fortune gems 3 jili download apk
Role of literature in building harmonious society highlighted Islamabad:The ninth ‘Adab Festival Pakistan’ hosted by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad in collaboration with Lightstone Publishers featured engaging daylong sessions highlighting the role played by literature in building a harmonious society. ISSI Director General and former ambassador Sohail Mahmood emphasised Pakistan’s literary richness and ISSI’s commitment to fostering creativity through literature. He highlighted the Adab Festival’s role in promoting book reading, especially among youth, as a vital balancing factor in the digital age. Mahmood lauded the festival as a platform to celebrate cultural pluralism, inspire dialogue, and explore creative ideas. Ameena Saiyid of Lightstone Publishers highlighted the transformative power of literature festivals in honouring writers, researchers, and poets, while addressing societal challenges and reinforcing cultural identity. Dr. Najeeba Arif of Pakistan academy of Letters emphasised literature’s role in fostering humanity, hope, and soft power, stressing its influence in shaping a nation’s cultural and intellectual landscape. The first session of the Adab Festival, titled ‘Jinnah's Vision for Pakistan – A Call for Action,’ featured insightful remarks by Barrister Yasser Latif Hamdani, author of the book. Barrister Hamdani emphasised Jinnah’s role as a key legislator in Pakistan’s formation, contrasting his inclusive vision with Gandhi’s focus on religion in politics. He said Jinnah envisioned a state, promoting harmony among diverse communities while fostering a modern Muslim society grounded in its religious roots. The session highlighted the need to realign contemporary discourse with Jinnah’s ideals, advocating for a more inclusive and harmonious society. The second session, titled ‘Leadership and Legacy,’ featured an engaging discussion with former ambassador Dr. Maleeha Lodhi and journalists Zahid Hussain and Arifa Noor. Zahid Hussain stressed the importance of history for the younger generation, reflecting on Pakistan's challenges and sharing insights from interviews with figures like Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Rajiv Gandhi. Dr. Maleeha Lodhi highlighted unlearned lessons from history; missed opportunities in land reforms, education etc.; and the role of individuals in shaping history. Arifa Noor explored the evolution of political leaders and the need for balanced journalism to capture complex realities. Following an inspiring Sufi performance by Arieb Azhar, the third session of the Adab Festival, titled ‘Reimagining Education: New Frontiers and Opportunities,’ focused on critical challenges and innovative solutions in the education sector. Former secretary Shakeel Durani highlighted illiteracy as a central issue, advocating for community schools and emphasizing that just Rs15 billion annually could enrol 26 million out-of-school children. He also called for technology and policy interventions in remote areas. Ehtesham Anwar stressed the need to prioritize education and address overpopulation and systemic issues. Uzma Yousuf highlighted the role of parents, economic relevance in education, and the importance of teacher training. Hassan Khan advocated for a shift towards Education 5.0, incorporating AI, augmented reality, and project-based learning to equip students with future-ready skills, urging a collective responsibility for systemic transformation. The fourth session of the Adab Festival, titled ‘Her Story, Her Voice: Celebrating Women's Empowerment,’ explored themes of activism, optimism, and collaboration. Dr. Fouzia Saeed, the author of the book, emphasised the need to highlight positive advancements in the country to foster a sense of hope. Fazila Aliani reflected on her advocacy for Balochistan, calling for political collaboration and collective action to drive progress. The fifth session, titled "Pakistan and the Changing Global Scenario," moderated by Omayr Aziz Saiyid, focused on Pakistan’s strategic positioning amid global power shifts. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed discussed the "Asian Century," emphasizing Pakistan's ‘tactical’ ties with the US and “strategic” partnership with China. He called for political reconciliation and a strong counter-terrorism strategy.MONTEGO BAY, St James — Operator of Sangster International Airport (SIA) MBJ Airports Ltd is planning to roll out the use of biometric technology for outgoing passengers in 2025. According to MBJ Ltd CEO Shane Munroe, it is all about reducing wait time for the millions of passengers who pass through the busy airport each year. “We are going to introduce biometrics on departures. The check-in on mobile devices already exists but then we are expanding the ability of persons to also enrol using biometrics used with mobile devices for them to enrol at the self-service kiosks,” he told the annual MBJ airport forum last Tuesday. If successfully implemented, the move will come about two years after SIA began using the technology for incoming passengers. The idea of introducing biometric technology took on added life in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hammered home the importance of minimising human contact during some stages of the travel experience. Munroe pointed to the benefit it provides in shortening the amount of time passengers spend in the airport. He has seen it work for arriving passengers and the hope is that there will be similar gains when it is expanded to include those leaving. “The whole goal of this project is to speed up the processing of passengers and to reduce wait times. That’s always the key metric for us: queues and wait times; how can we make the whole process seamless and have persons spending less wait time in a queue,” he explained. While Munroe did not provide a specific date for when biometrics would be used to process departing passengers, a source with knowledge of the issue told the Jamaica Observer it would likely be early next year. The MBJ Ltd CEO did provide insight into some aspects of how it will be incorporated into existing processes. “There will be e-gates at security which replaces that passport control function; again biometric boarding at the gates,” he stated. Munroe also told the gathering that passenger luggage will get improved treatment, which will also save time. “It will allow them to do self-bag drops, rather than going to a check-in agent. We are working with some key airline partners here on this pilot project and that equipment should be arriving pretty shortly,” he said. “That should allow passengers who choose to go through that process to then drop their bags with a dedicated machine for that,” added Munroe. Those who wish to do the traditional check-in of luggage have not been left out. According to Munroe, they recently added more counter space in the departure terminal. “We recently replaced our check-in counters, so we have 20 per cent more check-in counters this year than the same time last year,” he said. SIA has been undergoing a US$200-million multifaceted upgrade since 2022. During Tuesday’s event Munroe provided an update on other aspects of the work being done. “The air/sea lounge concept that we had for some time is now a reality, we are just about finishing this project off,” he said. “Traditionally these passengers were processed in the arrivals corridor and if we can imagine several wide-body aircraft coming in at the same time, sometimes there are six on the ground. We’re talking hundreds of people in arrivals during the winter season, causing congestion,” he explained. He anticipates that the purpose-built space for passengers seeking to get on cruise ships will be a major help in easing that bottleneck. “Going forward, in the next few days, this is the area that those passengers will be processed. They’ll enter the area from the arrivals ramp, processed by immigration and customs, they’ll be able to exit out to buses that meet them and carry them directly to the cruise ship pier in Montego Bay,” Munroe explained. The improvements extend well beyond SIA. There will be a new road leading into the airport from Godfrey Dyer Boulevard, in the vicinity of Summit Police Station, which should ease some of the traffic that now has to be navigated by people entering and exiting the area. “We will have a new intersection at Godfrey Dyer Boulevard near where some of our car rentals operate and this will bring you from Godfrey Dyer Boulevard to an area near the fuel farm and further down we have cargo. This road will bring you back to departure and to arrivals,” Munroe said. “The goal of this project is to filter off traffic that normally has to make its way down to the main roundabout, outside of the airport, bring them into the airport earlier or to exit,” he continued. The goal is to complete this road in 2025. Munroe also revealed that there will once again be a gas station at the airport. The one that was there had to be relocated to accommodate the ongoing upgrades. “We have awarded a licence for a new service station which will be established in that area,” the MBJ Ltd CEO assured. He said other changes to come include relocation of the car rental and Knutsford Express operations along with the addition of fully automated car parks. The upgrades are expected to continue over the next few years.
SHAREHOLDER INVESTIGATION: Halper Sadeh LLC Investigates PDCO, NURO, PWOD, CARA on Behalf of Shareholders
The Rams improved to 9-6 and took control of the NFC West on Sunday with their fourth straight victory since Thanksgiving. Their 19-9 win over the New York Jets in sub-freezing temperatures was not dominant — they trailed 9-6 entering the fourth quarter, and they were outgained by nearly 100 yards — but Los Angeles still matched its largest margin of victory this season and continued to look like a looming nightmare for any postseason opponent. The Rams have now won eight of 10 since their bye week, when they were 1-4 and the NFL world wondered whether they would trade Super Bowl MVP receiver Cooper Kupp or even quarterback Matthew Stafford to spur their roster reboot. Los Angeles decided not to punt its season, and Sean McVay's team has driven from last to first. “You don’t want to ride the emotional roller coaster that these games can take you on,” McVay said Monday. “You do have the ability to stay steady, to stay the course and try to right the ship. Certainly that’s not complete by any stretch, but our guys have done an excellent job of not allowing the way that we started, especially in those first five games, to affect what we did coming off that bye.” The Rams also have clinched their seventh winning record in eight regular seasons under McVay — an achievement that shouldn’t get lost in the recent successes of a franchise that had 13 consecutive non-winning seasons before it rolled the dice and hired a 30-year-old head coach back in 2017. After winning it all in February 2022 and then having the worst season by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history, the Rams have made the most of their time in between true powerhouse status and a major rebuild. They also started slowly last year, entering their bye at 3-6 before a 7-1 finish. The Rams can become the first team in NFL history to make back-to-back postseason appearances after being three games under .500 each year. These Rams don't stand out on either side of the ball, although their talent level appears to be higher on offense than defense. Instead, they've mastered a delicate balance of complementary football — the offense and defense covering each other's weaknesses and setting up their teammates for success. The Rams have scored more than 30 points just once all season, and they managed only 31 points in their last two games combined. Their defense has allowed only one touchdown in the past two games — but right before that, Josh Allen and the Bills racked up 42 points and 445 yards in the most recent of a few defensive stinkers from LA this season. The Rams keep winning anyway, and now they can clinch McVay's fourth NFC West title by beating Seattle in two weeks. “Fortunately, we’re in a position where you don’t necessarily have to rely on other things to happen if you just handle your business,” McVay said. What's working Kyren Williams and the offensive line are driving the Rams' offense. After a slow start caused partly by McVay being forced to abandon the running game when the Rams repeatedly fell behind early, the 2023 Pro Bowler has surged to career highs of 1,243 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns with his 122-yard performance in New York. What needs help Stafford's 110 yards passing were his fewest with the Rams and the second-fewest in his 16-year career from a full game. Sunday's weather was a major factor, but the Rams must throw the ball effectively to somebody other than Puka Nacua. Kupp has just 193 yards receiving in his past five games combined. Stock up Defensive back Jaylen McCollough made a career-high nine tackles in only 31 snaps. The undrafted rookie continues to be a remarkable find, earning playing time alongside veteran safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl and fellow rookie Kam Kinchens. Stock down CB Cobie Durant didn't play for the second straight week despite being cleared to return from his bruised lung. Veteran Ahkello Witherspoon got every snap in place of Durant, who started LA's first 13 games. McVay praised Witherspoon's recent play when asked why Durant didn't get on the field in New Jersey. Injuries The Rams' improved health, particularly on both lines, is the key to their surge. McVay reported no new injuries out of the road trip following Tyler Higbee's successful season debut. Key number 12-1 — The Rams’ record in December with Stafford as their starter over his four years in LA. Next steps The Rams need to win at least one of their final two games to wrap up their first NFC West crown since 2021. They host eliminated Arizona on Saturday night, but can't clinch the division unless the Seahawks lose to moribund Chicago. The Rams are currently the NFC's third seed, but that doesn't matter a whole lot because both the third and fourth seeds will have to play one of the NFC North's two powerful wild-card teams in the opening round.
For the first time in the Colombo Stock Exchange’s (CSE’s) 150-year plus history, the All Share Price Index (ASPI) crossed the 15,000-mark yesterday continuing its bullish momentum from the previous weeks. The ASPI closed the day in green at 15,021, gaining 210 points for the 20th consecutive session, also surpassing the 15,000 points’ mark reordered earlier. Amidst multiple off-board transactions, turnover stood at LKR 8.4 billion, marking an increase of 74.0 percent from the monthly average, standing at LKR 4.9 billion. Many stockbrokers said that Sri Lanka’s credit rating upgrade by Fitch Ratings was one of the key factors for strengthening investor confidence. CSE Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike also endorsed this and said that in addition to this rating upgrade, the progress made on the economic front and positive news in terms of debt restructuring has increased investor confidence. “One other key factor that boosted investor confidence is the political stability by having the President and Government of the same party, with a two-thirds majority, for the next five years. This too was one key reason for the market to be positive in the recent past, he said.” He also said with the low interest rates’ environment, people are moving from depending on fixed income to equities. People are now moving towards putting their money in the stock exchange as it can yield better returns than fixed deposits would. “The market is still undervalued as our fees are still under 10 and this factor still offers value for investors.” Meanwhile First Capital stockbrokers said that trading activity surged significantly exceeding 48,000 trades, driven by strong retail demand for stocks like BIL, LOFC, and AEL. “Moreover, the Banking sector led the turnover by 25 percent, followed by the Capital Goods and Diversified Financials’ sectors jointly contributing 33 percent of the overall turnover. Foreign investors turned net buyers, with a net inflow of LKR 43.2 million amidst low participation.”