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Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Karachi women rope in tug of war trophy
Karachi women emerge champions in the seventh Inter Division Tug of War Championship held in Hyderabad, showcasing their strength and spirit for sports under the Sindh government's Dept of Youth Affairs. PHOTO: NNI The two-day Seventh All Sindh Inter-Division Women Tug of War Championship was held under the auspices of the Sindh Government's Sports and Youth Affairs Department, and the Sindh Olympic Association. Six teams from across the province participated in the championship, with a total of 84 players, including 12 from each region. Additionally, 12 team officials and 12 technical officials helped in organising the event. Karachi secured first position, followed by Mirpurkhas in second place and Hyderabad in third. Trophies, medals, and certificates were distributed among the teams that showed excellent performance. On this occasion, District Sports Officer Maryam Kerio said that organising sports activities for women in such competitions not only improves their physical fitness but also becomes a means of promoting self-confidence, teamwork and leadership skills. She added that the Sindh government is providing all possible facilities to increase the participation of girls in sports, and in this regard, such events will continue to be organised.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 Financial Stocks to Buy Now on Core PCE Coming in High
The May 2025 Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation report, released at the end of June, has reinforced expectations that the Fed will remain hawkish well into the second half of the year. With core PCE inflation rising approximately 0.22% month over month and 2.68% year over year, markets have recalibrated their outlook for interest rates, pushing out anticipated cuts and increasing the likelihood of sustained higher borrowing costs. One of the most immediate consequences has been the upward movement in Treasury yields. The benchmark 10-year yield climbed from roughly 3.35% to about 3.45% on the core PCE coming in hotter than expected. As bond markets react to the sticky inflation data, long-duration yields have been climbing, reflecting investors' belief that rate cuts are no longer imminent. For commercial banks, the steepening yield curve may offer some relief by improving net interest margins. In an environment where interest rates are not going to come down rapidly, stocks like Nelnet, Inc. NNI, Pagaya Technologies Ltd. PGY and United Fire Group, Inc. UFCS become viable investment options to look into. When interest rates are relatively high, banks and other financial institutions generally see increased profitability due to increased lending rates. The gap between such lending rates is considered a long-term asset for banks. Also, short-term liabilities such as deposits increase and boost net interest margins. Bank stocks, insurance companies and other financial institutions tend to go up with continuous interest rate hikes. This is because financial services companies can earn more on the money and the credit they issue to their customers. The sector was a strong performer in 2024, delivering solid returns. It has continued to prosper in 2025, with the S&P 500 Financials Select Sector SPDR (XLF) soaring 9.1% year to date as of June 30. Also, financial stocks are very popular investments on their own. Most companies within the sector issue dividends and are judged on the overall strength of their financial health. It is thus prudent to add a few to one's portfolio. The stocks below flaunt a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or Rank #2 (Buy). The search was also narrowed down with a VGM Score of A or B. Here, V stands for Value, G for Growth and M for Momentum. The score is a weighted combination of these three metrics. Such a score allows you to eliminate the negative aspects of stocks and select winners. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Nelnet is a loan servicing, education technology services and payment businesses company. NNI's expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 59%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has improved 16.8% over the past 60 days. This Zacks Rank #1 company has a VGM Score of B. Pagaya Technologies provides data science and proprietary artificial intelligence-powered technology for the financial services sector. PGY's expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 195.2%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has improved 39.2% over the past 60 days. This Zacks Rank #1 company has a VGM Score of B. United Fire Group is a property and casualty insurance company. UFCS' expected earnings growth rate for the next year is 8%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has improved 3.3% over the past 60 days. This Zacks Rank #2 company has a VGM Score of B. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Nelnet, Inc. (NNI) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Fire Group, Inc (UFCS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Pagaya Technologies Ltd. (PGY) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Express Tribune
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Kashmir struggle legitimate: COAS
The passing-out parade of 127 midshipmen is being held in Karachi. PHOTO: NNI Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir has said that India's portrayal of the Kashmiri freedom movement as terrorism is misleading, describing it instead as a legitimate and lawful struggle recognised under international law. "What India labels as terrorism is, in fact, a legitimate and lawful struggle for freedom, recognised by international law," said Field Marshal Asim Munir. Speaking at a commissioning parade held at the Pakistan Naval Academy on Saturday, the army chief urged the nation to remember the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people resisting India's "illegal occupation" of Jammu and Kashmir. "At such a time, we must not forget the sacrifices of our Kashmiri brothers who are struggling against Indian occupation," he said. He accused India of deliberately escalating regional tensions just as Pakistan nears success in its fight against terrorism. Munir reaffirmed Pakistan's resolve to eliminate terrorism. "We will take our fight against terrorism to its logical conclusion and rid the country of this menace once and for all," he declared. Reiterating Pakistan's longstanding stance on Kashmir, the army chief said, "Pakistan strongly supports a fair and peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue in line with UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people." He paid tribute to all martyrs who have laid down their lives in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir for the cause of freedom, and saluted the courage of those who continue the struggle. The COAS asserted that India's oppressive tactics cannot break the will of the Kashmiri people. Pakistan will continue to offer unwavering political, moral, and diplomatic support to Kashmiris. Quoting from Surah Al-Imran, verse 54 "They plotted, and Allah also planned, and Allah is the best of planners".
Express Tribune
24-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
LWMC to clean railway station
People board a train at the Lahore Railway Station as they return home ahead of Eidul Azha. PHOTO: NNI The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) has assumed control of cleanliness operations at Lahore Railway Station as part of the provincial government's Suthra Punjab initiative. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Pakistan Railways and the LWMC to ensure sustained cleanliness at one of Pakistan's busiest transport hubs. The agreement aims to provide a hygienic and welcoming environment for the thousands of passengers passing through the station daily. The signing ceremony was attended by Punjab Local Government Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian, LWMC Chief Executive Offcier Babar Sahib Din, and Pakistan Railways CEO Aamir Ali Baloch. Under the new arrangement, the LWMC will deploy a dedicated team consisting of a manager, five supervisors and 105 sanitation workers operating in three daily shifts to maintain cleanliness throughout the facility. The scope of work includes platforms, reservation counters, waiting halls, washrooms, parking areas, railway tracks and administrative offices. Night shift teams will also conduct regular washing of platforms and tracks. The Pakistan Railways CEO praised LWMC's performance on Eidul Azha and cited its modern monitoring systems as a key factor behind the decision to outsource the station's sanitation.
Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Non-invasive electrode stimulation gives hope to spinal cord injury patients with partial paralysis
Mr Reuben T. Sreetharan, who injured his spinal cord in the middle back in 2024, was the first participant in the electrode stimulation trial. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY SINGAPORE – Last year, while clearing debris from the Moringa tree in his backyard, Mr Reuben T. Sreetharan fell, landing hard on his feet before collapsing into a seated position. There was no pain, but he couldn't move his legs. At the hospital, the 53-year-old businessman learnt that the fall had injured his spinal cord in the middle back, which partially severed his brain's connection to the body from below that area. His hospital stay lasted five months, during which he had to learn how to live without the use of his lower body. In Singapore, the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) have previously said they see approximately 100 new cases of spinal cord injury (SCI) annually, while the hospitals in the National University Health System cluster manage an average of 35 new inpatient cases every year. Falls are a leading cause of this life-altering condition, especially in older adults, who may be at an increased risk of premature death due to injury-related complications. There is no known cure for SCI, which results in either complete or incomplete loss of sensory and/or motor functions below the injury level, but researchers around the world and here are exploring new treatments, including therapies and advanced assistive technologies. A promising research area is electrode stimulation, which involves delivering electrical pulses either through electrodes placed on the skin known as transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation, or surgically implanted near the spinal cord. At Alexandra Hospital (AH), Clinical Assistant Professor Gobinathan Chandran, a consultant in rehabilitation medicine, started a new trial that uses non-invasive electrode stimulation with robotic gait training to enhance mobility in SCI patients. In November 2024, Mr Sreetharan became the first of six participants in the trial, and underwent 32 sessions of therapy using a wearable robotic device that supports and assists movement known as the exoskeleton, including 16 done with electrode stimulation. It was not till the 25th session that he started to notice subtle changes. He said he can now feel his feet pressing on the footrests of his wheelchair, his hamstrings, and even his glutes, when previously he felt like he was living on a cloud. Mr Sreetharan is hoping the therapy can become a clinical service, as Dr Chandran had said that overseas studies done on the use of non-invasive electrical stimulation for upper limb mobility showed that at least 60 sessions are needed to show sustained functional improvements. 'I would say that, frankly, I've not given up. I think that's what keeps me going,' he said. So far, early results from the trial are promising – participants were able to take more steps per minute with the stimulation when using a robotic wearable device to assist with the walking, and this led to improved walking speed, said Dr Chandran. 'Those who are severely injured might not be able to walk at the end of the day, but if they're able to improve their truncal control, are better in transferring on their own and all that, these are small things that really will improve their quality of life,' he told The Straits Times . 'If they're already a walker, then we want them to walk with a better gait, or even independently.' Mr Reuben T. Sreetharan can now feel his feet pressing on the footrests of his wheelchair, his hamstrings, and even his glutes, when previously he felt like he was living on a cloud. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY AH has recruited four patients for the first study of six patients funded by a NUHS $150,000 seed grant and one patient for the second study of six patients with partial paralysis of four limbs. As there is no grant for the latter, participants have to pay $180 for the physiotherapy for each session. The trials are for patients who were diagnosed with a traumatic and incomplete SCI between six months and five years ago and cannot walk independently. Dr Chandran said the aim is to use electrodes to stimulate the surviving dormant nerves of patients with an incomplete injury to improve their functional mobility. Likening the spinal cord to an expressway, where an accident there would result in a traffic jam, he said the treatment is assumed to work by helping to widen the road a bit to let more cars go through. 'The brain signals can then easily go through the area, because you have now managed to augment the signalling around the area,' he said. The loaned device used in AH's trials is the ARC-EX system from ONWARD Medical. The firm's global clinical trial for the therapy, the results of which were published in the Nature Medicine journal in 2024, had found that 72 per cent of the 60 study participants who completed the trial demonstrated improvement in both strength and function. It came in late 2024, nearly three years after Dr Chandran and Adjunct Associate Professor Effie Chew, AH's head of the division of rehabilitation medicine, made a field trip in 2022 to the Reade rehabilitation hospital in Amsterdam – one of the sites in the trial done across the United States, Europe, and Canada – to learn about this new device and observe its use on patients. The loaned device used in Alexandra Hospital's trials is the ARC-EX system from ONWARD Medical. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY In a statement released through AH, ONWARD Medical CEO Dave Marver said that it was excited to support the study, the first of its kind in Singapore and Asia, as they work on expanding access to their technologies globally. 'The preliminary results reported by Dr Gobinathan Chandran and his team validate what we have seen in other regions – that ARC-EX Therapy, when combined with physical therapy, can enable meaningful improvements for people living with spinal cord injuries,' he said. Meanwhile, AH has also just received ethics approval to study the use of non-invasive electrode stimulation in 16 SCI patients with upper-limb functional impairments. Elsewhere in Singapore, there is another trial studying the use of surgically-implanted electrode near the spinal cord to restore motion for patients with complete spinal cord injuries. The Restores (restoration of rehabilitative function with epidural spinal stimulation) clinical trial is conducted by NNI, TTSH and A*Star. It has completed the first phase, with three patients, and is moving into the second phase, with 15 patients, later this year. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
