Jail Time for Transformer Star??

New York: It seems the release of Transformer Age of Extinction has Shia LaBeouf on edge.
The actor, who started his career on the Disney Channel with the show Even Stevens has come a long way
from his pranking days. LaBoeuf was arrested inside New York"s Studio 54 during a performance of Cabaret on Thursday, Police Said.

The actor was charged with criminal conduct and disorderly conduct and taken into custody, NYPD
detective Brian Sessa said, LeBoeuf was escorted out of the theatre by Police, after refusing to go when
asked to do so by security guards, said NYPD spokesmen George Tsourovakas.

The 28 year-old actor, who gave  police a Los Angeles address, began making a disturbance and then used
obscene language and became belligerent after security guards asked him to leave, Tsourovakas said.

He was being rather difficult and combative, verbally... to the point where security guards asked him to please leave the premises and he refused, Tsourovakas said. Police were called and he was detained and arrested.

A representative of LeBoeuf could not be reached immediately for comment.

HR development: Country steps up focus on Islamic finance education

As part of the SBP initiatives, universities and institutions wishing to develop Islamic finance education will be supported financially if they wish to set up specialised chairs in Islamic banking and finance. CREATIVE COMMONS

LONDON: 

With the share of Islamic banking surpassing 10% in the total banking sector, there is an increasing focus on human resource development for Islamic banking and finance in Pakistan.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) recently launched an initiative to develop and support centres of excellence in Islamic banking and finance at various universities and academic institutions in the country. Consequently, some of the top academic institutions contemplate setting up teaching and research centres specialising in Islamic banking and finance.

The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) is said to have already received a large grant from the SBP to set up a centre of excellence in Islamic finance, and other prestigious universities, including Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), have applied for significant sums of money to develop Islamic finance courses and modules.

As part of the SBP initiatives, universities and institutions wishing to develop Islamic finance education will be supported financially if they wish to set up specialised chairs in Islamic banking and finance.

It is a commendable initiative but this begs an important question: how many academicians are there in Pakistan who can hold such specialised chairs?

Perhaps not very many people are aware of the fact that Darul Uloom Karachi, an Islamic seminary run by Mufti Rafi Usmani and Mufti Taqi Usmani, has for long been offering education in Islamic banking and finance. Consequently, almost all the Islamic financial institutions in Pakistan have employed graduates of Darul Uloom Karachi.

Another notable institution that has provided human resources for Islamic banks and financial institutions in Pakistan and overseas is International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), but lately it has lost its central position to some new players like PAF Karachi Institute of Economics and Technology (PAF-KIET) and COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore. These new institutions now feed personnel into local Islamic banks and financial institutions.

While Darul Uloom Karachi has been a forerunner in Islamic finance education in Pakistan, the basic approach has been juristic, ie, with a heavy focus on Shariah and law. The entry of new players like LUMS and IBA is expected to bring a new dimension to teaching of Islamic banking and finance, with a focus on quantitative analysis.

Growing demand

Demand for highly qualified personnel in Islamic banking and finance is increasing. According to Edbiz Consulting, a London-based Islamic financial think tank, by the end of 2014, the global size of Islamic financial services industry will surpass $2 trillion. With this, it is expected that demand for human resources will also increase, globally as well as in Pakistan.

According to an on-going global poll at islamiceconomist.com, IIUI is recognised as the leading university in the world that has fed personnel into Islamic financial services industry globally. There is a need to reinvigorate this university by connecting it with the industry.

The current government is focusing heavily on the development of physical infrastructure. Maryam Nawaz has been given the task of youth and human capital development.

The government must revisit the role of Islamic finance education in reforming curricula of Islamic seminaries as well as universities and colleges. In this respect, there is a need to look into the hybrid model that IIUI provides. This institution should not be treated just like another university in the country but rather its international character should be preserved and enhanced.

Commercial viability

Another aspect of Islamic finance education is its commercial viability. The likes of government of Malaysia take Islamic finance education very seriously. Consequently, a number of universities in Malaysia have started feeding personnel into Islamic financial institutions throughout the world.

This is an area in which Pakistan can play an even bigger role, if the government decides to include Islamic banking and finance as a strategic sector in its growth and development strategy.

So far, global recognition of Islamic finance qualifications offered by Pakistani institutions is rather limited. In the last three years, Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA) has recognised the likes of ETHICA (a Dubai-based provider of Islamic finance qualifications), INCEIF (based in Kuala Lumpur), Universiti Utara Malaysia, Durham University (UK), IBFIM (Malaysia) and CIMA (UK).

Pakistani institutions have not pitched themselves for global recognition and it is perhaps the time that such institutions start marketing themselves globally.

The writer is an economist and PhD from Cambridge University

Mandzukic: I'm leaving Bayern

The striker says despite his best efforts he simply cannot get the best out of himself in the club's new playing style and will now depart for pastures new

Mario Mandzukic has confirmed he will leave Bayern Munich as a result of his failure to adapt to Pep Guardiola's tactics.

Mandzukic has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, after his future with the Bundesliga giants came under scrutiny following the signing of Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski.

The Croatia international - a regular former boss Jupp Heynckes - was in and out of the side last season and ended the campaign by being dropped for the DFB Pokal final victory over Dortmund. 

The 28-year-old striker has now confirmed he is leaving Bayern, and pointed to Guardiola's possession-based style as the primary factor behind that decision.

Mandzukic also revealed he had a meeting with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in early May, telling the Bayern chief he wanted a move.

"At Bayern it was fantastic. It's a fantastic club. Indeed, until recently I didn't even think about leaving, and especially that it would happen now," he told Sportske novosti.

"Let's be honest, the style Guardiola wants at Bayern doesn't suit me.

"In the first leg against Real in Madrid (in the Champions League), I definitely understood, no matter how much I try, I can't get the best out of myself with this style.

"When it's like that, I don't feel good and it's best for everyone that we part.

"Thanks to the club who offered a contract extension, thanks to Guardiola, who is a great coach, and I wish everyone all the best for the future.

"Bayern and their fans will always be the most beautiful and most emotional story of my career. The time has come for new challenges."

Mandzukic refused to say where his next challenge would be as he prepares to represent Croatia at the World Cup.

He is suspended for Thursday's tournament opener against Brazil, but is sure to face Cameroon and Mexico in Group A.

Agent dismisses Arda Turan to Barcelona reports

The Turkey international's representative has played down reports the Camp Nou club have contacted him about a move for his client this summer

Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan is not close to switching to La Liga rivals Barcelona this summer and is “happy” with at the Vicente Calderon.

The Turkey international has been linked with a move away from the Spanish capital this summer with several clubs said to be interested in the 27-year-old’s services.
Recent reports stated that Barcelona were willing to pay Arda's €24m buyout clause despite the midfielder only signing a new contract in September last year, which will keep him at the club until 2017.
However, the player's agent Ahmet Bulut has stressed that his player is happy at Spanish champions Atletico and does not want a move away from the Madrid-based club.
"What has been published and has been put in my mouth is false. Barça have not contacted me about Arda and the player is happy at Atletico," Bulut was quoted as saying in Mundo Deportivo.
The rumours surfaced after Bulut was spotted in Barcelona, but the agent explained he was there to negotiate with a German side over a move for one of his players currently in Serie A.

Clarke banks on full-strength squad for Africa

PHOTO: AFP

SYDNEY: Australian captain Michael Clarke said on Wednesday that he expects to have a full-strength squad, apart from David Warner, for the upcoming tri-series with South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Australia are due to play four one-dayers in Harare in August and September, two against each African nation, as well as a potential final.

Clarke said the tour was a crucial step in the team’s preparations for next year’s World Cup and he wants as strong a team as possible alongside him.

“It’s an important series,” he told reporters. “Any one-day game leading up to the World Cup is crucial to us as a team.

“The more success we can have leading into that tournament the better, so hopefully (it’s) a full-strength team that’s ready to play against two very good teams in tough conditions.”

One player who will not be on tour is opener Warner, who has pulled out citing a draining playing schedule and the upcoming birth of his first child.

Australia get their tour underway against Zimbabwe on August 25 before meeting South Africa two days later, who will continue to be led in the limited-overs format by AB de Villiers.

Clarke said it was too early to tell what kind of a leader Amla would be but he expects him to be a success.

“I was surprised, but Amla is obviously a wonderful player,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed the challenges I’ve had against him and I think he’ll do a fantastic job for South Africa.”

Meanwhile, he also said their upcoming series against Pakistan in October-November will be a big test for them. Clarke, who is focused on Australia’s forthcoming series, said, “Our goal is to continue our form in the Test arena and prove we are capable of staying at the top. Our upcoming series against Pakistan (October-November) and India (November- January) will be big tests for us.

Defending champions Spain pledge clean bill of health

Spain will look to defend their World Cup title with doubts raised on player’s fitness and physical preparedness after a hard season with clubs. PHOTO: AFP

WASHINGTON: Spain’s players said that they will be fit for the defence of their World Cup crown in Brazil, despite the rigours of a long club season.

Right back Juanfran sprained his right ankle in the Champions League final that Atletico Madrid lost to Real Madrid on May 24, but he vowed he would be ‘100%’ healthy and ready for Brazil.

“I don’t have any problem, and I am 100% with the team,” the Atletico Madrid defender told a press conference in Washington, where Spain will train prior to a Saturday friendly against El Salvador.

The 29-year-old said he was limping in the wake of the painful injury, but insisted he was now recovered and had told Del Bosque, “When you need me, I’ll be there and I’ll do my best.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Santiago Cazorla doesn’t think Spain will be any less ready than their opponents.

“The season has been tough for everyone. I don’t think we are any more or less tired than the other teams,” said Cazorla, adding that Spain’s squad is ‘physically better every day’.

Brazil stroll against Panama

World Cup hosts Brazil strolled to a 4-0 win over Panama in their penultimate warm-up Tuesday, with goals from Neymar, Daniel Alves, Hulk and Willian securing the win which barely satisfied their coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

“I am still concerned. We are getting better — but we know we have a fair way to go,” said Scolari.

“The run out was worthwhile but we must up our rhythm and be a lot better for the Croatia game.”

Meanwhile, Greece and Nigeria battled to a scoreless draw on Tuesday in an international friendly match that served as a warm-up for both teams before the World Cup.

Every World Cup player to have drug test

Fifa is on an ambitious mission to make sure that for the first time every player who takes part in the World Cup has a drug test and carries a ‘biological passport’.

Players can expect a tap on the shoulder right from the first matches of the World Cup which starts June 12.

“We can test anybody, anytime, anywhere, any amount of times,” said Jiri Dvorak, FIFA’s chief medical officer in a recent interview.

On the safe side: K-P government planning to use IPVs to help eradicate polio

IPV is administered via injection and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), all countries currently only using OPV should add at least one dose of IPV to their immunisation programmes. PHOTO: FILE

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has planned to administer inactivated polio vaccines (IPV), along with the oral polio vaccine (OPV) it already uses, for effective protection against poliovirus in the province.

IPV is administered via injection and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), all countries currently only using OPV should add at least one dose of IPV to their immunisation programmes. The WHO also recommends an OPV dose at birth, followed by the primary series of three OPV doses and at least 1 IPV dose.

“The IPVs will become part of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI),” EPI Deputy Director Dr Janbaz Afridi told The Express Tribune on Wednesday. Though the plan has been approved, it is undecided at the moment as to when it will be put into effect. He explained that under the programme, children under two years of age will be administered the injections in areas where polio drops have already been administered.

The programme to administer the IPV would initially be launched in Peshawar with the help of the WHO and Unicef, who are helping the province in its vaccination campaigns.

Dr Afridi added the IPV injections have already arrived but are yet to be put into use as the decision to kick-start the vaccine is yet to be taken.

This is a major change in the K-P government’s strategy to eradicate the virus with nine of 68 polio cases this year having emerged from the province.

Even though water samples recently taken from Peshawar were reported clear of the poliovirus, the provincial capital is still considered a place where the virus still exists, with four cases being discovered this year.

The Chief Minster’s (CM) Polio Monitoring Cell Focal Person Imtiaz Ali Shah told The Express Tribune that the injectable vaccines are used all over the world.

He said the polio advisory board has decided to use them in Peshawar along with regular polio drops for children up to two years of age, adding a high-level meeting chaired by the CM will finalise the contours of the programme.

“The drops will be given to children who have already been administered polio drops and are protected from the virus,” said Shah