4th China Xizang Internet Photography&Video Festival opens for submissions

With the theme of “Tashi Delek,” the 4th China Xizang Internet Photography&Video Festival invites you to show the world the beauty of Xizang with your original works including photos, short videos, animation, online songs and micro films. I. Selection Process The Organizing Committee will invite professional photo editors to preview all the submitted works, and […]

4th China Xizang Internet Photography&Video Festival opens for submissions.

With the theme of “Tashi Delek,” the 4th China Xizang Internet Photography&Video Festival invites you to show the world the beauty of Xizang with your original works including photos, short videos, animation, online songs and micro films.

I. Selection Process

The Organizing Committee will invite professional photo editors to preview all the submitted works, and internet users can cast their votes online for the Best Popularity Award. The reviews will be conducted by the Expert Review Committee composed of the Institute of Art Anthropology of the Chinese National Academy of Arts, Beijing Film Academy, China Photographers Association, School of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University, Communication University of China, Pingyao International Photography Festival, contracted photographers of VU Photo Agency of France, and Xizang Photographers Association.

II. Participants

Photographers, creators, art lovers and netizens all over the world

III. Content of submissions

i. You may find your inspiration from everyday events and ordinary stories for our collected works.

ii. Students who return to Xizang during the summer break may pick up the mobile phones or cameras to record the beautiful life where man and nature live in harmony;

iii. Magnificent and spectacular Xizang represented by various wild animals and plants are welcomed for our collected works.

iv. The topic of mothers on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is also an option for your work.

IV. Requirements for submitted works

1. Submitted works must be original ones, and have not been reviewed or received an award on any platform. Keep RAW files after submission for originality checks.

2. Please attach the title and description of the work, indicating the shooting time, location, content and subject.

3. Pictures:

Pictures must be high-resolution;

No limitations on black-and-white or colored photos;

Pixels no less than 800W;

Formats: mainstream formats such as JPG and PNG;

Pictures should not be smaller than 2 megabytes;

Set of pictures or animated gifs are also permitted for submission and the number of pictures per group should be between 4 and 12;

Participants may make appropriate post-processing of the pictures, such as brightness, contrast, white balance and saturation;

Techniques such as recomposition to change the original content of the work are not allowed;

Complete EXIF information should be retained.

Entries without original picture information will be deemed invalid.

4. Short videos:

Duration of video: less than 5 minutes;

Chinese and English subtitles are required for any dialogues or dubbings;

Video format: mainstream formats such as MP4 and MOV, encoded as H.264;

Video resolution: 1920*1080 or above;

Frame rate: no less than 25 frames;

The footage should be clear and stable, as well as having natural coloring and without any obvious noise or shaking. The sound and footage should be fully synchronized; Cartoons, vlogs, melodramas and other types of short videos are also permitted for submission.

5. Animation:

Animations must be designed around the themes of festival and in forms of portrait cartoons, poster illustrations, cartoons, animation short videos, etc.

Portrait cartoons can be both paper hand-painted and computer-drawn.

The minimum paper size is A4; the computer hand-painted file format is JPG; the color mode is CMYK; the resolution is 300dpi, and the size of a single picture is no more than 20M.

All works shall be submitted electronically scanned (paper manuscripts must be provided for winning works);

Poster illustration should be presented in posters, illustrations and other forms.

A series of 1-3 works is a group; the file format is JPG; the color mode is CMYK; the minimum specification is not less than A3 size, the resolution is 300dpi, the size of a single picture is not more than 20M;

Comics require a complete story in the form of comics (no less than 12P); the file format is JPG; the color mode is CMYK, and the resolution is not less than 300dpi; Animation short video requirements include video animation, short video, etc., encoding must be H.264; frame rate is no less than 25 frames; duration is no more than 5 minutes (including the beginning and the end); the width-to-height ratio of the frame is 16:9; resolution is no less than 1920�1080; bit rate is no less than 4Mbps; format must be MP4, and Chinese subtitles shall be provided.

Production of 4K ultra HD format works is encouraged, with a resolution of 3840*2160 (16:9), bit rate of not less than 15Mbps, format MP4.

6. Online songs: Online songs make Xizang’s voice heard through lyrics and singing.

7. Micro films:

Video: less than 15 minutes;

Complete story with a beginning and an end is required;

Chinese and English subtitles are required for any dialogues or dubbings;

Video format: mainstream formats such as MP4 and MOV, encoded as H.264;

Video resolution: 1920*1080 or above;

Frame rate: no less than 25 frames;

The footage should be clear and stable, as well as having natural coloring and without any obvious noise or shaking. The sound and footage should be fully synchronized;

V. Ways to enter submissions

The works can be independently submitted by individuals or organizations. Pictures, short videos and micro films can be uploaded through the solicitation page of Vision China 500px Community. Creative design entries can be uploaded through the solicitation page of Visual China Love Visual Design Community; Online songs can be submitted to xzwlyxj2023@126.com.

VI. Duration of the event

1. Submission period: July 15, 2023 – December 31, 2023;

2. Review period: January 1, 2024 – February 15, 2024;

3. Awarding period: February 19, 2024 – February 25, 2024;

4. Awards ceremony: March 20, 2024;

5. Promotion period: July 12, 2023 – March 31, 2024.

VII. Awards and prizes

There are four awards for each of the five submission units, including first prize, second prize, third prize and Best Popularity Award. A separate Best Organization Award is also set up for organizational recommendations. The amount of prizes totals 709,000 yuan:

i. Pictures: 68,000 yuan

1 first prize with 12,000 yuan/piece, totaling 12,000 yuan

2 second prizes with 10,000 yuan/piece, totaling 20,000 yuan

3 third prizes with 8,000 yuan/piece, totaling 24,000 yuan

3 best popularity awards with 4,000 yuan/piece, totaling 12,000 yuan

ii. Short videos: 242,000 yuan

1 first prize with 40,000 yuan/piece, totaling 40,000 yuan

3 second prizes with 30,000 yuan/piece, totaling 90,000 yuan

5 third prizes with 20,000 yuan/piece, totaling 100,000 yuan

3 best popularity awards with 4,000 yuan/piece, totaling 12,000 yuan

iii. Animation: 112,000 yuan

1 first prize with 30,000 yuan/piece, totaling 30,000 yuan

2 second prizes with 20,000 yuan/piece, totaling 40,000 yuan

3 third prizes with 10,000 yuan/piece, totaling 30,000 yuan

3 best popularity awards with 4,000 yuan/piece, totaling 12,000 yuan

iv. Online songs: 112,000 yuan

1 first prize with 30,000 yuan/piece, totaling 30,000 yuan

2 second prizes with 20,000 yuan/piece, totaling 40,000 yuan

3 third prizes with 10,000 yuan/piece, totaling 30,000 yuan

3 best popularity awards with 4,000 yuan/piece, totaling 12,000 yuan

v. Micro films: 172,000 yuan

1 first prize with 40,000 yuan/piece, totaling 40,000 yuan

2 second prizes with 30,000 yuan/piece, totaling 60,000 yuan

3 third prizes with 20,000 yuan/piece, totaling 60,000 yuan

3 best popularity awards with 4,000 yuan/piece, totaling 12,000 yuan

vi. Best Organization Award: 3,000 yuan

3 best organization awards, each with a medal.

VIII. Statement

1. For the winning works, the organizer has the right to use the entries without compensation for relevant purposes in the form of reproduction, distribution, exhibition (online and offline), screening, information network dissemination, compilation, etc. The copyright of the winning works remains with the original authors.

2. The organizer has the right to use all submitted entries for publicity and promotion for the purpose of promoting this activity or public welfare activities, and use the entries through various channels (including but not limited to the Internet, press releases or other media, offline exhibition and promotion meetings, etc., and retaining the authorship right of photographers of the entries), and the use areas are not restricted.

3. Authors shall ensure that the works they submit do not infringe the lawful rights and interests of the third parties, including copyright, portrait rights, reputation rights, privacy rights, etc., and have independent, complete, clear and undisputed copyrights for the whole and any components of the works. All responsibilities arising from works or submission acts shall be borne by the authors themselves.

4. The final right of interpretation for this event belongs to its organizers. Any authors taking part in the activity shall be deemed to have agreed to all the provisions of the activity.

Source: Xinhuanet

Image Attachments Links:

Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=441724

جامعة محمد بن زايد للذكاء الاصطناعي تطلق برامج في علم الروبوتات وعلوم الحاسوب

تلبية للطلب المتزايد على هذه التخصصات على مستوى العالم أبوظبي، الإمارات العربية المتحدة، 3 أغسطس 2023: أطلقت جامعة محمد بن زايد للذكاء الاصطناعي قسمين جديدين يشملان مجالي علم الروبوتات وعلوم الحاسوب، وذلك تلبية للطلب العالمي المتزايد على هذين التخصصين، إذ من المتوقع أن يصل الطلب إلى 225 مليار دولار[i]  في مجال علم الروبوتات و 140 […]

تلبية للطلب المتزايد على هذه التخصصات على مستوى العالم

أبوظبي، الإمارات العربية المتحدة، 3 أغسطس 2023: أطلقت جامعة محمد بن زايد للذكاء الاصطناعي قسمين جديدين يشملان مجالي علم الروبوتات وعلوم الحاسوب، وذلك تلبية للطلب العالمي المتزايد على هذين التخصصين، إذ من المتوقع أن يصل الطلب إلى 225 مليار دولار[i]  في مجال علم الروبوتات و 140 مليار دولار في مجال علوم الحاسوب بحلول العام [ii]2030.

ويأتي هذان القسمان الجديدان ليكملا سلسلة البرامج التعليمية التي تقدمها الجامعة لطلابها، والتي تشمل الرؤية الحاسوبية، وتعلّم الآلة، ومعالجة اللغات الطبيعية، وهي برامج تم تصنيفها من بين أفضل 20 برنامجاً عالمياً بحسب موقع CSRankings.

وبالتزامن مع إطلاق القسمين الجديدين، أعلنت الجامعة عن برامج الماجستير والدكتوراه الجديدة. وستساعد هذه البرامج في تطوير منظومة الذكاء الاصطناعي في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة وتعزيز مكانتها كمركز دولي لأبحاث الذكاء الاصطناعي والابتكار.

بهذه المناسبة، قال البروفيسور إريك زينغ، رئيس جامعة محمد بن زايد للذكاء الاصطناعي والبروفيسور الجامعي: “تعكس إضافة القسمين الجديدين الجهود المستمرّة التي تبذلها جامعة محمد بن زايد للذكاء الاصطناعي لتطوير أساس متين للتميز البحثي والابتكار في مجال الذكاء الاصطناعي. وستستمر الجامعة في استقطاب النخب العالمية من الهيئات التدريسية والباحثين في هذه المجالات إلى أبوظبي، كما ستدعم طلابها ليصبحوا رواداً في مجالاتهم وليتمتعوا بالمهارات اللازمة لتطوير أدوات الذكاء الاصطناعي وتطبيقاته المتقدمة في مختلف المجالات، لاسيما مع تزايد الطلب على المهارات المرتبطة بهذه التخصصات في ظل الثورة الرقمية التي يشهدها العالم حالياً”.

وسيقوم قسم الروبوتات على الأبحاث الأصلية التي تتسم بدقتها وبتأثيرها الواسع، مع التركيز على تعلّم الروبوت وخوارزميات الروبوت بدلاً من تطوير أجهزة روبوت جديدة. وفي الوقت عينه، سيتيح قسم علوم الحاسوب للطلاب التعمّق بشكل استثنائي في التقنيات الأساسية التي أدت إلى النمو الهائل الذي يشهده العالم وفي تأثير تكنولوجيا المعلومات في العقود الأربعة الماضية.

من جهته، قال عميد جامعة محمد بن زايد للذكاء الاصطناعي بالإنابة، تيموثي بالدوين: “إن جامعة محمد بن زايد للذكاء الاصطناعي في طليعة المؤسسات المعنية بتعليم الذكاء الاصطناعي والبحوث التي تتمحور حوله، مما يجعل البرامج التي تقدمها لطلابها مميزة وتنافسية على الساحة العالمية. سيركز قسم علم الروبوتات على تطوير الجيل القادم من المتخصصين في علم الروبوتات ذوي المهارات الراسخة في الذكاء الاصطناعي كما في علم الروبوتات، ليشغلوا وظائف ريادية في الأوساط الأكاديمية والصناعية والحكومية”.

يُحدث علم الروبوتات ثورة في قطاعات متعددة مثل الصناعة والرعاية الصحية والزراعة والنقل. وتشير الأبحاث إلى ارتفاع الطلب على الخبرة في مجال الروبوتات بشكل كبير في السنوات القادمة، حيث من المتوقع أن تتجاوز قيمة سوق تكنولوجيا الروبوتات 225.6 مليار دولار بحلول العام 2030[iii]. إلا أن هذا الطلب الكبيرة سيواجه النقص المتوقع في المواهب العالمية، حيث من المحتمل أن تظل حوالي 85 مليون وظيفة شاغرة بحلول العام 2030 بسبب نقص المتخصصين في هذا المجال[iv].

أما سوق العمل العالمي في مجال علوم الحاسوب فيشهد ازدهاراً بارزاً، إذ من المتوقع أن يبلغ معدل النمو السنوي المركب 14.5٪ ما بين عامي 2021 و2027، وأن يشمل ما يقدر بنحو 3.5 مليون وظيفة بحلول عام [v]2026.

يُذكر أنه سيتم فتح باب تقديم الطلبات للعام 2024 في 1 سبتمبر 2023. لمزيد من المعلومات يُرجى زيارة الموقع الإلكتروني mbzuai.ac.ae أو التواصل مع فريق عمل الجامعة على admissions@mbzuai.ac.ae.

[i] Precedence Research

[ii] Precedence Research

[iii] Precedence Research

[iv] Korn Ferry

[v] CS job market projections (The Most Surprising Computer Science Job Statistics And Trends in 2023 • GITNUX)

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 300885913

ROSEN, A GLOBAL AND LEADING LAW FIRM, Encourages Seagate Technology Holdings plc Investors to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action – STX

NEW YORK, Aug. 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the common stock of Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ: STX) between September 15, 2020 and October 25, 2022, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important September 8, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline. SO […]

NEW YORK, Aug. 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the common stock of Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ: STX) between September 15, 2020 and October 25, 2022, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important September 8, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Seagate common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Seagate class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17658   or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 8, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made false and/or misleading statements regarding the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the nature and magnitude of Seagate’s Hard Disk Drives (“HDD” or “HDDs”) sales to Huawei, including that Seagate experienced a significant acceleration in sales to Huawei immediately after the BIS rules went into effect and Seagate’s competitors stopped selling to Huawei; (2) that the underlying details of Seagate’s HDD manufacturing process, including the use of covered U.S. software and technology in “essential ‘production’” processes, rendered its sales to Huawei in violation of the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (the “BIS”) export rules; and (3) In addition, as a result, Seagate was in blatant violation of the BIS export rules which resulted in an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Commerce and exposed Seagate to hundreds of millions of dollars in fines and penalties. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Seagate class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17658 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8887078

ROSEN, TOP RANKED GLOBAL COUNSEL, Encourages Sea Limited Investors to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action – SE

NEW YORK, Aug. 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WHY:  Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE) between April 23, 2022 and May 15, 2023, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important September 19, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased […]

NEW YORK, Aug. 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WHY:  Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE) between April 23, 2022 and May 15, 2023, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important September 19, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Sea securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Sea class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17863 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 19, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Sea overstated its ability to manage the growth of its user base and loan book while enhancing its profitability; (2) Sea’s expansion to a broader user base and growing loan book rendered the Company significantly more vulnerable to higher credit losses; (3) as a result, the Company was likely to book a significant increase in loan loss reserves; (4) the foregoing was likely to have a significant negative impact on Sea’s earnings; and (5) as a result, the Company’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Sea class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17863 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8887098

Is China Responsible for Pakistan’s Debt Problem?

Pakistan and China are marking a decade of economic cooperation with much fanfare these days as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, popularly known as CPEC, completes 10 years. Experts say while the mega-project helped Pakistan develop much-needed in…

Pakistan and China are marking a decade of economic cooperation with much fanfare these days as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, popularly known as CPEC, completes 10 years. Experts say while the mega-project helped Pakistan develop much-needed infrastructure, the less-than-generous loans from Beijing coupled with Islamabad’s mismanagement has kept the project from turning Pakistan’s economy around.

Estimated to be the largest partnership of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global investment and infrastructure project, CPEC launched in 2013 with more than $45 billion in planned investments. Over time, it grew to more than $62 billion, of which at least $25 billion was invested in Pakistan, according to both governments.

Mustafa Hyder Sayed, executive director of the Islamabad-based, nongovernmental Pakistan-China Institute, told VOA that the project came at a critical time for Pakistan.

“At that time, we had a lot of terrorism, there was a lot of turmoil and it [Pakistan] wasn’t seen as one of the best places to invest in, particularly," he said. "And China reposed its trust in Pakistan at that time and dove right in. All in.”

Pakistani government data indicates CPEC has so far created 200,000 jobs, built more than 1,400 kilometers (897 miles) of highways and roads and added 8,000 megawatts of electricity to the national grid. The country’s deep-sea southwestern port of Gwadar, the centerpiece of CPEC, handled 600,000 tons of cargo in the last 18 months, according to officials.

At an event in Islamabad this week celebrating a decade of CPEC, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the project a game-changer.

“And this was the result of vision and commitment and friendship,” Sharif told an audience of Pakistani and Chinese dignitaries.

Visiting Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, who received Pakistan’s highest civilian honor for his services in promoting economic cooperation, called the project exemplary.

“It has set an example of common trust and mutual development,” Lifeng said.

While Pakistan is among the top recipients of China’s infrastructure and energy investments, Islamabad now owes nearly one-third of its overwhelming external debt to Beijing.

Research shows that Chinese investments, largely shrouded in secrecy, do not come cheap. A 2021 report by U.S.-based research lab AidData found that most Chinese development financing in Pakistan between 2000 and 2017 were loans, not grants, given at or near commercial rates.

Pakistan-based economist Ammar Habib Khan, a nonresident senior fellow with the Washington-based Atlantic Council, told VOA this financial burden is partly why Pakistan has struggled to stimulate its economy through CPEC.

“A lot of that infrastructure came at a fairly high cost, and a lot of that borrowing was essentially in dollar terms and fairly higher than market terms,” he said. “Because of that, Pakistan continues to make significant dollar payments for the Chinese debt. Because of that we continue to have a current account crisis and some serious debt issues.”

In 2018, complaining of unfavorable terms, then-Prime Minister Imran Khan's government set out to review CPEC projects. By 2021, the government was promising to prioritize the projects, however, in a bid to revive cooling bilateral relations that observers believe stemmed from the Khan government's unease with CPEC's terms.

Economist Khan said Pakistan definitely has a debt problem but not a Chinese debt problem. He blamed Islamabad for mismanaging resources.

“We added a lot of generation capacity, but we did not make efficient the distribution channels, due to which whatever electricity is generated, a lot of it is wasted," Khan said.

That wasted electricity is costing the government millions of dollars every year, and its debt to power plants built under CPEC is piling up.

Islamabad and Beijing reject Washington's assertion that China's development financing to Pakistan and other BRI recipients is a debt-trap.

Pakistan has plenty of say in CPEC projects, Sayed said, through the Joint Coordination Committee that includes Chinese and Pakistani officials.

“So, this perception of China coming in by predatory financing and weakening a host country and gaining political influence is unfounded,” he said.

A report last year by Taiwan-based anti-disinformation lab DoubleThink's China in the World network placed Pakistan at the top of the list of countries most exposed to Chinese influence.

According to the AidData report, Chinese loan terms are less generous than what Western countries usually offer. Khan said a lack of Western funding for Pakistan left Islamabad with little choice.

“The choice was simply whether to have a power plant or whether to have 12 to 15 hours of electricity shutdown,” Khan said. “So, yes, CPEC did provide Pakistan with a base of necessary infrastructure required for industrial growth. Meanwhile, Western countries have not been able to provide the same over the last many years.”

Under the BRI, China is spending over eight times more in Pakistan than the United States is, according to AidData’s research. The U.S. spends on soft infrastructure in Pakistan such as education, governance, and law and order capacity building, while China spends on hard infrastructure there.

Pakistan is the biggest recipient of China’s energy investment in Asia, while its share of BRI's transportation and storage projects is the highest in the world.

Along with being Pakistan’s biggest single creditor country, China also routinely rescues it from economic collapse. In the last few months, Beijing rolled over close to $8 billion in debt, according to the Pakistani government, preventing Islamabad from default.

Experts say that to lessen the debt burden stemming from CPEC, Pakistan must find ways to efficiently use the energy and infrastructure it acquired through the mega-project and strengthen domestic production and exports.

Source: Voice of America

Framework to Bring Sustainability in Energy Sector Finalized

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting on reforms in the energy sector at Finance Division on Friday.The meeting discussed the ongoing issues in the energy sector, particularly the issue of circular debt in the gas sector, and discussed and fina…

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting on reforms in the energy sector at Finance Division on Friday.

The meeting discussed the ongoing issues in the energy sector, particularly the issue of circular debt in the gas sector, and discussed and finalized modalities and framework to be followed in order to bring sustainability in the energy sector including a reduction in the circular debt in the gas sector.

The finance minister reiterated the priority of the government to address the issues of the energy sector to improve the macro-economic indicators of Pakistan and to enhance the economic growth of the country

Minister of State for Petroleum Division Musadik Malik, SAPM on Finance Tariq Bajwa, SAPM on Revenue Tariq Pasha, and senior officers from the Finance and Petroleum Divisions attended the meeting.

Source: ProPakistani

CAA Clarifies Earlier Restriction on Pakistanis Travelling Out of Country

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a clarification, refuting any claims of imposing a polio vaccination card or certificate requirement for passengers. The recent confusion was sparked by an internal correspondence from Islamabad Airport, w…

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a clarification, refuting any claims of imposing a polio vaccination card or certificate requirement for passengers. The recent confusion was sparked by an internal correspondence from Islamabad Airport, which has since been canceled, and it is stressed that it was never intended to serve as a polio travel advisory.

The CAA has urged the public to exercise extreme caution when encountering online offers that request money or sensitive information related to polio vaccination cards. The internet has been rife with misinformation, and opportunists have taken advantage of the situation. The public is advised to remain vigilant and verify the authenticity of any such offers before taking any action.

In light of these concerns, the CAA emphasizes that passengers should directly contact the airline they plan to travel with to inquire about the health policies of the destination country, particularly regarding polio vaccination requirements. By doing so, travelers can ensure accurate information and avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes or misinformation.

The statement has been issued in response to reports, circulating earlier this week, of a new travel requirement introduced by the CAA, mandating the checking of polio vaccination cards for passengers traveling abroad. However, the recent statement from the CAA has contradicted this information, making it clear that no such requirement is in place.

It is essential for the public to rely on accurate and verified information, and the CAA assures that any official requirements will be communicated through official channels.

Source: ProPakistani

Who are the Best Under-25 Batters in Test Cricket Currently?

A significant shift in the sport of cricket was witnessed with the advent of the T20 format, particularly franchise cricket, and it is nothing less than a revolution in the sport.The rise of the shortest format has somewhat dimmed the popularity of Te…

A significant shift in the sport of cricket was witnessed with the advent of the T20 format, particularly franchise cricket, and it is nothing less than a revolution in the sport.

The rise of the shortest format has somewhat dimmed the popularity of Test cricket, and the reduced number of Test matches has forced players to focus on white-ball cricket.

However, in recent years, there have been some significant developments in the five-day cricket, which will bring back the glory of the purest format of cricket.

In an era where most cricketers focus on establishing themselves in T20 cricket, there are some young players who have already garnered attention in red-ball cricket.

Let’s take a look at the best under-25 players in Test cricket who are making waves with their phenomenal batting skills.

Abdullah Shafique

Although it is too early to make big claims, most cricket experts believe that the right-handed opener is the next big thing in Test cricket due to his skills and technique.

The 23-year-old batter has played just 14 Test matches for Pakistan, but his maturity and sense of responsibility have turned heads in the cricketing fraternity across the world.

Shafique came into the spotlight when he joined an elite company, overtaking the long-standing record of Javed Miandad for the most Test runs by a Pakistani in the first six Tests.

Watching him at the crease, playing both spinners and pacers with ease, brings back memories of Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, and Younis Khan.

Scoring a maiden double hundred in the recent series against Sri Lanka with a strike rate of almost 62 is a positive sign for the Babar Azam-led side in the ongoing World Test Championship. Here are Abdullah Shafique’s batting stats:

FORMAT Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100s 50s 4s 6s Ct St

Test 14 26 2 1,220 201 50.83 2,764 44.13 4 4 119 18 12 0

FC 26 43 4 2,346 232 60.15 4,618 50.80 9 8 258 32 21 0

Shubman Gill

The young Indian opening batter has been in the headlines since his debut in Australia back in 2019 when he scored 259 runs at a commendable average of 51.80 with two fifties.

Starting his red-ball career in Australia, especially as an opener against the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, was not an easy job to do.

The way the right-hander batted made fans believe that he was silently confident of taking on the massive responsibility and doing a good job of it.

In his batting, one can see the calmness and maturity of legendary batters, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, and the class and glory of Virat Kohli at the age of just 23.

A truly exceptional player stands out through his innate sense of timing, intuitive awareness of fielder positions, and remarkable skill to find gaps between any two fielders and Shubman Gill has all these skills.

FORMAT Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100s 50s 4s 6s Ct St

Test 18 33 3 966 128 32.20 1,638 58.97 2 4 112 13 14 0

FC 45 77 8 3,508 268 50.84 5,072 69.16 10 16 419 47 31 0

Harry Brook

Brook came into the spotlight during PSL 7, where he scored 254 runs at an average of 52.80. His contribution helped Lahore Qalandars clinch the trophy and Brook hasn’t looked back since.

His selection in the England national squad and consistency in all formats made him one of the highest-paid cricketers in the money-rich franchise cricket, IPL, this year.

The interesting thing in his cricketing career is his fast batting approach in Test cricket, which the England team adopted with the name of Bazball last year.

The 24-year-old batter became the fastest batter to score a thousand runs in terms of balls faced in Test cricket, facing just 1,058 balls during the Ashes.

Brook achieved this milestone in his 10th match and 16 innings, which is the joint 6th highest in the history of Test cricket, and is positive for both cricket and England.

Cameron Green

At just 23 years of age, Cameron Green has emerged as a potential world-class all-rounder, fulfilling Australia’s quest for such a talented and skillful cricketer.

In 20 Test matches, he boasts a batting average of 38 and a bowling average of 30, outperforming cricket legends like Jacques Kallis and Imran Khan at the same stage of their careers.

The impact of the young all-rounder goes beyond his individual prowess as he played a crucial role in balancing the Australian team during their Test series against India.

By serving as a second seamer alongside Mitchell Starc, Australia could field three spinners while maintaining a strong batting lineup, leading to a decisive win in the Indore Test.

The adaptability of the right-hander shines in various conditions, excelling in Asia and at home with a batting average of 49 compared to 32 in Oceania.

FORMAT Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100s 50s 4s 6s Ct St

Test 24 36 4 1,075 114 33.59 2,305 46.63 1 6 112 7 25 0

FC 54 85 13 3,319 251 46.09 6,435 51.57 9 12 368 36 37 0

Who is your favorite Test batter under 25 years of age in world cricket currently? Let us know in the comments section.

Source: ProPakistani