wowjili v3
Published 3:20 pm Sunday, December 22, 2024 By Emily Burleigh The new media production studio at Sowela Technical Community College, complete with a sound-proof vocal room and professional-grade audio gear, will supply students with everything they need for real-life career experience. Earlier this month, the college announced the new $48,000 studio that media production students in the Digital Arts and Communication program have access to. In the studio, students can record podcasts and voiceovers, edit videos, and create and mix music using “top-tier” production studio equipment, Digital Arts and Communication Adjunct Instructor Thunder John told the American Press . With the equipment, students can beef up their resumes with professional experience before they even graduate. John said they also get an enhanced classroom experience and the freedom to explore their creativity. “As an instructor, I always encourage students to do extra,” he said. “This is the perfect time to hone their craft, even if it’s outside of classroom time. With this studio, the students now have the luxury to do just that.” Keeping the Digital Arts and Communications Department equipped with state-of-the-art equipment is a continuous mission meant to ensure students can create “studio-grade quality work.” “In the media production field, it’s very difficult to get hands-on experience with top-tier equipment without breaking the bank. At Sowela, we’ve made gaining experience very tangible,” he explained. “Our goal is to equip students with enough knowledge that they can tackle almost any job or scenario that may be thrown their way.” The full cost of the studio was covered by an anonymous donor, said Darlene Hoffpauir, marketing and communications manager, Sowela. This donation included construction ($46,078.57) and the technology and equipment ($1,921.43). The Digital Arts and Communication program is a two-year degree path. There are two concentrations for students to choose from: graphic design and media production. After graduation, students pursue careers in field like advertising, printing, reporting, photography and web design. John called the new studio a “step in the right direction” that will lead to more expansion and student opportunities, leaving more students career (and life) ready. “Our goal is to always strive to provide students with a learning space that can prepare them for life beyond their degree. ... As a department, I feel like we’re just getting started. The best is always yet to come.”Titans coach says WR Treylon Burks recently had surgery to fix partially torn ACL
Stock market today: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another recordMaking 2024 count economically After years of economic turmoil, Pakistan’s stabilisation efforts began yielding tangible results A man counts dollars and other currency notes. — AFP/File A pivotal year which may become a turning point for Pakistan’s economy, 2024 saw significant progress in achieving macroeconomic stabilisation. The country made strides in controlling inflation, reducing interest rates, and achieving a historic current account surplus. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); These achievements were bolstered by a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) arrangement that averted a financial crisis and stabilised the balance of payments. However, systemic and structural flaws – excessive taxation, high energy costs, mismanagement in key sectors like agriculture, poor governance of social services, and government-imposed restrictions on the digital economy – continued to undermine sustainable growth and investment. After years of economic turmoil, Pakistan’s stabilization efforts began yielding tangible results. Inflation, which had peaked at 29 per cent in FY 22-23 and 20 per cent in FY 23-24, dropped below 5.0 per cent by November 2024, surpassing the government’s target of 12 per cent. This decline provided significant relief for businesses and consumers. Complementing these improvements, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) implemented aggressive monetary easing, reducing the policy rate from 22 per cent to 13 per cent and lowering interest rates to 12 per cent. These measures are expected to save the government over Rs1.2 trillion in interest costs, easing fiscal pressures and creating space for development initiatives. A noteworthy achievement in 2024 was the government’s decision to avoid budgetary borrowing in the first half of the fiscal year, instead retiring Rs2.03 trillion in debt. This unprecedented step, supported by the SBP’s record profit of Rs3.42 trillion, eased fiscal pressures and unleashed excess liquidity into the banking system. This liquidity, combined with lower interest rates, has created an opportunity to channel funds into productive sectors such as industry, agriculture, and infrastructure. However, realising the potential of this progress depends on decisive government policies and actions to drive job creation and sustainable economic momentum. The current account surplus reached over $730 million in November, marking the fourth consecutive month of surpluses and the largest in nearly a decade. Projections for FY24-25 suggest the surplus could exceed $2 billion, fueled by rising remittances, improved exports, and a stable rupee. These developments spurred significant investment in the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with the KSE index surging by 80 per cent during the year and market capitalisation expanding substantially. Despite these positive developments, several systemic challenges persist. Excessive taxation remains a significant obstacle. Instead of broadening the tax base or improving compliance, the FY25 budget further increased tax rates, disproportionately burdening businesses and households. This approach discourages investment in the formal sector, stifles economic activity, and fails to address underlying inefficiencies in the revenue system. Similarly, Pakistan’s energy costs remain among the highest globally, making the cost of doing business prohibitively expensive. This undermines the competitiveness of Pakistani goods in international markets and deters foreign and domestic investment. Repeated coercive renegotiations of power purchase agreements have further eroded investor confidence, discouraging the long-term investments needed to address circular debt and energy insecurity. Agriculture, a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economy, also faced significant challenges. Early in 2024, increased wheat production was initially a positive development. However, poor procurement policies (more specifically federal and Punjab governments reluctance to purchase at price they had guaranteed to the farmer) led to a collapse in wheat prices, falling below Rs3000 per maund against the committed minimum price of Rs3900. This caused substantial losses for farmers, many of whom are now expected to shift to alternative crops. Such failures highlight the urgent need for better planning, fair procurement practices, and investments in agricultural technology to ensure food security and protect the livelihoods of rural communities. The digital economy, a vital driver of innovation and growth, was hindered by government-imposed restrictions on internet access and social media platforms. These measures disrupted entrepreneurial activity, discouraged investment, and weakened Pakistan’s position in the global digital economy. In an era defined by technological transformation, such actions have significantly limited the country’s potential to harness digital tools for economic resilience and innovation. Poor governance in social sectors like education, healthcare, and skill development further undermines Pakistan’s long-term growth potential. A lack of investment in these areas has left the country with a workforce ill-equipped to meet the demands of a globalised economy. Education, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, lags behind, restricting opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship. In the same way, inadequate healthcare and insufficient vocational training programmes exacerbate inequality and limit productivity. Political instability and security challenges compound these economic issues. Post-election disputes, allegations of rigging, and controversial constitutional amendments eroded public trust in democratic institutions, creating an environment of uncertainty unattractive to investors. Security concerns, including insurgent violence and militant activities, further disrupt economic activity, particularly in vulnerable regions, and deter foreign direct investment. To transition from stabilisation to sustainable growth, Pakistan must implement bold and comprehensive reforms. Governance reform is crucial for improving efficiency, reducing bureaucracy, and fostering transparency. Streamlining government operations, cutting redundant departments, and ensuring accountability for outcomes will create a more business-friendly environment and restore investor confidence. The tax system must be overhauled to broaden the base, improve compliance, and reduce reliance on high tax rates. Expanding the tax net to include under-taxed sectors and addressing exemptions for influential groups can create a fairer and more effective revenue system. The energy sector requires immediate reform, including major privatisation of generation, transmission and distribution sub-sectors to reduce the role of the public sector, and enhance efficiency and productivity through competition. Transparent, long-term policies must replace ad-hoc measures, encouraging investments in renewable energy and domestic resources like coal. Modernising the power grid and privatising utilities to enhance competition will reduce costs and improve efficiency. Investing in human capital is essential. Prioritising education, vocational training and healthcare will equip Pakistan’s population with the skills needed to compete in a global economy. Special emphasis on STEM education can foster innovation and entrepreneurship, preparing the workforce for the digital transformation of industries. The digital economy offers immense potential for growth. Removing restrictions on internet access and social media platforms is a necessary first step. Beyond this, the government must invest in digital infrastructure and foster public-private partnerships to create a thriving ecosystem for tech-enabled entrepreneurship. Supporting startups with seed funding, incubators, and reduced regulatory hurdles will stimulate innovation and diversify the economy. A strategic focus on adopting artificial intelligence (AI) can further enhance productivity and competitiveness. Agricultural modernisation is also critical. Policies ensuring fair prices to the farmer mainly through market mechanisms, investing in technology, and improving supply chain logistics can stabilise the sector and maximise its potential. Addressing inefficiencies in agriculture will enhance food security and contribute to rural development. While the IMF programme has helped Pakistan in achieving much needed stabilisation, it is important to appreciate that such programmes address immediate crises but fail to tackle systemic issues in governance, taxation, energy policy, and human capital development. Without meaningful structural reforms, the progress achieved in 2024 risks being short-lived. By fostering innovation, investing in its people, and embracing structural reforms, Pakistan can transition from stabilisation to enduring growth. The choices made today will determine whether 2024 becomes a fleeting moment of relief or a foundation for long-term resilience. The stakes have never been higher. The writer is a former managing partner of a leading professional services firm and has done extensive work on governance in the public and private sectors. He tweets/posts @Asad_AshahThe five-part series will debut globally on December 10, following elite global players on and off the field as they compete in the US Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida. A trailer for the series titled Polo, executive produced by Harry and Meghan, was released on Thursday, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the “fast-paced and glamorous world of polo”. In a statement, Harry said: “This series offers audiences an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look into the passion and determination driving some of the world’s elite polo players, revealing the grit behind the glamour. “We’re proud to showcase the true depth and spirit of the sport — and the intensity of its high-stakes moments.” It has been produced by the Sussexes’ Archewell Productions, having previously released three documentaries with Netflix as part of a multimillion-pound deal with the streaming giant. Heart Of Invictus, which aired last August, followed a group of service members on their road to the Invictus Games, the Paralympic-style sporting competition set up by Harry in 2014 for injured and sick military personnel and veterans. Netflix also released the documentary series Live To Lead and the controversial six-part Harry & Meghan documentary in December 2022. Harry and Meghan moved to the US in 2020 after stepping down from royal duties.
At least eight U.S. telecom firms have been compromised by a Chinese hacking campaign, a White House official said on Wednesday. The hack , which also affected dozens of other countries, is part of the ongoing and sprawling “Salt Typhoon” campaign – a cyber campaign that the U.S. believes is aimed at gaining access to prominent political figures and government officials’ communications. “The Chinese compromised private companies exploiting vulnerabilities in their systems as part of a global Chinese campaign that’s affected dozens of countries around the world,” Anne Neuberger, deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technoloy, said. Neuberger added that officials do not believe any classified communications have been compromised thus far. The hacking campaign is one of the largest intelligence compromises in recent U.S. history. Cyberdefense and intelligence officials have already issued guidance recommending companies increase their security measures. So far, officials have not been able to remove the Chinese government hackers from telecommunications companies. China has denied the allegations, according to CNN. U.S. officials have not publicly named companies impacted by the hack campaign but one official told NBC News that AT&T, Verizon and Lumen Technologies have been hacked. One official said the hackers stole metadata information from people’s cellphones. That information can show when, where and with who a person communicates. It is unclear how many people’s phones have had their metadata stolen but officials indicated it was a large group of people – though not every cellphone in the U.S. Senator Mark Warner, Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on Thursday that the hacking campaign had reached the deepest parts of the U.S. telecommunications system which could allow hackers to listen to telephone conversation or read text messages. “This is a deeply concerning development for our national security,” Warner wrote on X. FBI officials have recommended people looking to protect their phone communications should use end-to-end encrypted systems like WhatsApp or Signal to text or call. They also recommended implementing multi-factor authentication for social media, email and more.Electronic Specialty Gas Market which was USD 6.1 Million in 2023
- Previous: wowjili me
- Next: 1 wow
