Britain plans to introduce a 14-day mandatory quarantine for most international arrivals, reports said Saturday, despite growing pressure on the government to relax virus lockdown measures.

Digital or financial technology – including mobile internet access, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and big data – can make international trade more efficient and support financing options.

In the Philippines, cloud-based technology is being used to address the financial exclusion that helps fuel poverty and inequality.

The ‘app economy’ provides potential risks and benefits for developing countries. The right policies are needed to bring out the best in these emerging economic trends.

Complex, carefully managed financing structures can provide the funding needed for island states and others seeking to develop energy projects.

Throughout Asia and the world, digital solutions are being found for urban problems. Policymakers and city leaders should ensure that the poor do not get left behind in this digital transformation of cities.

Asian cities act as engines of economic growth, providing jobs, expertise, and the sharing of resources. But in some cases, these powerful engines are sputtering due to insufficient infrastructure, inadequate planning, and poor governance.

By some estimates, the digital economy now accounts for trillions of dollars. But policymakers and companies still lack the data needed to fully understand it.

Rawalpindi : The Public Facilitation Centre of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board , during the last seven days, received 163 complaints regarding electricity, water supply and sanitation problems in the cantonment areas and resolved 90 of them.According to RCB spokesman, Qaiser Mehmood, the RCB’s...

Providing safely managed sanitation services for all requires extending the partnership between the public and private sectors.

The ADB Sanitation Dialogue 2020, to be held on 29 June to 1 July 2020 in Manila, engages ADB's developing members and other development partners toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6.2 on sanitation for all.

ADB invites papers for the Asian Development Conference 2020 to be held 16-17 July 2020 in Seoul, Korea.

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Athar Minallah on Friday converted the matter relating to delay in administration of justice into public interest litigation and sought reports from the interior secretary, the chief commissioner of Islamabad and judges of trial courts working within the IHC’s jurisdiction.

Chief Justice Minallah asked the police, district administration and federal government to explain why police reforms could not be enforced in the federal capital even though the law had been promulgated some 18 years ago.

The court framed six questions to be answered by these authorities, including why Police Order 2002 could not be implemented in Islamabad; why proper investigation training was not imparted to investigation officers; whether the code of criminal procedure 1898 and Qanoon-i-Shahadat [Evidence Act] of 1984 were still applicable; whether the state was responsible for delay in administration of justice and whether victims of delayed justice could seek remedy from any forum.

The court appointed criminologist Dr Shoaib Suddle, Kamaluddin Tippu, director general of the National Police Bureau, superintendent of Adiala Jail and vice chairmen of the Pakistan Bar Council and Islamabad Bar Council as amici curiae in the matter.

Further hearing was adjourned to May 14.

During the hearing, the inspector general of Islamabad police submitted a report on the problems arising during investigation of crimes which hindered administration of justice.

In the report, the IG said that the investigation officer (IO) of a case had to pay Rs5,000 parcel fee from his own pocket to send evidence to a forensic laboratory for analysis.

“There should not be any laboratory fee or it should be responsibility of the district administration [to pay the fee],” he said.

The IG noted that it took around two months to send evidence to laboratory for analysis. “An IO should be given the authority to send evidence to a laboratory without waiting for the approval of high officials,” he suggested.

Similarly, he said, an IO paid Rs15,000 for preparation of a sketch of a suspect believed to have committed a crime. “Such a sketch should be prepared within two days.”

The report said that plaintiffs did not cooperate with police after registration of first information reports.

The absence of a forensic laboratory in Islamabad, lawyers’ strikes and deployment of police personnel for special duties also delayed investigation process and subsequently trials, the report said.

Earlier, acquitting a murder suspect Chief Justice Minallah had observed that the existing criminal justice system had failed to deliver and it was on the verge of collapse.

The court had observed that the existing criminal justice system failed to prevent and prosecute crime and it was perpetuating miscarriages of justice.

It had noted that low-paid investigating officers did not have sufficient resources to visit the crime scene when a crime was reported, let alone sending the sealed samples and arranging the payment of the fee to a laboratory for conducting forensic examinations.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2020

LAHORE: A sharp increase in confirmed Covid-19 cases across Punjab has further burdened state-run health facilities, taking their bed occupancy ratio to 54 per cent.

The rate increased during the last two weeks or so due to widespread transmission of the virus.

Official figures reported by the health department portray a grim picture as 3,693 people contracted the virus during the last seven days in the province.

Punjab had reported around 3,686 positive cases for the virus during a period of one month starting from March 15, when the first Covid-19 case was spotted.

Most of the confirmed patients were taken care of in Lahore where the 1,000-bed Expo Centre Field Hospital is housing 450 patients, with 45pc bed occupancy.

Ratio may touch 80pc in two weeks

Similarly, the Mayo Hospital houses 420 patients (70pc bed occupancy) while the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institution 100 patients (100pc bed occupancy).

The health authorities believe that this percentage is likely to reach 80pc in coming two weeks if cases continue to grow at the same rate.

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) is very much concerned over the increasing number of coronavirus patients and rising death toll.

“We are extremely disturbed that how our hospitals would mange the load of corona patients in future because of the scale of transmission of the virus,” said PMA Secretary Dr Qaisar Sajjad.

He said the government would have to revisit the current health system in order to remove flaws and create more space for coronavirus patients, keeping in view the future requirements.

While sharing the fresh report, a spokesperson for the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department said Punjab reported a record 961 confirmed cases of the virus on Friday and it was the highest figure in a single day so far since the pandemic surfaced in the province.

“The government has allocated 7,753 beds for the corona patients at all the teaching, district and other field hospitals across the province,” he said. Of them, 4,239 had been occupied by the patients.

“We have 6,744 beds for corona patients at all the teaching and field hospitals that fall under the specialised healthcare and medical education department in Punjab,” SH&MED Additional Secretary (development) Nadir Chattha said.

He said 3,370 of them were allocated in teaching hospitals and 3,374 at field hospitals. Of the 6,744 beds, he said 2,261 (34pc) had been occupied by the patients.

“We are going to make available 984 more beds in coming days,” he said.

Of the total admitted patients, Mr Chattha said 40 were in a critical condition, with 34 of them on ventilators. He said so far 186 corona patients had died in Punjab.

On the other hand, of the total 961 confirmed cases on Friday, 488 were reported from Lahore which was also another record number (of people testing positive) in the provincial capital in just a day. Of them, 87 were reported from Gujrat, 77 from Rawalpindi, 60 Faisalabad, 45 Multan and 67 from Muzaffargarrh besides some other cities.

The total number of confirmed cases in Lahore and Punjab rose to 3,856 and 10,033, respectively, on Friday.

Surprisingly, the health department said only one patient died (in Muzaffargarh) of coronavirus in Punjab during the last 24 hours.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2020

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized Tuesday with an infection caused by a gallstone, the Supreme Court said.

ADB and AIM today launched the #DigitalAgainstCOVID-19 virtual challenge to crowdsource digital solutions and ideas to help countries in Asia and the Pacific deal with the medium- and long-term...

An earthquake struck early Friday near Iran's highest peak and jolted Tehran, killing at least one person and injuring more than 20 as people ran for their lives.

The government of Indonesia wanted to improve land and water management in the Citarum River Basin, and requested assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to develop a long-term integrated water resources management (IWRM) investment program as part of its strategic road map. In December 2008, ADB approved a multitranche financing facility (MFF) for the Integrated Citarum Water Resources Management Investment Program to support the implementation of the IWRM road map in the basin. A periodic financing request was formulated to implement priority activities from the road map.

As Asia rapidly urbanizes, providing water and sanitation services has become problematic.

This brief presents methodologies, high-level technologies, and policies that can help the People’s Republic of China, particularly Beijing, accelerate and enhance water conservation planning.

This publication provides essential information on the planning, implementation, and management of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in schools, particularly for small and isolated rural settlements in Mongolia.

Providing safely managed sanitation services for all requires extending the partnership between the public and private sectors.

The ADB Sanitation Dialogue 2020, to be held on 29 June to 1 July 2020 in Manila, engages ADB's developing members and other development partners toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6.2 on sanitation for all.

ADB’s Transport Sector Flood Recovery Project helped reinstate bridge approach roads, culverts, and stream crossings and rebuilt three elevated bridges, reestablishing a seamless east–west road link on Guadalcanal and within Honiara. All works incorporated climate- and disaster-proof design.

The Pacific Disaster Resilience (PDR) Program program allocates $15 million in policy-based loans and ADF grants for Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu when disasters occur and also supports priority actions for disaster risk management.

Heritage homes are fast becoming the favourite hunting grounds of luxury brands scouting for premium retailing space in India, where suitable high-end malls are too few and the sales potential at five-star hotels is still uncertain. When designer wear brand Kimaya Fashions searched for a store in Hyderabad, it settled on a 16,000-sq ft bungalow in the upscale Jubilee Hills, in a property with floor area nearly three times the size of its average outlets. French luxury brand Hermes also moved into a Victorian property in Mumbai’s Horniman Circle to retail its popular Birkin bags. “It’s not necessarily out of choice,” says Pradeep Hirani, managing director of Kimaya Fashions, “This […]

Approved project 54061-001 in Sri Lanka.

Approved project 50222-002 in China, People's Republic of.

This paper presents an analysis of business development programs (BDPs) based on a theoretical framework aimed at understanding the mixed effect of business training on entrepreneurs.

Financial sector development can play a crucial role in driving economic growth.

This publication provides essential information on the planning, implementation, and management of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in schools, particularly for small and isolated rural settlements in Mongolia.

Providing safely managed sanitation services for all requires extending the partnership between the public and private sectors.

Labor market discrimination is the main barrier to narrowing the gender earnings gap in the People’s Republic of China.

This paper presents an analysis of business development programs (BDPs) based on a theoretical framework aimed at understanding the mixed effect of business training on entrepreneurs.

Financial sector development can play a crucial role in driving economic growth.

Providing safely managed sanitation services for all requires extending the partnership between the public and private sectors.

HYDERABAD: With Telangana now a reality, control over Hyderabad remains the major contentious issue which is as yet unresolved. It is said that the infrastructure required for the new capital of residual Andhra Pradesh will be completed within 3-4 years. If so, then one wonders as to why Hyderabad needs to play host to Andhra administration for the coming decade? The only plausible explanation for this inordinate delay in parting ways stems undoubtedly from the desire to undertake an exhaustive evaluation of the options available before making the crucial move. The initial gloom which this ‘pockmarked dawn’ ushered in for the city, even while the rest of Telangana rejoiced at […]

Digital innovations are shaking up the hospitality industry with the help of technologies such as artificial intelligence that are unlocking new and better customer touch points and experiences. When hospitality providers deploy AI-powered technologies,...

You heard it here first: in 2018, HARMAN received a record-breaking 53 product design and technology awards, bringing our six-year-total to more than 300 awards for 190 different products.   This unprecedented number is a direct reflection of our...

Since Samsung’s acquisition of HARMAN less than two years ago, the two companies have worked closely to create and implement connective technologies that align with what consumers want today – and in the future. As technology grows ever more capable,...

CES 2019, LAS VEGAS – JANUARY 7, 2019 – HARMAN Professional Solutions, the global leader in audio, video, lighting and control systems, today announced new AKG DMS100 and DMS300 professional digital wireless systems.

MARCH 28, 2019, NEW DELHI, INDIA – HARMAN, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced its sponsorship of Delhi Capitals, one of the key teams participating in the T20 Cricket Indian Premier League 2019, through its popular...

For over 70 years, HARMAN has been at the forefront of the some of the most groundbreaking megatrends in the audio and automotive technology industries – from the first home stereo receiver to in-car radios to today’s sophisticated digital cockpits. Now,...

Music and driving are a powerful combination, and JBL automotive sound is designed to connect consumers to their vehicles at an emotional level. From Italy-based creative agency Garage Italia to leading auto manufacturers who leverage JBL’s audio ...

HARMAN has a rich history of bringing legendary connected technologies to life. Our team has an unwavering commitment to create the best-performing products and innovations that deliver the most connected, personalized experiences for a broad range of...

LIGO has explained how it processes gravitational wave data in greater detail than ever before. But some physicists still say the analysis contains mistakes