A stock market collapse is only the latest sign of trouble for Indonesias capital markets which are being excluded from a rush to emerging economies as investors cool on Southeast Asias biggest country and President Prabowo Subiantos economic agenda
Xiangying New Materials: Advanced Solutions Outdoor WPC Wall Panel Manufacturer Leading the Sustainable Architecture WaveIn the global construction and architectural landscape of 2026, the demand for materials that balance aesthetic elegance with industrial-grade durability has never been higher. Shandong Xiangying
BitcoinWorldBitcoin Price Plunge: Digital Asset Crashes Below $74,508 to Stunning 9-Month LowGlobal cryptocurrency markets witnessed a significant downturn today as Bitcoin, the flagship digital asset, broke below the critical $74,508 support level, reaching its lowest valuation in approximately nine months. This sharp Bitcoin price drop represents the most substantial decline since April 9 of the previous year, sending ripples of concern through investor communities and prompting [...]This post Bitcoin Price Plunge: Digital Asset Crashes Below $74,508 to Stunning 9-Month Low first appeared on BitcoinWorld.
Dr. Ayesha Khan is a public health and development professional with extensive experience in women’s economic empowerment, community-based health systems, and inclusive development in underserved urban and peri-urban settings. Her work sits at the intersection of health, livelihoods, and social policy, with a strong focus on translating research and grassroots engagement into scalable, impact-driven interventions.She currently leads the Akhtar Hameed Khan Foundation, a grassroots institution advancing women-led, community-driven solutions in health, livelihoods, and urban resilience, contributing to improved health equity and economic participation across Pakistan’s low-income urban communities.Following are the edited excerpts of a recent conversation BR Research had with her:BR Research: When AHKF enters a community for the first time, what is the very first question you ask the people who live there?Ayesha Khan: The first question we ask is simple and hard: what are your most important problems that you would like to change in the short and longer term?We believe that real change, starts from people’s self-introspection on what are the things (barriers) that are holding them back from achieving their own potential – whether that is livelihood, personal agency, their living environment or other challenges. Unless they recognize the barriers (both internal and external) change cannot happen. AHKF’s work is to listen to their self-introspection as individuals or as a collective.Every community already carries knowledge, coping mechanisms and aspirations. Our role is to help them arrive at their solutions as defined by the people themselves. This approach is the foundation of Dr. Akhter Hameed Khan’s belief that sustainable change begins with the wisdom and efforts of community.BRR: Why was Dhoke Hassu selected as one of AHKF’s focus communities, and what stood out during your first engagement there?AK: Dhoke Hassu has a long association with Orangi Pilot Project (Al-Falah Foundation’s Lala Aurangzeb received training in water, sanitation and micro-credit at OPP in the 1990’s and replicated the model in Dhoke Hassu). His presence helped the AHKF gain rapport and people’s trust within a short span of time and that is crucial to do effective work.Physical proximity (its 20 min or less from our Islamabad HO) makes it easier to engage in and take external visitors to see the demonstration pilots and carry out long term programming with the people.Lastly, DH is not the poorest community (they have moved beyond survival-mode, and are able to think of growth), which makes adoption of solutions more feasible.What stood out during our first engagement was the hidden potential and resilience of the women in the households, and communities. How they strived each day from caregiving to generating little income through tailoring, or selling things, just to help their households grow. We saw the clear desire for opportunities for health, family planning, enhancing skills and dignity. That’s why we opted to make Dhoke Hassu the natural starting point for testing community-driven urban solutions that could later be adapted elsewhere.BRR: How do you identify and support local leaders within these communities?AK: Leadership has many different faces in underdeveloped communities. It may be the helpful woman who knows all about her neighborhood issues and is trying to solve them with collective help, it may be the young student who offers to help other students ride-share his motorcycle for extra income, or it may be the school principal who does extra “life-learning classes” after school.We identify early adopters, we invest in their capacity through training, exposure and responsibility. We see leadership not as a title, but as continuous incremental growth and our role is to connect and mentor. People will do the restBRR: Urban poverty is often linked to systemic issues like governance gaps and service delivery failures. How does AHKF work within or challenge these systems to drive change?AK: My father, Dr. Akhter Hameed Khan said that NGO’s ladder to development is like a solicitor’s path which is, not to clash with the government but strengthening (complementing)its institutions. NGOs are institutions with the people.Our approach focuses on strengthening the linkages between communities and existing public and private sector systems. By generating reliable community-level data, building trust and demonstrating workable models, we help make systems more responsive. Rather than confrontation, we believe in collaboration and evidence. When communities are organized, informed and visible, systems naturally begin to respond more effectively.BRR: What lessons has AHKF learned from working in informal settlements that policymakers often overlook?AK: One key lesson is that informal settlements are organized and not static communities. There are unspoken rules, relationships, hierarchy, systems and accountability mechanisms already in place. Another lesson is that people are hesitant tochange because the risk of the uncertainty is most devastating when absorption margins are low. People lack trust and fear exclusion.When solutions respect their dignity, affordability and local rhythms, adoption is incremental and sustainable. These insights are often ignored because policy makers seldom engage with the end communities they serve.BRR: Can community-driven climate solutions influence broader urban planning and policy reforms in Pakistan?AK: Absolutely. Climate resilience begins at the household and neighborhood level. We cannot succeed without joint cooperation and collaboration.Our work on flood-adaptive housing, drainage mapping and public spaces shows that communities can co-design practical solutions. NGOs provide technical assistance and affordable solutions. When these models are documented and shared, they offer valuable learning for urban planners and institutions seeking scalable, grounded approaches to climate adaptation.BRR: Mental health remains a stigmatized issue in many communities. Is AHKF exploring ways to integrate psychosocial wellbeing into its programs?AK: Yes, somewhat and slowly. We see mental wellbeing as inseparable from women’s health, productivity and dignity. At Rawan Desk, our mental health initiative, we provide a safe space for professional dialogue on stress management, gender-based violence, domestic abuse, depression, anger etc. We have formed women’s groups in the different Mohalla’s. Our approach is slow, culturally sensitive and integrated into everyday programming rather than treated as a separate intervention.BRR: What skills or mindsets do AHKF believe are most critical for preparing young people in low-income urban areas for the future economy?AK: Beyond technical skills, personal efficacy such as good communication, negotiation, problem solving and having the ability to use digital AI based tools is essential. Digital literacy opens doors, but self-agency sustains progress. We focus on helping young people, particularly girls see themselves as capable contributors to the economy, whether through digital work, entrepreneurship or skilled employment. Exposure, mentorship and practical learning play a central role in this transformation.BRR: How can citizens, professionals, and changemakers contribute meaningfully to AHKF’s mission beyond donations?AK: There are three ways that people can join the AHKF journey. First is the financial contribution to our health and digital women’s enterprise programs – in this we teach women AI based skills and marketing that helps them grow their micro-businesses into the formal economy. Second is our volunteer program – by giving their time and supplies for the health camps, computer or other equipment (from our list of essential products). And third are the mentors – become AHKF mentors in our Karachi (Orangi), Rawalpindi Dhoke Hassu and Sahiwal localities.BRR: Looking ahead 10 years, what change would make you say AHKF has truly succeeded?AK: Success for us would mean thousands of small informal urban slums that are economically engaged in the supply chains and manufacturing in their local hubs connected to the broader markets. Communities would also be healthier through primary health care (diabetes and hypertension early detection, family planning, early maternal childcare, 100% immunization and good nutrition etc.).Economic prosperity breeds the voice of people to take care of themselves as well and we hope that is the future Pakistan heads for.
Hong Kong Monetary Authority Chief Executive Eddie Yue said on Monday that he expects Hong Kong’s economy to grow steadily this year. His remarks came after Hong Kong recorded a GDP uptick of 3.5 percent in 2025. Speaking to the Legislative Council’s Panel on Financial Affairs, Yue said improvements were seen in consumption, exports and the property market.Yue said that while there are still uncertainties in the external environment, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to benefit from the development of artificial intelligence and the demand for tech products.Hong Kong would continue to align with national strategies, he added.“Under the 15th Five-Year Plan, we expect our country will continue its high-quality development,” he said.“Hong Kong’s economy can grow steadily, and in terms of financial development, we will actively align with national development strategies. This includes promoting the internationalisation of renminbi. We will also closely monitor the market to ensure Hong Kong's monetary and financial stability.”Asked if the Exchange Fund would allocate more funds to the government, Yue said such a decision would be made by the Financial Secretary and should not affect the SAR’s financial stability.
NEW DELHI: India will spend a record amount on infrastructure and defence, the finance minister said in her national budget speech on Sunday, with plans for high-speed rail, submarines and fighter jets.New Delhi plans to spend $133 billion on infrastructure and $85 billion on defence, a respective rise of around nine and 15 percent compared to last year’s budget.Data centres, artificial intelligence, and the mining and processing of rare earths will also receive government support, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told parliament. She said public spending on infrastructure had increased dramatically from around $21 billion (2 trillion rupees) in 2014-15 and that it was now at an “all-time high”.Rajnath says armed forces would be equipped with fighter jets, drones, ships, submarines and critical hardwareThe defence spending hike comes after a four-day conflict with Pakistan last May that killed at least 70 people, and saw both sides make extensive use of drones as well as intense missile and artillery barrages.‘Best interest’Defence minister Rajnath Singh described the spending as “unprecedented” and said it would help equip India’s armed forces with fighter jets, drones, ships, submarines and other critical hardware. “It is in the best interest of the nation,” he added. New Delhi is in the midst of negotiating defence contracts with domestic and international suppliers, including France, the United States and Germany.The world’s most populous country sees massive infrastructure spending as key to sustaining its high growth rate by boosting domestic manufacturing and creating millions of new jobs.“India is not content with simply being the fastest-growing economy,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after the budget. “India wants to become the world’s third-largest economy. This year’s budget presents an ambitious roadmap to give new momentum to” domestic manufacturing and self-reliance.Sectors including textiles, pharmaceuticals, electronics and chemicals are primary targets to boost exports, Sitharaman said.She promised the development of business parks for textiles and chemicals and said $5 billion would be spent on boosting domestic electronics manufacturing.Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2026
Budget 2026: Buy back proceeds will be taxed as capital gains for shareholders, but promoters pay an extra price
Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026-27 on Sunday. No major announcements were made regarding tax slabs or tax exemptions. However, the Finance Minister did announce several minor changes. Let’s find out how these will impact your pocket... New Delhi. India’s tax law, which has been in place for over 60 [...]The post Income Tax Changes: These 10 changes related to income tax will affect your pocket, know here first appeared on informalnewz.
Stock Market Today: Dalal Street reacts cautiously after Union Budget 2026. Sensex and Nifty show early gains in pre-opening but slip at market open. STT hike impacts equities, F&O trading, midcaps, and smallcaps.
(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump has selected former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as chair of the central bank. Warsh has indicated openness to reducing interest ...
The Trump family secretly signed a $500 million crypto deal with a powerful Abu Dhabi royal just days before Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
As a long-time Costco member, you learn pretty quickly that it’s actually cheaper to be a member than not be one, despite having to pay to shop at the warehouse club.