Atria Investments Inc lessened its position in Phibro Animal Health Co. ( NASDAQ:PAHC – Free Report ) by 67.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 12,578 shares of the company’s stock after selling 25,588 shares during the period. Atria Investments Inc’s holdings in Phibro Animal Health were worth $283,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of PAHC. CWM LLC increased its position in shares of Phibro Animal Health by 89.8% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,188 shares of the company’s stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 1,035 shares in the last quarter. nVerses Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Phibro Animal Health in the third quarter worth about $70,000. Summit Securities Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Phibro Animal Health during the second quarter worth about $83,000. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Phibro Animal Health by 63.7% during the 3rd quarter. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 3,912 shares of the company’s stock valued at $88,000 after purchasing an additional 1,522 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Algert Global LLC acquired a new position in shares of Phibro Animal Health in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $193,000. 99.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Phibro Animal Health Price Performance NASDAQ PAHC opened at $23.74 on Friday. Phibro Animal Health Co. has a 12-month low of $9.49 and a 12-month high of $25.98. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $23.13 and its 200-day moving average is $19.94. The company has a market capitalization of $961.54 million, a PE ratio of 55.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a quick ratio of 1.69, a current ratio of 3.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.81. Phibro Animal Health Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 27th will be given a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 27th. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.02%. Phibro Animal Health’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 111.63%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have commented on PAHC shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on shares of Phibro Animal Health in a report on Tuesday, September 10th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $22.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Phibro Animal Health from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Phibro Animal Health from $13.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price target on Phibro Animal Health from $13.00 to $15.00 and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a research note on Friday, August 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $16.50. Read Our Latest Research Report on PAHC Insider Buying and Selling at Phibro Animal Health In other news, Director E Thomas Corcoran purchased 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 4th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $20.02 per share, for a total transaction of $100,100.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 25,000 shares in the company, valued at $500,500. The trade was a 25.00 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Corporate insiders own 50.07% of the company’s stock. Phibro Animal Health Profile ( Free Report ) Phibro Animal Health Corporation operates as an animal health and mineral nutrition company in the United States, Israel, Brazil, Ireland, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Animal Health, Mineral Nutrition, and Performance Products. The company develops, manufactures, and markets various products for food and companion animals including poultry, swine, beef and dairy cattle, aquaculture, and dogs. Read More Five stocks we like better than Phibro Animal Health What Are Some of the Best Large-Cap Stocks to Buy? Tesla Investors Continue to Profit From the Trump Trade The Significance of Brokerage Rankings in Stock Selection MicroStrategy’s Stock Dip vs. Coinbase’s Potential Rally What is the FTSE 100 index? Netflix Ventures Into Live Sports, Driving Stock Momentum Receive News & Ratings for Phibro Animal Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Phibro Animal Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .U.S. Prosecutors Drop Federal Cases Against Trump: A Legal Triumph

Calgary police are seeking information in relation to a Tuesday fire in Hillhurst they believe was deliberately set and notes left in the area demanding Bitcoin. Nov. 19, at around 3:10 a.m., police and fire crews were called to a home in the 1700 block of Eighth Avenue N.W. for a fire. Firefighters extinguished the blaze. Officials said no one was injured. The damage to the home appeared to be minimal in what police are describing as a "completely random" incident. Further investigation revealed that a number of residents from surrounding properties received letters asking for bitcoin transfers left on the front steps of their homes. Sgt. Kurt Jacobs with the Calgary police's arson and robbery unit said the hunt for a suspect, or suspects, is still ongoing, and that the notes are believed to be connected to this incident. “There was no direct threat to the people living in this house, but definitely indications that these people were wanting money and they're wanting people to follow their directions,” he said. “We also believe that the arson or fire set would be a way for them to show some type of repercussions if someone doesn't follow though, but that's not directly laid out in these particular letters." Public assistance sought Police are now asking residents of the neighbourhoods of Hillhurst, Hounsfield Heights/Briar Hill and West Hillhurst for CCTV footage that might help them identify who dropped off the letters. One of the notes obtained by CTV News reads “YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PAY $1400 TO THE BITCOIN ADDRESS ABOVE” followed by the words “DO NOT NOT PAY.” Nearby resident Beverley Young and her family received a note. “It was kind of weird, it just didn’t seem real so at first we shrugged it off but then my husband noticed that several other notes had been left on our neighbour’s porches too,” Young said. “So right now we’re just trying to be aware of vehicles and people that you normally don’t see on this street and to communicate with our neighbours to be on the alert.” Others like Colette Baser were also concerned by the news, adding that her family is keeping a watchful eye for anyone placing strange flags on homes or acting suspiciously in the area. “It really makes me curious to know what puts somebody in a situation where they’re willing to put a note on somebody's door and request bitcoin, and it's usually desperation,” said Baser. “So what is happening within the situation, within our political climate? What is happening, you know, in terms of housing, food prices, what is creating somebody to be in such a desperate situation to do that? To me, that is the root question honestly.” Edmonton connection Police said that similar fires are believed to have been set in Edmonton in September and October, and they are investigating whether the incidents are related. Dan Jones, a former Edmonton police officer for 25 years and current Chair of the Justice Studies Program at Norquest College, said the motivation in these crimes is to obtain ‘realistic’ amounts of cash from vulnerable residents. "I think what’s interesting is the amount of money that they're asking for isn't excessive, right? They're not saying, 'I would like to burn down your house if you don't give me $100,000,' they're asking for between $1,000 and $5,000 on these things,” Jones said. “That’s more of a reachable amount for most people, so they're realistic in their expectations, but it also seems that they're realistic in their threats, which is pretty scary,” Jones added that there could be an organized crime connection to these incidents that will have to be investigated. “The Bitcoin thing is also confusing for me, because how does the person know which person from which house transfers the Bitcoin? “How do you know which house to not burn? That’s the part that I'm concerned with: are they burning one random house and then making people believe it's going to happen to them?" Anyone with information or video footage of people or vehicles in the area surrounding the 1700 block of Eighth Ave. N.W. on Tuesday, Nov. 19 between 1 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online or by downloading the P3 Tips app.

Tahj Brooks carried for a season-high 188 yards and three scores in his final home game as a Red Raider as Texas Tech dominated West Virginia 52-15 at Jones AT&T Stadium on Saturday. Brooks leaves as Tech's all-time leading rusher and put on a clinic against the Mountaineers before leaving the game late in the fourth quarter to the cheers of fans and teammates. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Bryson Daily tied the American Athletic Conference record for single-season touchdowns and threw for a season-high 190 yards and a score to lift No. 25 Army to a 29-24 win over UTSA on Saturday. Army (10-1) finished the regular season 8-0 in the AAC and earned the right to host the championship game on Friday. Daily rushed for 147 yards, his academy-record ninth straight 100-yard game, and two touchdowns. Casey Larkin sealed Army’s 10th victory of the season, picking off Owen McCown at the Black Knights’ 10 with 1:14 left. “It was a great team win,” Daily said. “It was great to see the defense plays their hearts out like they’ve done all season. We knew a close game (at home) was coming at some point this season. That was today. I’m just proud of the fight that our guys showed.” Army won its 10th game for the fourth time in program history and third time in Jeff Monken’s 11 years. The Black Knights had outscored their opponents 188-62 in their first five home wins. “To be playing in the conference championship game in the first year is a little improbable,” Monken said. “It’s not something you anticipate. “I’m glad we joined the conference. It’s awesome to be in this position and have a chance to play for the conference championship. That’s not something you take for granted." Army’s defense rose to the challenges all afternoon. Kalib Fortner and Chance Keith combined to stop Brandon High short on 4th-and-1 from UTSA’s 16 on the first play of the fourth quarter. Five plays later, Bryson Daily scored his 24th touchdown of the season from one yard out to give Army a 22-17 lead. Collin Matteson picked off McCown for his first career interception with 11:17 left in the game. Daily scored his conference-tying 25th rushing touchdown, a 42-yard run on the second play following Matteson’s pick with 10:26 remaining in the game UTSA (6-6) fell to 0-6 away from the Alamodome. The Roadrunners opened the second half with McCown’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Devin McCuin on fourth down to take 17-13 lead with10:13left in the third quarter. Army senior kicker Trey Gronotte made a career-high three field goals. Gronotte’s 35-yard kick tied the game at 10-10 as time expired in the first half. Daily capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive with a 41-yard touchdown pass to running back Tyrell Robinson on the game’s opening drive with 7:30remaining in the first quarter. Robinson, a fifth-year senior, scored his first touchdown of the season and 14th in his career. UTSA answered with a touchdown on its first possession, a 10-yard run by Brandon High. High added a 6-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Army converted on all three fourth downs on its opening touchdown drive. Noah Short caught a 6-yard pass and ran for four yards to move the chains. UTSA leading rusher Robert Henry missed the game with an undisclosed injury. Henry had a team-best 706 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. UTSA: Awaits a bowl invitation. Army: Plays Tulane in the American Athletic Conference championship game. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballDemocrats look to governors to lead them to promised land

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Tiong says while embracing digitalisation is a positive step towards modernisation, its implementation must take into account the challenges faced by vulnerable groups. – Bernama photo SIBU (Dec 5): The recent announcement that Sibu Hospital will fully transition to a cashless payment system has raised widespread concerns, particularly among senior citizens and rural communities. Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Sibujaya branch publicity secretary Mark Tiong said while embracing digitalisation is a positive step towards modernisation, its implementation must take into account the challenges faced by vulnerable groups. He said many individuals in rural areas lack access to debit or credit cards due to limited banking infrastructure and connectivity issues. Similarly, senior citizens, who may not be familiar with cashless systems, risk being excluded from essential medical services if the transition is too abrupt. “A sudden shift to cashless payments creates unnecessary stress, especially during emergencies when patients or their families might rely on cash as the primary mode of payment. “It is crucial to ensure that technology does not become a barrier to accessing healthcare,” he said. Tiong thus urged the hospital authorities to consider introducing a grace period, adding that temporary cash payment counters should remain operational for at least six months. “This would allow the public to gradually adapt to the cashless system while ensuring uninterrupted access to medical services. “The hospital should also have a special consideration for senior citizens and allow them to continue using cash temporarily during the transition period until they are fully equipped to adapt to the new system,” he said. “Alternatively, introduce S Pay. As Sarawak’s local digital payment platform, S Pay has been widely adopted across various sectors in the state. “By incorporating S Pay as a payment option, hospitals can further lower the barriers to cashless payments, especially for residents familiar with this local digital service,” he added. He said that while progress is necessary, it must not come at the expense of inclusivity. “A gradual, well-planned transition will ensure that everyone, regardless of age or location, can benefit from modernisation without being left behind. “Let us work together to ensure that technological advancements improve lives rather than create new challenges.”“Squid Game” Actor Spotted At A Prison In Texas

Critical Mistake Prevented Unranked Program From Securing Top 25 College Football Win{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "dateCreated": "2024-11-30T19:01:55+02:00", "datePublished": "2024-11-30T19:01:55+02:00", "dateModified": "2024-12-02T09:55:46+02:00", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22245/news/security/rwanda-questions-unexplained-removal-of-eac-troops-from-dr-congo", "headline": "Rwanda questions unexplained removal of EAC troops from DR Congo", "description": "Rwanda’s justice minister Emmanuel Ugirashebuja on Saturday, November 30, reminded East African Community (EAC) partner states that there are still no...", "keywords": "Rwanda,eac,eacrf,DRC,Emmanuel Ugirashebuja", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22245/news/security/rwanda-questions-unexplained-removal-of-eac-troops-from-dr-congo" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/11/30/65210.jpg", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/11/30/65210.jpg" }, "articleBody": "Rwanda’s justice minister Emmanuel Ugirashebuja on Saturday, November 30, reminded East African Community (EAC) partner states that there are still no formal explanations for the withdrawal of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) from DR Congo, something that sets a troubling precedent for the region’s meaningful cooperation. The minister was speaking in Arusha, Tanzania during the 24th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State themed “Promoting Trade, Sustainable Development and Peace & Security for Improved livelihoods,” as the bloc celebrated its 25th anniversary. ALSO READ: EAC Regional Force completes withdrawal from DR Congo EACRF was deployed to eastern DR Congo, in November 2022, with a mandate of supporting a peace process. The regional force comprising troops from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, and South Sudan, managed to peacefully secure swathes of territory previously captured by the M23 rebels after their gradual withdrawal. In early 2023, the regional mission’s effort led to a ceasefire from March to September 2023. However, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, who did not show up at the regional summit on Saturday, wanted it to battle the M23 rebels, or if not, leave. Troubling precedent set The first EACRF force commander was forced to resign citing a threat to his personal security and “a systematic plan to frustrate” the regional force. In December 2023, the Congolese government eventually expelled EACRF and replaced it with a SADC mission which is operating under an offensive mandate. ALSO READ: Kabarebe calls for greater efforts to unlock bloc’s potential On Saturday, Ugirashebuja told EAC leaders that the lack of formal explanations for EACRF’s withdrawal “sets a troubling precedent and erodes the trust, transparency and accountability needed for meaningful cooperation.” ALSO READ: EAC meet in Zanzibar reiterates importance of political process to end DR Congo crisis “Complacency and lack of accountability will never solve our problems; it only brings more instability. Rwanda stands to continue doing its part to finding a lasting solution for peace and security in our region. We need to deliver results faster and more efficiently. This is the best investment we can make in ourselves, and it is well within our means,” he noted.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Times Reporter" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }

LAHAINA, Hawaii – Tyrese Hunter scored 17 of his 26 points after halftime to lead Memphis to a 99-97 overtime win against two-time defending national champion and second-ranked UConn on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational . Hunter shot 7 of 10 from 3-point range for the Tigers (5-0), who were 12 of 22 from beyond at the arc as a team. PJ Haggerty had 22 points and five assists, Colby Rogers had 19 points and Dain Dainja scored 14. Recommended Videos Tarris Reed Jr. had 22 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Huskies (4-1). Alex Karaban had 19 points and six assists, and Jaylin Stewart scored 16. Memphis led by as many as 13 with about four minutes left in regulation, but UConn chipped away and eventually tied it on Solo Ball’s 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining. Takeaways Memphis: The Tigers ranked second nationally in field goal percentage going into the game and shot it at a 54.7% clip. UConn: The Huskies saw their string of 17 consecutive wins dating back to February come to an end. Key moment The teams were tied at 92 with less than a minute remaining in overtime when UConn coach Dan Hurley was assessed a technical foul for his displeasure with an over-the-back call against Liam McNeeley. PJ Carter hit four straight free throws — two for the tech and the other pair for the personal foul — to give Memphis a 96-92 lead with 40.3 seconds to play. Key stat UConn had three players foul out. Memphis attempted 40 free throws and made 29 of them. Up next Memphis will play the winner of Colorado-Michigan State on Tuesday in the second round of the invitational. UConn will play the loser of that game in the consolation bracket. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball .

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — There seemed to be little joy in another last-second win for the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Patrick Mahomes looked stoic after fill-in kicker . Travis Kelce, Chris Jones and the rest of the Chiefs merely joined him in walking from the sideline to midfield for handshakes, then headed back to the locker room, a scene completely different from the jubilation they exhibited at the end of so many other nail-biters. Might be that they’re getting sick of the stress at the end of games; decided by seven points or fewer, the longest streak in NFL history, and has won five games decided on the final play this season. Then again, it might be that the Chiefs felt as if they should have beaten the Panthers by a much wider margin. They committed 10 penalties for 91 yards. Their secondary struggled against Carolina quarterback Bryce Young, a one-time bust who has started to play better of late. And their offensive tackles were routinely beaten with Mahomes sacked five times. “You always want to have some blowouts. You want to be a little calmer in the fourth quarter,” said Mahomes, who had one of his best games despite the protection problems, throwing for 269 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. “It can be a good thing as you get to the playoffs and later in the season,” Mahomes added, “just knowing you’ve been in those moments before, and knowing how to kind of attack it play by play — not making it too big of a moment. I will say this more than anybody, I would love to win a game not by the very last play.” The Chiefs (10-1) nevertheless remained a game ahead of Buffalo in the race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC heading into Friday’s game against the Raiders. But there is no margin for error with the Bills now holding the tiebreaker over them. “It’s all about getting better. That’s the best thing about playing in the NFL,” Mahomes said. “We’ve got to just go back, learn from (Carolina), and know we have a short week against a hungry football team in the Raiders that’s coming to our house.” What’s working The Chiefs’ tight ends have taken advantage of deep shell coverages played by opposing defenses by getting open underneath, , who had his second straight two-touchdown day against the Panthers. He finished with four catches for a team-best 66 yards, while Kelce was right behind with six catches for 62 yards. What needs help The Chiefs have had problems at tackle all season. Wanya Morris struggled again on the left side and veteran Jawaan Taylor was not much better on the right, and they’re a big reason why Mahomes has been sacked 15 times over the past four games. Stock up Just a few weeks ago, Shrader was on the Jets practice squad, hoping for a chance to kick in another regular-season game. Now, with Harrison Butker on injured reserve, he is making the most of that chance in Kansas City. The undrafted rookie is 3 for 3 on field goals, including that 31-yard game-winner against Carolina, and perfect on six extra-point attempts. Stock down Just about everyone in the Kansas City secondary struggled against Carolina, whether it was cornerbacks Nazeeh Johnson and Chamarri Conner or safeties Bryan Cook and Justin Reid. Young shredded them for 263 yards passing and a touchdown. Injuries The Chiefs could have running back Isiah Pacheco and pass rusher Charles Omenihu back this week. Both have been practicing the past couple of weeks and were close to playing against Carolina. Pacheco is returning from an ankle injury sustained in Week 2 while Omenihu has not played since tearing his ACL in the playoffs last season. Key number 5 — Kansas City improved to 5-0 against the NFC this season, making it 26-6 against the AFC’s rival conference since Mahomes became the franchise’s regular starter for the 2018 season. Next steps The Chiefs have won seven of their past eight against Las Vegas heading into Friday’s game, though they no doubt remember the Raiders’ previous trip to Arrowhead Stadium. Las Vegas pulled the upset on Christmas Day last season. ___ AP NFL:

Anthony Edwards’ leadership had to take another step forward this week for Timberwolves

PickMe, Sri Lanka’s leading digital mobility solutions company, recently entered into a strategic partnership with the University of Moratuwa (UoM) to strengthen human resource development and operational excellence in driving innovation in the logistics sector. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by PickMe CEO Jiffry Zulfer and UoM Vice Chancellor Prof. N.D. Gunawardena. As part of the collaboration, PickMe will offer Management Trainee placements to 10-15 graduates each year from UoM’s BSc (Hons.) in Transport and Logistics Management and BSc (Hons.) in Transport Management and Logistics Engineering programs. Additionally, 10 undergraduates from these programs will gain hands-on experience through internship opportunities at PickMe every year. The partnership also includes structured mentoring, skill-building initiatives, and career guidance to enhance students’ industry readiness. To support infrastructure and provide a conducive learning environment, PickMe will contribute to the maintenance and development of physical spaces within UoM’s Transport Management and Logistics Engineering Department (TMLE). UoM TMLE Professor Emeritus Amal S. Kumarage PhD says: “In the context of pressing needs in the $ 6 billion mobility industry in Sri Lanka, this collaboration between academia, research, and industry is timely to provide digital solutions to legacy problems. Undergraduates in transport at the UoM can now confidently embark on tech-based careers in transport and logistics, assured of industry opportunities, while the industry itself can scale up to fill multiple service gaps, given the continuous supply of specialist engineers.” In a shared commitment to advance logistics innovation, PickMe and UoM will form joint research teams to conduct at least two research projects annually. The projects will be aimed at solving industry-specific challenges and creating sustainable solutions via technology. This collaboration is expected to drive significant positive impact within Sri Lanka’s logistics industry, fostering innovation, job creation, sustainability, and economic growth. The partnership represents a mutually beneficial platform that provides invaluable opportunities for students, enhances industry relevance for PickMe, and propels the nation’s logistics capabilities. “The key benefit is that these budding engineers of UoM will gain first-hand exposure to real-world engagement, preparing them for newer dynamics in their field,” says Zulfer. “At the same time, our team at PickMe will also benefit from the partnership by having access to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities.” UoM Senior Professor and TMLE Head Prof. Asoka Perera said: “Partnering with the industry gives new opportunities to the University, fulfilling a great need. I am very happy to collaborate with the leading technology driven mobility solutions provider, PickMe, which benefits the department, staff, and students in academic work and research work. We look forward to new research, product development, effective training for students, and aligning the curriculum of the TMLE for the needs of the industry.” PickMe’s approach to adaptation and implementation is rooted in leveraging digital technology to respond flexibly to changes in the market and the needs of its users. Unlike traditional industrial-age companies, which are more rigid due to reliance on fixed processes, PickMe uses digital tools to create an agile environment. In the context of PickMe, adaptation involves continuously responding to shifts in customer expectations, technology advancements, and changes in external conditions. Implementation, on the other hand, is about actively executing these adaptations—integrating them into their technology, operations, and workforce strategies to ensure the business remains responsive and relevant.None

Pakistan’s housing crisis needs innovation Pakistan’s population swelled from 65m in 1972 to over 240m in 2023, staggering increase of 175 million in 50 years Pakistan's explosive population growth over the past five decades presents a pressing non-traditional national security concern. With ripple effects on water, food, and energy security, this demographic surge threatens social cohesion and economic stability. At the heart of these challenges lies the need for ‘affordable and climate-smart’ housing, a critical yet neglected issue that impacts 78 per cent of the population falling within lower-middle and middle-income brackets as per World Bank classifications. Pakistan’s population has swelled from 65 million in 1972 to over 240 million in 2023, a staggering increase of 175 million over 50 years. Over the next 25 years, the United Nations projects Pakistan’s population to increase by 160 million and surpass 400 million. Despite years of political rhetoric and six government housing schemes since 1972, the annual housing demand of 350,000 units far exceeds the meagre supply of 150,000 units. The result is an urban housing backlog exceeding nine million units as metropolitan areas have swelled under the weight of rural-to-urban migration. To contextualise, 57 per cent of Pakistan’s urban population currently resides in informal shanty settlements according to a recent study by the Asian Development Bank, reflecting decades of neglect in affordable housing policy. The situation will become increasingly dire with over 70 per cent of the populace residing in urban areas by 2050, putting immense pressure on already strained housing infrastructure. Empirical evidence suggests that lower-middle income households have been priced out of renting - let alone owning affordable homes – due to the gentrification of metropolitan centres by upper-income brackets who are less involved politically as a vote bank. This is not just an affordable housing crisis; it is a ticking time bomb of social unrest. Assuming that state-level planning may have been optimal when presented to decision-makers with every passing administration, political expediency, a lack of foresight, and a sincere desire to implement change have led to an accumulated backlog in affordable housing, leaving Pakistan ill-prepared in practical terms. Unlike many other countries, Pakistan took almost 55 years to publish its housing policy which was introduced in 2001. It is more than 2 decades old and there is a new housing policy in development which is targeted to be completed in 2025. Pakistan has also struggled to create sustainable fiscal space, with the most recent resource allocation for housing in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 2024-2025 of a mere Rs24.3 billion, representing only 0.13 per cent of the Rs18.8 trillion budget. Adding to the urgency is the looming spectre of climate change, which threatens to exacerbate Pakistan’s housing woes. With floods, rising sea levels, and unpredictable weather patterns becoming more frequent, the need for housing that is not only affordable but also resilient has never been greater. A pragmatic approach needs to be taken rather than rushing through half-baked ideas clobbered together with realistic targets and timelines if the impact is to be scalable nationwide. For Pakistan, a piecemeal revision of the 2001 housing policy won’t suffice. Instead, a transformative ‘Framework for Affordable, Climate-Smart Housing’ is needed – one that embraces innovation, sustainability, and private-sector collaboration. To address the dual challenges of affordability and sustainability, Pakistan must move beyond outdated policies and embrace a comprehensive, data-driven ‘value chain’ approach which will accelerate the sustainable development of the ecosystem. The How: From the onset, let the business community come up with commercially viable solutions designed within the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with proactive facilitation and support of the state machinery assisted by their consultants. This begins with concurrent, collaborative consultations with donors, multilateral and domestic financiers co-creating sustainable solutions with potential project developers as well as a sample cohort representative of small business owners and lower-middle income salaried persons to provide a ‘customer lens’ perspective on affordability, ease of access to finance, et cetera. It is immensely critical to also identify suitable unencumbered land titles for such projects as many countries offer state land – with defined building codes on concessional leases or grants – outside of urban centres which are fundamental to ensuring that the projects can rapidly ‘come off the ground’. The state-owned lenders and DFIs, currently focused on lending to SOEs and investing in government securities, need to be encouraged to refocus on their raison d’etre and be mandated to lead the funding streams against time-bound action plans centrally monitored by the finance division and implemented by the housing division. The downstream can be supported by commercial banks on the back of partial risk guarantee facilities from multilateral lenders covering the construction at concessional rates by innovative developers compliant with energy efficient and green standards using recycled building materials. Such funding is normally augmented by technical assistance for capacity building to deepen the ecosystem. Concerning the construction guarantees for green housing, since modular affordable housing can be accelerated, such de-risking solutions made available to domestic banks can be released from a project within 18 months and redeployed which helps recycle capital required for more modular affordable housing projects. On the demand side, domestic lenders are ill-equipped to initially assess informal income and poorly documented small business owners require a high index mortgage repayment guarantee from multilaterals and DFIs. These guarantees should typically cover over 60-70 per cent of the loan amounts to support the mortgage programs of domestic lenders, while loan-to-value may initially even be in the high 90 per cent range, and the property title deeds would remain in ‘trust’ and only transferred once full repayment has been completed or sufficiently de-risked to a pre-agreed amortisation level of acceptability. This is vital to unlocking affordable and resilient housing solutions. Mortgage guarantees also require a widening of credit assessment parameters using unconventional data. This is where the local data analytics talent can get a boost as one has seen several fin-tech outfits design and test risk models using alternative credit assessment criteria where bank statements and credit records are unavailable. Greater use of technology to obtain demographic information, geotagging movement and photos, residence stability, and personal mobility data is being used to augment and enrich credit profiling for scorecards and in turn, accelerate the mortgage approval processes at domestic lenders. Besides bank lending, ‘impact investing’ is another pool of capital which is increasingly recognised as a viable funding source for affordable housing projects that also yield social benefits. Investors provide capital with the expectation of both financial returns and positive community impacts. This model has been successfully implemented in various countries, directing funds towards projects that enhance infrastructure and services alongside providing homes. A typical financing mechanism to attract ‘climate’ and ‘sustainable impact’ tagged funding - already earmarked for Pakistan or green housing projects by international donors and global asset managers - involves instrumentation and ringfencing designated streams of concessional debt and non-refundable grants or equity into special purpose vehicles. Debt instruments can nowadays be packaged as ‘green’ covered bonds to draw interest from EU-based investors if it can be demonstrated that the projects are compliant and certified by the Climate Bonds Standard. All this is typical of how such models have been deployed in other countries. For example, Mexico launched climate-smart affordable mortgage schemes that enable borrowers to access lower interest rates when purchasing or renovating homes that meet specific energy efficiency standards. Pakistan can also look at the approaches taken by Kenya, Brazil and India, among others. Pakistan needs to adopt such innovative approaches linking climate-smart development financing earmarked by donors and investors for climate adaption by identifying and structuring projects that incorporate ‘resilience’ features such as flood-resistant materials, storm-resistant roofing, elevated foundations on stilts that prepare communities for climate-related disasters such as rising sea and river levels and heavy rainfalls as the country continues to remain vulnerable to recurrence. Domestic lenders can generate carbon offsets under scope 3 by offering consumer loans on residential solar energy and energy-efficient appliances certified by the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency (NEECA). These loans can be packaged with their affordable mortgage schemes. Innovative financing solutions are critical for addressing the dual challenges of affordability and sustainability in housing. By leveraging mechanisms such as green bonds, public-private partnerships, impact investing, and technology-driven approaches, domestic DFIs and commercial banks can play a pivotal role in funding affordable green housing initiatives. By adopting a forward-looking, development finance-led strategy that prioritises climate-smart affordable housing, Pakistan can address its housing crisis while fostering economic growth and climate resilience. The question is no longer whether Pakistan can afford to invest in affordable and resilient climate-smart housing, it is whether it can afford not to. For policymakers seeking to connect with voters and create lasting impact, this is a cause worth championing. The writer is a senior banker seasoned with international experience in global markets and development finance. He can be reached at: 1adnanpasha@gmail.comA pair of teams with minimal rest will face off in Nassau, Bahamas, on Sunday when No. 22 St. John takes on Georgia. St. John's (5-1), which will play its third game in four days, began the stretch in the Bahamas Championship on Thursday, dropping a heartbreaker to No. 13 Baylor. The Red Storm led by 18 in the first half before Baylor forced overtime. From there, St. John's rallied from five down with 1:47 left to send the game to a second overtime, where it saw Baylor knock down a pair of 3-pointers in the final seven seconds -- including Jeremy Roach's buzzer-beater -- to knock off the Red Storm 99-98. In the third-place game on Friday, St. John's breezed past Virginia 80-55. RJ Luis Jr. led the way with 18 points and four steals, followed by Kadary Richmond's 12 points, as the Red Storm took a one-point lead with 15:21 left in the first half and didn't trail again. "I'm really impressed with our guys, coming off a double-overtime, extremely emotional loss," St. John's head coach Rick Pitino said. "To respond that way was extremely impressive, both offensively and defensively." Pitino, in his second year with the Red Storm, was moved by something off the court on Friday, involving captain Zuby Ejiofor, who chipped in eight points, nine boards, two steals and two blocks. Ejiofor was serenaded by St. John's fans during the win, following his two missed free throws at the end of double overtime against Baylor. "When you've only been in a job for a year, you search for things you love about a place," Pitino said. "Tonight I found out what I love about St. John's. Our fans chanted Zuby's name the whole game, which doesn't happen anywhere else in America. I was really impressed with our fans and I thank them for making Zuby feel good, because he gives you all the energy." Luis leads the Red Storm with 17.3 points per game, followed by Ejiofor (10.7), Aaron Scott (10.5), Deivon Smith (10.3) and Richmond (10.2). Georgia enters Sunday's matchup looking to rebound from its first loss after falling to No. 15 Marquette 80-69 on Saturday. Georgia (5-1) battled back from a 15-point, second-half deficit, but was held to just three points over the final 4:57 in Saturday's loss. Blue Cain led the Bulldogs with a season-high 17 points, including five 3-pointers. "It's a process. It's a journey with this team," Bulldogs head coach Mike White said. "It's about continuing to make strides, continuing to protect our culture. ... At the end of the day, wins and losses are going to take care of themselves. We just have to embrace the process and enjoy it." Five-star freshman recruit Asa Newell was held to a season-low nine points but leads the team with 15.5 points per game. Silas Demary Jr. is second with 13.8. --Field Level Media