Fack Ju Gohte

Fack Ju Gohte

Dr. Jassim Taqui

The German Embassy surprised the cinemagoers by showing a top class German film “ Fack Ju Gohte” . The German Embassy Auditorium was jammed packed in a movie that perfectly combined comedy and romance.

A politically comedy that mocks current debates about school reform, immigration and economic disparity has become the biggest hit in years in Germany. Bora Dagtekin's Fack Ju Gohte, produced by Munich-based production house Rat Pack and distributed by Constantin Film, has sold more than six million tickets  during the first year of its  release late 2013, earning more than $60 million at the German box office so far.

The film's German title, rendered as Suck Me Shakespeer in English, is a German phonetic transcription of "F-- You, Goethe." It's a tidy summing up of both the poor spelling skills of the lead character -- an ex-con turned substitute teacher -- and the film's irreverent tone.

Fack Ju Gohte is on track to become one of the top ten German films of all time. The success proves Dagtekin's freshman effort, 2012's Turkish For Beginners, wasn't a fluke. Both he and Elyas M'Barek -- star of both Turkish for Beginners and Fack Ju Gohte -- are now firmly established on Germany's A-List.

There is good news all round for German films . In addition to Fack Ju Gohte, medieval period drama The Physician and romantic comedy Buddy, from hit maker Michael "Bully" Herbig, also grace the country's top ten. Universal is distributing The Physician while Warner Bros. is handling Buddy in Germany.

All credits to the German Ambassador Ina Lepel and the German head Press Section Dr. Dan Tidten for promoting German culture in a majestic manner.

UNIDO and tanning leather

UNIDO and tanning leather

The administrators of Export Development Fund (EDF) approved a project for the establishment of Tannery Zone at Sialkot for Climate Change Adaptation, through relocation of tanneries in the leather industrial zone. The project is being implemented under the supervision of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab with the technical and financial assistance of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

Esam Alqararah the Country Representative UNIDO to Pakistan disclosed that the Project will provide a range of technical cooperation services to assist Pakistan adding value to the output of leather sector, during the implementation of the project the new initiative will be facilitating the town of Sialkot tannery relocation, around 230 tanneries are currently located in 10 different clusters, scattered all around Sialkot and suburbs. These scattered tanneries are unable to meet the international standards which are becoming more and more stringent with the passage time. Meeting the international standards needs proper infrastructure which is not possible to be extended to each tannery in scattered locations all around the city. The foremost and critical requirement for international trade and exporting leather goods is the environmental and social compliance.

The project is being executed in Public Private Partnership. For representation of the private sector, a non-profit company by the name of Sialkot Tannery Association (Guarantee) Limited was incorporated. The STAGL was established under companies’ act 1984 on 24/06/2004.

The project would help in shifting of tanneries located in and around the city to a centralized location to provide various facilities like Common Effluent Treatment Plant, Solid Waste Disposal Site and Common Effluent Collection System. Part of the project will be also preparation of plans, recommendations for green belt around new tannery zone, transport system for workers, housing etc. This would help in effective control of environmental hazards caused by the tanning industry in the region. It is an immensely important project for the leather industry and would be instrumental in growth of this sector and promotion of leather products exports.

Source: UNIC, Islamabad. 

Attachments area

Biomass to Energy

Biomass to Energy

After the successful conclusion of the biomass gasification training workshop at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), a similar workshop was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in collaboration with NUST at UET Peshawar. The purpose of the training was highlight the importance of biomass as a huge and largely un-tapped energy resource for Pakistan, particularly for SME industries. Participants of this training learned how technologies such as biomass gasification have excellent potential for a variety of applications in Industry, rural electrification and entrepreneurship development. The training was conducted by local and international experts, designed for non-engineering professionals from small and medium sized industrial facilities (SMEs), public sector organizations and professionals from academic institutions. The training component included practical demonstration of biomass gasifier (rated at 10 KW) for efficient conversion of biomass into heat and electricity.

The workshops emphasized on capacity building of SMEs in terms of biomass feedstock, finance and technology to adopt biomass gasification as an alternate source of energy in Pakistan. Introducing Biomass Gasification in Pakistan is a step toward efficient and environment friendly utilization of biomass/crop residue, an indigenous energy source, to alleviate the energy shortfall faced by the industrial sector. Keeping in view the advance nature and beneficial aspects of biomass gasification, capacity building is a key element to spread awareness and establish optimized and skilled technical services to promote training centers and research institutions, and promotion and maintenance of installation of biomass gasifiers.

Chief Guest of the event, Prof. Muhammad Pervez, Chairman Mechanical engineering department said that workshops such as these provide excellent opportunities for understanding the possibilities and getting practical knowledge of technologies such as biomass gasification. He elaborated the role of biomass gasification techniques as giving uplift to the solutions that will reduce the shortfall of electricity. 

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Yasir Ali, National Project Manager of the UNIDO Biomass project appreciated the interactive sessions. He informed the audience about importance of biomass to energy conversion technologies feasible for developing countries like Pakistan.  He also mentioned the need of commercializing of technologies such as biomass gasification. He said in order to make use of the abundant resources of biomass available in Pakistan trained human resource is essential. He thanked the biomass experts for delivering the training and ensured the continuous support of UNIDO to promote inclusive and sustainable development. 

The final training workshop from this series of workshops would be held at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad on March 1, 2016. This workshop would focus on biomass as a means for off-grid rural electrification.

Indian Govt stands its ground

Indian Govt stands its ground 

The JNU row reverberated in Lok Sabha on Wednesday with the Indian government aggressively marshalling the nationalism argument to defend police action against an "anti-national" meeting in support of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, and Congress and Left hitting back, saying BJP was mercilessly crushing dissent and democratic traditions.

HRD minister Smriti Irani accused Congress's Rahul Gandhi of seeing a political opportunity in the suicide of Dalit student Rohith Vemula at Hyderabad Central University. She argued that the JNU incident was not a freedom of speech issue but one that called for stern action against forces calling for India's dismemberment. The Congress, Left and Trinamool walked out as Irani started speaking.

Irani's forceful reply came during a debate that saw Congress's Jyotiraditya Scindia accusing the government of whipping up an atmosphere of intolerance. He said JNU was targeted as it stood against "saffron terrorism" and other acts of oppression like the Dadri lynching and Rohith's suicide.

After the debate, PM Narendra Modi praised Irani's speech, setting the stage for round two of the JNU-Hyderabad debate in Rajya Sabha.

Scindia said the government was muzzling the voice of the youth and mercilessly crushing the principles of democracy, prompting BJP's Anurag Thakur to charge that Congress had aligned itself with those who described Guru's death sentence as "judicial murder" and called for India's break-up.

With BJP ranged against Congress, Left and, to a lesser extent, Trinamool Congress, the battle ground in Lok Sabha saw the "nationalism versus freedom of speech" debate play out in sharp political colours.

BJP leaders vehemently argued that the meeting in JNU was not an innocent case of misguided exuberance but reflected a deep-rooted anti-India mindset.

The exchanges in Parliament on Wednesday were along anticipated lines, sounding very much like campaign speeches. However, TMC's Sugata Bose raised the level of the debate by dipping into the views of Rabindranath Tagore and Aurobindo to caution against a nationalism defined narrowly and devoid of humanism.

Even by the standards of partisan populism, Irani put in a performance which many thought may have helped the government take the battle to the rival terrain. Congress, Left and TMC walked out as Irani started speaking.

Opposition speakers, in turn, accused BJP and the Centre of repeatedly meddling in the working of universities and acting against the interests of students driven by a saffron ideological agenda. Reading out details of reports from JNU authorities, Irani argued that students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar, currently in custody on sedition charges, along with some other students reiterated his support for the meeting to protest the "judicial murder" of Kashmiri separatists Afzal Guru and Maqbool Butt even a day after the controversial incident.

Scindia alleged "undue interference" by Irani and labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya in Rohith's case and raised the issue of JNU, FTII and IITMadras saying "the government is trying to muzzle the voice of youth". "Dattaterya in his letter had called Rohith a casteist and an anti-national... What is the duty of the government? It is to protect democratic institutions and work for betterment of the people. But since the last two years, with the atmosphere of intolerance, no one feels secure. It is mercilessly crushing democratic principles," he said.

Citing examples of Hyderabad University, FTII and JNU, Scindia accused the NDA of misusing government machinery and trying to crush the voice of dissent.

Source: Times of India. 

China aims to be the next leader in smartphones

China aims to be the next leader in smartphones

Along with other Chinese phone makers such as Huawei and Xiaomi, Chinese brands have surpassed Samsung in China and are encroaching on Apple's turf. In the coming years, analysts forecast that these cheap Android phones with not-so-cheap features will likely attract more budget-conscious customers in Europe and even in Samsung's and Apple's home markets, South Korea and the United States.

Chinese phone makers made their global ambitions known at this week's Mobile World Congress wireless show in Barcelona, Spain. Huawei and TCL vied to steal the spotlight from Samsung and LG, both of which announced new high-end phones at the show. Xiaomi, which typically launches phones in China, will preview the Mi 5 phone in Barcelona on Wednesday.

"The Chinese smartphone vendors have a very unique feature - it is the price," said Shu On Kwok, editor of AndroidPIT, a website that tracks Android developments. "You get the same features as an LG or a Samsung smartphone has hardware-wise, but for a lower price."

Samsung saw its market share decline in 2015, while Apple forecast its first revenue decline in over 13 years. Both will have to do more to prove the value of the extra dollars their customers pay.

Along with premium hardware, Apple has tried to position its products as unique by offering software, services and apps that work only on Apple devices - although in many cases comparable services are available for Android devices.

At Samsung's product event Sunday, mobile chief D.J. Koh said "we have other ideas" beyond core smartphone features. Samsung, for instance, is promoting its Galaxy phones' compatibility with a Samsung virtual-reality headset and an upcoming 360-degree camera. But VR is still in its early days, of interest largely to gamers and tech pioneers.

The Chinese brands have already taken their toll on Samsung. Although it's still the largest smartphone maker in the world, Samsung is no longer among the top five phone makers in China, according to market research firms IDC and Counterpoint Technology. Profits from the mobile business have plunged to less than half of what it was in its heyday. Apple's sales in China rose in the fourth quarter, but its growth was outshined by Huawei.

Source: CBS

Saudi oil vs US shale oil

Saudi Oil VS US Shale Oil

Saudi Oil minister Ali al-Naimi says the current crude oversupply should be addressed by less efficient producers.

The high-cost producers in question are US shale fields, Canada’s oil sands and deepwater projects. And this is the first time al-Naimi has so openly talked about Saudi Arabia’s oil policy.

“The producers of these high-cost barrels must find a way to lower their costs, borrow cash or liquidate,” al-Naimi said at the IHS CERAWeek conference.

“It sounds harsh, and unfortunately it is, but it is a more efficient way to rebalance markets. Cutting low-cost production to subsidize higher-cost supplies only delays an inevitable reckoning,” he added.

According to al-Naimi, Riyadh is ready to pump oil at $20 per barrel and still be profitable. “We don’t want to, but if we have to, we will,” he said.

Another reason for Saudi Arabia not to curb production is lack of faith in its competitors.

“We are not banking on cuts because…there is less trust than normal. Not many countries are going to deliver. Even if they say they will cut production, they will not deliver,” said the oil minister.

“It is very ridiculous, they come up with the proposal on freezing oil production and call for this freeze to take place in their 10 million barrels a day production vis-a-vis Iran’s one million barrels a day [planned production boost],” he told the Shana news agency . “If Iran’s crude oil production falls, it will be overtaken considerably by the neighboring countries,” Zanganeh added.

Global oil prices lost steam on Wednesday after the comments from Riyadh. Brent crude was down 1.5 percent, trading at $32.75 per barrel. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was losing 2.5 percent, down to $31.08, as of 9:00am GMT.

Source: RT

Oil price falling

Oil price falling

U.S. oil prices closed higher Wednesday in seesaw trading, as strong U.S. gasoline demand offset worries over record high crude stockpiles.

U.S. government data showed crude stockpiles rose 3.5 million barrels last week to reach an all-time peak above 507 million barrels.

But U.S. gasoline demand over the past four weeks rose more than 5 percent compared with a year ago, and inventories of the motor fuel also slid from record highs on lower refinery runs.

Brent crude was up $1.21 at $34.48 a barrel. U.S. crude settled at $32.15 a barrel, up 28 cents, or 0.88 percent, after falling more than 4 percent at session lows. Both dropped more than 5 percent in intraday trading on Tuesday.

"It's a mixed bag for both bulls and bears as crude stocks continue to rise while gasoline and distillate stocks dropped," said Chris Jarvis, analyst at Caprock Risk Management in Frederick, Maryland.

But some traders bet prices will head back lower after Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi on Tuesday ruled out production cuts, although more major producers were likely to join a Saudi-Russia deal to freeze output at January's highs.

Iran, which opposes any move to limit its oil output until its crude exports reach pre-sanction levels, called the deal "laughable."

Oil has slid from more than $100 a barrel in mid-2014, pressured by excess supply and a decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to abandon its traditional role of cutting production to boost prices.

OPEC and outside producers have stepped up diplomatic activity after prices slumped to their lowest since 2003 last month. OPEC and non-OPEC producers, who support the idea of a production freeze, are planning a mid-March meeting, Venezuela's Oil Minister said.

"We feel it's just a matter of time before we break below $30 to the downside," said Tariq Zahir, fund manager at New York's Tyche Capital Advisors, who is wagering that nearby U.S. crude futures will weaken versus forward contracts in coming days and weeks.

"The talk of a bottom having formed in crude prices will be proven wrong again for the umpteenth time," Zahir said.

Crude inventories in the U.S. Gulf Coast refining hub rose to the highest on record since at least 1990. But gasoline stockpiles fell for the first time since early November after some refineries cut back production in response to low margins.

"The crude oil inventory situation is set to worsen by a lot, given the sub-85 percent refinery run rate," said John Kilduff, partner at New York energy hedge fund Again Capital.

In addition to strong gasoline demand, Kilduff said crude prices seemed to be bouncing off a technical level just below $31.

Source: CNBC

Pakistan Buyers Forum initiate plans to improve labour conditions in textile and garment supply chains

Pakistan Buyers Forum initiate plans to improve labor conditions in textile and garment supply chains

Lahore 23 February, 2016: The fifth meeting of the Buyers Forum Pakistan, attended by 21 participants representing 15 International brands and sourcing companies, was convened by International Finance Corporation (IFC), Netherlands Embassy and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) at Avari Hotel Lahore.

The Buyers Forum agreed to collectively work towards improving working conditions in the factories that they work with and influence their supply chains through policy and advocacy and enterprise improvement programmes to promote sector growth through better compliance initiatives. Policy dialogue on better labour governance, compliance with national labour laws and international labour standards, advisory and training services to improve working conditions for workers in the Pakistani Textile Value Chain were prioritised by the forum as key activities to be implemented in future years.

Representing the conveners of the Pakistan Buyers Forum, Mr. Rick Slettenhaar of the Netherlands Embassy complimented the participants on the progress made. He urged the Forum to focus on increasing its footprint in 2016 to attain concrete results, and he expressed the commitment of the conveners to partner with the working groups as part of this effort.

Key features of the event included a way forward presented by the Buyers for 2016 and a detailed discussion on the three working groups constituted to support policy advocacy and outreach, enterprise improvement and communications. The Communication group also shared progress made in giving shape to the forum’s website, developed in collaboration with Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH). The website is planned to be made operational by end of March.

During a briefing session with the Government, diplomatic development partners and other international agencies, Ms Romina Kochius, representing GIZ (German Development Agency), delivered a presentation on the key outcomes of the project on the Implementation of Social Standards in Textile Sector in Punjab. She shared that the success of the project is in the social dialogue approach through which the workers and employers jointly work towards issues of workplace compliance which has ultimately reduced industrial conflicts and increased overall efficiency and productivity.

Ms Caroline Bates, representing   Labour standards in global supply chains: A programme for action in Asia and the garment sector, briefed the participants about the Garment Sector Stakeholders Forum (GSSF) jointly facilitated by the ILO and GIZ. She explained that the GSSF provides a platform to stakeholders to generate debate on issues prevailing in the sector including legislative and institutional reforms, enforcement and implementation mechanisms and recommendations to address them.

The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Ministries of Textiles and Commerce signalled their continued commitment to make the textile sector in Pakistan sustainable.

Mr Iftikhar Amjad, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of OPHRD updated the BF meeting participants that that the Ministry is hosting the Asian Living Wage Conference (ALWC)  which will be  held from 25-26 May 2016 and will draw participation from eight countries in the region including representation from Government, employers and workers as well as industry representatives in these textile producing countries. Brands from European Union and North America are also invited to take part in the Conference.  The eight participating countries include;

He also updated the forum on the labour reform agenda that the Federal Ministry is taking forward which will include improving regulatory environment, institutional capacity building and workplace improvement programmes. The Government of Pakistan, Employers Federation of Pakistan and Pakistan Workers Federation had also formulated the country’s third Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) covering the period 2016-2020 which focuses on four priority areas including Promoting Decent Work in the Rural Economy, Promoting Job Creation for Youth and Vulnerable Groups, Strengthening ILS Compliance through Social Dialogue and Extending Social Protection Floors.

Ms Wajeeha, Section Officer, Research, Development, Advisory Cell at the Ministry of Textiles apprised that in collaboration with Trade Development Authority Pakistan, the Ministry is arranging a TEXPO exclusively for textile products from 7-10 April 2016 in Karachi which will be an open forum for the Pakistani manufacturers and producers to exhibit their products and directly interact with the foreign investors. She also encouraged the members of the buyers’ forum to participate and add value to the Expo.

Mr Fasih Ahmed, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Commerce highlighted that despite financial crisis, the textile sector recorded increased exports to the EU market in the 2015 fiscal year  with total earnings increased from US$ 6.21 billion during 2013 to US$ 7.54 billion in 2014. This represents an increase of 21%.

He also informed the Buyers Forum that the Treaty Implementation Cell (TIC) established by the Prime Minister within the Ministry of Commerce would be reconstituted and will be expanded to include civil society partners and it will be critical for the buyers’ forum to closely work with the TIC.

The forum exhibited a deep convergence of interests – from the international development partners, industry, buyers’ community and Government of Pakistan to work together in supporting the textile sector: least for supporting lives and livelihoods of the fifteen million people employed by the industry or, for all-encompassing those being adversely affected in the value chain.

Russian nuclear hunter

Russian nuclear hunter

Russia’s nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy (Peter the Great) is to be armed with hypersonic cruise missile by 2022. Ultra-secret Zircon missiles are rumored to be passing final tests ahead of being considered to be introduced into the inventory.

“[GM heavy cruiser] Pyotr Velikiy will go into dry dock in the third quarter or in late 2019. General overhaul and ordnance alterations are planned to be completed by late 2022,” a source in Russia’s shipbuilding industry informed TASS.

The source also confirmed that a prototype of the Zircon hypersonic cruise missile is undergoing government flight development tests. Once the tests are confirmed successful, the missile is going to be presented for state approval.

Another source told TASS that the heavy cruiser is going to be refitted with the brand-new multipurpose 3S-14 vertical launch systems.

Reportedly, each of the 10 3S-14s in production right now has eight missile containers that can house three types of anti-ship missiles: Zircon, Onyx or Kalibr.

Altogether, the cruiser will be armed with 80 anti-ship missiles, enough to engage any existing naval force globally.

Modern Russian anti-ship missiles, like Onyx, have an operational speed of up to 2.6 Mach (750 m/s or 2,700 km/h). The sea-based Kalibr cruise missile travels at a mere 0.9 M speed, yet when approaching the target its warhead speeds up to 2.9 M.

No technical information is currently available about the upcoming hypersonic cruise missile, reportedly being developed in at least two, airborne and seaborne, options.

Its top speed is being argued to be at least 5-6 Mach, yet possibly could reach over 10 Mach maximums. 

The nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy is the world’s largest non-air-capable military vessel. Its inventory includes several hundred missiles, including anti-ship cruise missiles with nuclear warheads and various types of air-defense missiles, torpedoes, anti-submarine armament, artillery, etc.

In another project, 11442, the nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov has been undergoing a general overhaul since late 2014 and will be totally refurbished and rearmed with brand-new missile systems ahead of the Peter the Great going into dry dock.

Source: TASS

Zardari and the deception game

Zardari and the deception game

Dr. Jassim Taqui

The PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has started a standard deception game when he implicitly shifted the accountability of the politicians in line with the unanimously agreed Nation Action Plan (NAP) to the army. Thus he “opposed” the attempt of “certain quarters” to start the accountability of the army even as the army has already started the accountability of corrupt officials within its rank. It is a standard procedure of deception when someone praises you with an intention to criticize you. Zardari had already criticized and threatened the army and fled. Therefore, his flattery is designed to bring in dispute the integrity of the army.

Furthermore, Zardari called “ premature” the decision of the army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif not to seek extension of his tenure as COAS and to retire on due date. This is another form of deception, which is aimed at giving certain quarters the wrong perception that Gen. Raheel Sharif is pressing accountability of corrupt politicians in order to ensure a deal with them to extend his tenure.

Ominously, Zardari and his allies- who speak through him- think the people are naïve. Sir, if you think yourself intelligent, you should have also presumed that there are plenty of people who are more intelligent than you. This notion is not intended to degrade your intelligence but rather to highlight the laws of statistics.

China deploys military jets to disputed South China Sea Island

China has deployed fighter jets to disputed Woody Island in the latest development surrounding the disputed South China Sea Islands, according to a media report. The move comes amid heightened tensions in the area.

US intelligence spotted “under ten” jets near Woody Island, also known as Yongxing Island, an American official told Fox News.

The dispatched jets reportedly include China’s Shenyang J-11s (“Flanker”) and Xian JH-7s (“Flounder”). The sightings date back to a few days ago.

Fox News also reported last week that China had sent two batteries of HQ-9 surface-to-air missiles to the same island.

“There is no difference between China’s deployment of necessary national defense facilities on its own territory and the defense installation by the US in Hawaii,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told journalists at a regular press briefing on Monday.Earlier this week, China’s Foreign Ministry claimed that its strengthened defenses on the South China Sea Islands are similar to US deployments in Hawaii, adding that Washington should not get involved in the territorial dispute.

This tense exchange comes after Secretary of State John Kerry hosted his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in the US. Wang was also scheduled to visit the Pentagon on Tuesday, but the meeting was canceled due to a “scheduling conflict,” according to Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook.

Last week, Washington criticized China’s activities on the disputed Spratly Islands (known as Nansha Qundao in Chinese) in the South China Sea. Secretary of State John Kerry condemned China’s “militarization” of the archipelago, promising “very serious conversations” with Beijing, according to Washington Post.

Meanwhile, the US has stepped up cooperation with its Asian allies to counter what it perceives as a rise in China’s naval capabilities in the region and beyond. Washington’s military measures include conducting regular naval patrols in the South China Sea, as well as air surveillance and US-led war games.

The Chinese and US militaries have previously had close encounters at sea and in the air leading to diplomatic turmoil.

Woody Island is the biggest island in the Paracel chain in the South China Sea. China laid claim to the island in the 1950s, but the rights to the area, which is at the heart of economically important shipping routes in the South China Sea, are being contested by Taiwan and Vietnam.

The archipelago also offers rich fishing grounds, along with possible oil and natural gas deposits, which explains the territorial disputes among neighboring countries.

Source: RT