-one knows how long it will last,” he admits.

“We need to strike a balance”, so as to know much to sensibly invest to be able to ride the wave, while still keeping in mind that the trend could vanish as quickly as it started.

“At the moment, we’re making use of adjustable working hours,” adding shifts, say, at night or on Saturday mornings. In addition to the 350 regular employees, the factory had taken on around 30 temporary workers.

But ultimately, the decision is whether to invest the 300,000 euros needed for a new machine.

Fundamental trend?

Staedtler is ready to stump up the cash, with the hope that “if the market falls again, we can use the machines for different types of products,” Martin said.

But rival makers are betting on the durability of the new trend.

At Caran d’Ache, “we have invested in production equipment and extended working hours,” said president Carole Hubscher.

The company sets great store by being a “Swiss Made” brand and “there is no question of relocating to boost production,” she said.

Hubscher is convinced that writing and drawing “won’t disappear.”

And “our growth targets are not solely built on trends,” she argued.

Stabilo’s Brinkmann insisted that adult colouring “is part of a fundamental and universal trend towards slowing down.”

Nevertheless, “it’s important to continue to innovate in this area” to maintain market momentum, he said, pointing to the new “fashion within a fashion” of “Zentangling” or drawing images using structured patterns.

Staedtler chief Marx is more fatalistic, saying that a trend such as colouring is not predictable.

“But we’re keeping our fingers crossed that it’ll continue,” he said.

Panasonic To Broadcast Total Eclipse Using Solar Energy

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Paris Fashion Week 2016: Hottest Accessories Revealed!

By

AFP

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Mar 7, 2016

If the shows that have taken place so far during Paris Fashion Week are anything to go by then accessories will be strong for Autumn/Winter 2016.

Chunky jewellery is an easy and modern way of keeping a look on point, as proven by Loewe, whose spiral bangles were layered and heaped upon the models’ wrists. The house also went big on gold chokers, which were worn over high necklines for a result that was both antiquated and contemporary.

Balmain was another fashion house to embrace the choker, integrating shiny metallic and corrugated plastic versions into several ensembles. Creative Director Olivier Rousteing’s collection was also replete with tight thigh-high suede boots, ticking off an additional key trend of the season.

Dolce & Gabbana Unveils Rosy New Beauty Collection 2016

Rick Owens followed suit with conceptual thigh-high trainers in black and white that took ‘athleisure’ to a whole new level.

The hunger for fur shows no signs of slowing, with Vionnet and Dries Van Noten showcasing coats and outerwear adorned with fluffy collars. But the chiquest (and perhaps wackiest) shaggy accessory had to come from

creations by Manish Arora during the 2016-2017 FallWinter ready-to-wear collection fashion show

But the chiquest (and perhaps wackiest) shaggy accessory had to come from Manish Arora, where the models carried puppies dyed purple to match their outfits.

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Panasonic To Broadcast Total Eclipse Using Solar Energy

By

AFP

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Mar 7, 2016

Panasonic will broadcast worldwide via live stream the total eclipse on March 9 using nothing more than solar energy from its Power Supply Container, a standalone photovoltaic power package. In other words, using the sun to film the sun.

As Sumatra, Borneo and Sulawesi, Indonesia plunge into darkness during a rare total eclipse on March 9 (local time), Panasonic will deliver the live broadcast of the four-minute phenomenon from the eastern Indonesian island, Ternate through its portable Power Supply Container. The container was developed by Panasonic to create and store energy in order to supply energy to areas without electricity.

The portable container creates energy during the day with 12 HIT solar panels with high conversion efficiency (3kW). The energy is then stored in 24 lead-acid batteries (17.2 kWh). The power containers are currently being used in schools on remote Indonesian islands to power IT equipment, air conditioners, and LED lighting.

To capture the eclipse, 3 kW of energy generated by the solar modules and stored in the batteries will be relayed to a Panasonic LUMIX GH4 camera attached to a telescope. Solar energy will also be used to power other equipment deployed for the event including portable computers, editing material, and internet connection technology.

Although this is not the first time Panasonic has broadcast a solar eclipse live, the previous two occasions used solar modules that required a ground setup with the electronics brand noting that this time around the procedure will be streamlined by the portability of the Power Supply Container, its first use in such an endeavor.

The live broadcast of the eclipse will begin on March 8 at 8 pm UTC, 5 am March 9 local time in Ternate. The partial eclipse is set to begin March 8 at 23:36 UTC, with the total eclipse set to begin at 00:50 March 9 UTC.

It can be viewed on platforms including Ustream, YouTube Live and Periscope. Panasonic has set up a special web page with a countdown to the eclipse and further information along with a trailer on the upcoming live event:

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Email Inventor Ray Tomlinson Dies at 74

By

AFP

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Mar 7, 2016

Ray Tomlinson, the American programmer widely credited with inventing email, has died. He was 74.

Before Tomlinson invented direct electronic messages between users on different machines on a certain network in 1971. Before then, users could only write messages to others using the same computer.

“A true technology pioneer, Ray was the man who brought us email in the early days of networked computers,” his employer, Raytheon, said in a statement.

“His work changed the way the world communicates and yet, for all his accomplishments, he remained humble, kind and generous with his time and talents, He will be missed by one and all.”

A company spokesman said Tomlinson passed away on Saturday, and the cause of death was not yet confirmed. Tributes poured in from the online world.

“Thank you, Ray Tomlinson, for inventing email and putting the @ sign on the map. #RIP,” Google’s Gmail team tweeted.

Vint Cerf, considered one of the fathers of the Internet who was once a manager of the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), lamented the “very sad news” of Tomlinson’s passing.

When Tomlinson invented the user@host standard for email addresses, it was applied at DARPA’s ARPANET, the Internet’s precursor. He was the first to use the @ symbol in this way, to distinguish a user from its host.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate detailed his creation on his blog, in an attempt to prevent legend from overtaking the facts.

“The first message was sent between two machines that were literally side by side” connected only through ARPANET, he wrote on his blog.

“I sent a number of test messages to myself from one machine to the other. The test messages were entirely forgettable and I have, therefore, forgotten them.”

“Most likely the first message was QWERTYUIOP or something similar,” he added, referring to the first letters on the traditional English-language keyboard.

“When I was satisfied that the program seemed to work, I sent a message to the rest of my group explaining how to send messages over the network. The first use of network email announced its own existence.”

Pakistan Auto Show 2016: Huge Response From Crowds

By

Rehan Hashmi

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Mar 7, 2016

The three-day Pakistan Auto Show 2016 organized by Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) concluded at Expo Centre Lahore yesterday and it was surely a great success as it managed to pull off over 100,000 visitors.

Above 200 local and international automobile manufacturers and a number of enterprises in the relevant sectors showcased a vast array of automobile products from March 4 to 6 during this pioneering exhibition.

Leading automobile manufacturers Honda, Suzuki, Isuzu, Hino, UD Nissan and Yamaha from Japan, Massey Ferguson Tractors and Land Rover from UK, Fiat Tractors from Italy, FAW Trucks & Cars from China and many more featured their products in this exhibition and enriched visitors with the latest technological insights and advancement the of engineering in this industry.

Pakistan Auto Show 2016 also featured some seminars and training workshops by experts to aware public with high valued information of this industry and it was appreciated by the audience.

A fantastic closing ceremony was held to wrap up the show and prominent figures of the automobile industry, engineering community, government and celebrities like Ali Zafar participated in it.

PAAPAM Chairman Mumshad Ali told that in next 3 to 5 years, the demand of automobiles is expected to rise more rapidly and it will be a huge challenge for Pakistan to build up the capacity of local assemblers and vendors in accordance with the increased demand.

Currently, the annual production in 2015 had reached 180,000 cars, 1.8 million motorcycles, 4,000 trucks, 600 buses, 47,000 tractors and 50,000 three wheelers.

Chief Organizer of Pakistan Auto Show Syed Nabeel Hashmi said:

“Pakistan Auto Show has once again proved that; it is the most resourceful, high-profiled event, playing a pivotal role in nurturing innovation, knowledge-exchange and collaborative ventures in the automotive industry.”

“Revolutionary ideas and technological concepts are shared at this vibrant platform by the world’s foremost technology companies.”

“Global automobile brands and experts enrich the deliberations, along with spare-parts manufacturers, component suppliers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM vendors), automobile traders, investors, buyers and enthusiasts, who want to expand their business networks and knowledge-base.”

“This expo was ‘Biggest annual Automotive Event of the nation’ and we want to organize it on a much larger scale in the upcoming years.”

The expo reflected a tremendous growth of Pakistan automobile industry and proved that Pakistan can be the next bigger market of auto manufacturing and engineering where international manufacturers can also invest to earn billions but we have to wait and see what government brings for the automobile manufacturers in its New Auto Policy of Pakistan.

E-Commerce Boom In Pakistan Helps Boost Economy

By

AFP

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Mar 7, 2016

In the Hindu Kush mountains craftswomen painstakingly stitch flowing scarves, skilled artisans who were unable to sell their products beyond the remote region until the mobile internet came to Pakistan and dropped the market into the palms of millions of previously marginalised people.

The women of northern Chitral are among the unlikely profiteers of an e-commerce boom since 3G and 4G Internet arrived in the deeply conservative Muslim country in 2014, suddenly able to market and sell traditional products without leaving their villages or in some cases even their homes.

“The online platform eliminates the middleman,” says Nasrin Samad, the entrepreneur behind the artisan brand Kai, which works with women across the region.

Now, Chitrali women “have access to a global audience,” she says.

Kai products are sold on polly & other stories (pollyandotherstories.com), which launched late in 2015 to connect traditional artisans like those in Chitral with consumers hungry for “authentic” products.

“Years of working with local community and craft groups had shown us how difficult it was for local small businesses, even the most talented, to access mainstream markets or connect with buyers, both within Pakistan and abroad,” founder Amneh Shaikh-Farooqui told AFP.

Pakistani employees of online marketplace company Kaymu at work in Karachi

To bridge the gap, says co-founder Ange Braid, the pair built a website to give “small, creative businesses, many of them led by women or young students, the chance to market and sell”.

Opportunities like this in a country like Pakistan are “huge”, says Adam Dawood, head of online marketplace Kaymu.pk.

In the first quarter of 2015 smartphone shipments to the country soared by 123 percent, according to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s annual report, one of the fastest growth rates in the developing world.

Broadband subscribers have topped 26 million people, the Ministry of Information Technology said in February, with broadband penetration going from three percent to more than 15 percent.

The ministry cited World Bank studies showing that a 10 percent increase in high-speed internet connections can boost Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 1.38 percent, adding the arrival of broadband in Pakistan is set to have a “very positive impact on economic growth”.

Dawood echoed the report’s optimism. “There are tremendous opportunities for everyone to start selling and buying instantly and earn money,” he said.

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Empowerment

Women are seeing the benefits, but e-commerce presents potentially an even greater opportunity for young people in a country where roughly two-thirds of the population — of around 200 million — are estimated to be under the age of 30.

A recent economic survey by the finance ministry singled out the challenges facing youth in Pakistan, including “limited job search expertise, a mismatch between education, aspirations and employers’ requirements and a lack of mobility, among other factors”.

Seventeen-year-old Daniyal Admaney says he was able to defy scepticism over his youth to launch his T-shirt design business on Kaymu, however.

“I… thought that I should do something productive during summer vacations when I have nothing to do except getting bored and sleeping,” he says.

Kaymu, a venture of German company Rocket Internet, which builds online start-ups, has helped launch several other e-commerce companies unique to Pakistan such as consumer goods site Daraz.pk.

The online marketplace launched in the country about three years ago and now boasts 3,000 transactions every day, with around 11 million unique visitors in 2015, Dawood told AFP.

Kaymu now employs some 150 people in Lahore and Karachi working with 15,000 vendors like Admaney and has a customer base of more than 300,000 people from around the country.

It has also helped bring some international e-commerce sites to Pakistan, such as carpooling site Tripda and restaurant delivery site food panda.

Scramble for Pakistan?

But global giants of e-commerce such as Amazon still do not have an established presence in Pakistan, hampered by a lack of regulations and infrastructure such as a payments system, says IT expert Shahzad Ahmad.

Unrest in the militancy-plagued country is also a factor, he says.

The promise of Pakistan remains enormous, he says, adding that the country’s central bank “should undertake a study on the potential of the online business and also come up with the clear regulatory framework so that foreign giants are attracted to tap into Pakistani e-commerce market”.

Some hurdles are in the process of being removed already. Last year the global Financial Action Task Force removed Pakistan from its list of high-risk and non-cooperative jurisdictions linked to money laundering.

Following the decision, the IT ministry announced in November it will ease e-commerce regulations and invite online payment giants PayPal and Alibaba to the country, where cash on delivery remains prevalent but use of debit and credit cards is growing.

In the meantime, ambitious Pakistanis are crowding the booming market with their own, localised, and in many cases successful products.

Launching an online business allows Nosheen Kashif, a former banker who quit her job to raise her family, to remain a housewife even as she launches an online jewellery selling business.

“The scope of selling online is nationwide,” she says.

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ICC World Twenty20: Champions’ History

By

AFP

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Mar 7, 2016

The five past winners of the World Twenty20, which starts with the preliminary phase on Tuesday:

2014 – SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka defeated India by six wickets to lift the 2014 title in Mirpur, Bangladesh, to atone for their defeat in the previous two finals and provide the perfect T20 international farewell for Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

2012 – WEST INDIES

West Indies stunned Australia in the semi-finals and then broke the hearts of Sri Lanka in a low-scoring final. Despite scoring only a modest 137, the Windies restricted the hosts to 101 in reply before Chris Gayle led his team-mates in a celebratory ‘Gangnam Style’ dance.

2010 – ENGLAND

Player of the tournament Kevin Pietersen inspired England to their first ICC trophy in perfect fashion, defeating arch-rivals Australia in the West Indies.

2009 – PAKISTAN

A Younis Khan-led Pakistan blew Sri Lanka away in a one-sided final at Lord’s to secure their second ICC world title.

2007 – INDIA

India won a thrilling inaugural final against Pakistan by five runs when Misbah-ul-Haq failed to make the runs needed in the final over, inspiring their previously sceptical fanbase to embrace the T20 format.

Pakistani Movie Saawan Trailer Revealed

By

Sumaira Shiraz Alwani

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Mar 7, 2016

Pakistani cinema will be hit with a grief-stricken movie this time and the official promo release of Kalakar Films’ Saawan says it all. The film is slated to release in July 2016 in Pakistan, India, UAE, USA and the UK simultaneously.

The promo of the upcoming film Saawan seems a bit depressing at moments. The film being shot in a barren field, more like a desolated valley shows some heartbreaking moments which are impossible to be forgotten or ignored.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB6kHj4wt7U

[fb_embed_post href=”https://www.facebook.com/PakistaniCinemaOfficial/videos/vb.1528345690775976/1695373914073152/?type=2&theater/” width=”550″/]

Directed under the banner of Farhan Alam and written by Mashood Qadri, the film Saawan revolves around a disabled child who is surrounded by the evil spirits such as feudal lords, society stricken people, muggers, extortionists and child abductors.

The film stars Karam Hussain who is also one of the producer of the film, Arif Bahalim, Najeeba Faiz, Imran Aslam, Saleem Mairaj, Tipu Yorguc, Hafeez Ali, Shahid Nizami, Mashood Qadri, Sohail Malik, Muhammad Abbas, Mahek Ali, Mohd. Ali, Daniyal, and Liam.