We are ready for Sri Lanka challenge, says Babar Azam 

Galle, July 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):Pakistan will be marking return to Test cricket after more than three months when they take on hosts Sri Lanka at Galle International Cricket Stadium tomorrow in the first of the two Tests. Though Pakistan returned with a series win 2-1 the last time they toured the island nation in 2015, Sri Lanka, following their comeback win against Australia at the very same venue, promise to pose a tough challenge to the visitors.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam, however, feels Pakistan are well prepared for the challenge.
The two matches are of significance for both sides as they form part of the ICC World Test Championship. Sri Lanka, following their series levelling win earlier in the week, are sitting third on the nine-team table with 54.17 win percentage points, while Pakistan, with 52.38, are just a rung below.

Babar is the top run-getter for Pakistan in the current ICC World Test Championship cycle with 682 at an average of 62. He has made a century – that second innings 196 in that epic draw against Australia in Karachi – and five half-centuries. The bowling charts are dominated by tall pacer Shaheen Afridi who has 37 scalps – including two five-fers – at 18.02 runs per dismissal.

Pakistan arrived in Colombo on 6 July. They had the final phase of their preparations in the city where they also played a warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI to help them acclimatise to the conditions.

“Our preparations have been very good and we are ready for the Test series,” Babar said while speaking to PCB Digital ahead of a practice session on the eve of the Test series. “The warm-up match helped us in getting used to the Sri Lankan conditions, and our camps in Rawalpindi and Lahore also played a role in preparing us for the series. We have worked hard and put in the effort.”

Galle’s is considered one of the most iconic cricket stadium around the world. At its one end, towers the Galle Dutch Fort and the close proximity of the Indian Ocean ensured cool sea breeze and scenic view. While the conditions here have generally favoured the spin bowlers, a tinge of grass, according to Babar, will also provide assistance to the pacers.

Pakistan, recently, have shown strength in all facets with their batters, bowlers – spinners or pacers – and fielders stepping up on crucial moments. The Pakistan captain says this has made his life easy. “I am incredibly proud of this team as a captain. Every player in this side is taking responsibility and trying to finish the game for Pakistan. Whether it is our bowlers or batters, they make sure that they put in all of their efforts and that makes my life easy. We will give our best in this series.”

Speaking about the side’s time in Sri Lanka so far, Babar said: “So far our experience in this country has been really good. We have gotten a lot of love from the people here. People here love and enjoy cricket and they come to the grounds to watch their heroes.

For more information, contact:
Media Manager,
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 54600, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-5717231-4
Fax: +92-42-5711860
Website: www.pcb.com.pk

Pakistan to play Australia in tri-series opener on Saturday 

Belfast, July 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Bismah Maroof-led Pakistan will start their UK tour campaign tomorrow (Saturday) with the first match of the tri-series against Australia at the Bready Cricket Club, Magheramason. Hosts Ireland are the third team in the tournament that will provide an ideal opportunity to both Pakistan and Australia of solid preparations ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, later this month.

Pakistan reached Belfast earlier in the week and spent the last two days preparing for the tough tournament opener against the T20 world champions Australia. History is on Australia’s side heading into the match as they have a 100 percent win record against Pakistan with 10 wins from as many matches.

The two sides last competed in a T20I series in 2018 in Malaysia which the Australians won 3-0, while the last T20 encounter between both sides was staged in the ICC Women’s World T20 in the West Indies in November the same year, Australia won that match by 52 runs.

Pakistan though come into the tournament in a confident mode following their 3-0 win over Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series staged in Karachi last month.

The 15-member squad for the tri-series and Commonwealth Games is full of exciting talent led by youngsters Tuba Hasan and Ayesha Naseem who both made match and series winning contributions against Sri Lanka.

Tuba, the young leg-spinner who was named the player of the series against Sri Lanka in what was her debut series, would be the one to look out for once again. Ayesha is a formidable striker and provides firepower to the batting line-up.

Pakistan team had a 10-day camp in Islamabad before travelling to the UK while head coach David Hemp and the support staff also worked with the players in short specialised camps in Lahore and Karachi in the lead-up to the tour.

As per the tri-series format, Pakistan will play both Australia and Ireland twice, all six tournament matches will be staged at the Bready Cricket Club. The team that finishes on the top of the three-team table at the completion of the six matches will be declared winners.

Pakistan squad: Bismah Maroof (captain), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza (wicketkeeper), Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wicketkeeper), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal and Tuba Hassan.

Support staff: Ayesha Ashhar (Manager), David Hemp (Head coach), Saleem Jaffer (Bowling coach), Muhammad Zubair Ahmed (Analyst) and Rifat Asghar Gill (Physiotherapist).

For more information, contact:
Media Manager,
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 54600, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-5717231-4
Fax: +92-42-5711860
Website: www.pcb.com.pk

‫2022 ایسٹ ایشیا میرین کوآپریشن پلیٹ فارم چنگ ڈاؤ فورم کا افتتاح

چنگ ڈاؤ، چین، 15 جولائی 2022 /ژنہوا-ایشیانیٹ/– 22 جون 2022 کو چنگ ڈاؤ ویسٹ کوسٹ نیو ایریا میں ایسٹ ایشیا میرین کوآپریشن پلیٹ فارم چنگ ڈاؤ فورم کا افتتاح ہوا، جس کا موضوع “مشترکہ مستقبل کے لیے سمندر کی دہائی کو گلے لگانا” تھا۔ سمندری ماہرین، ماہرینِ معاشیات، فنکاروں اور کاروباری افراد سمیت دنیا بھر کے مختلف ممالک اور خطوں سے 400 سے زائد مہمانوں نے آن لائن یا آف لائن شرکت کی جس سے سمندری معیشت، سائنس اور ٹیکنالوجی، ثقافت اور ماحولیاتی تحفظ میں تبادلے اور تعاون کو مزید فروغ ملا۔

اس فورم کو عوامی جمہوریہ چین کی قدرتی وسائل کی وزارت اور شانڈونگ صوبائی عوامی حکومت نے اسپانسر کیا، جس کی میزبانی قدرتی وسائل اور چنگ ڈاؤ میونسپل پیپلز گورنمنٹ کے بین الاقوامی تعاون کے محکمے نے کی اور اس کا اہتمام چنگ ڈاؤ ویسٹ کوسٹ نیو ایریا ایڈمنسٹریٹو کمیٹی نے کیا۔ مزکورہ فورم دس حصوں پر مشتمل تھا جن میں “ایک مرکزی فورم، سات ذیلی فورمز، ایک مقابلہ اور ایک ایکسپو” شامل تھے۔ مرکزی فورم سے مراد افتتاحی تقریب اور اہم فورم ہے۔ سات ذیلی فورمز میں اقوام متحدہ  اوشن ڈیکیڈ اینڈ میرین انوائرمنٹل گورننس انٹرنیشنل فورم، چائنا میرین انجینئرنگ سائنس اینڈ ٹیکنالوجی انوویشن فورم، میرین پراسیسز اینڈ ریسورسز اینڈ انوائرمنٹ فورم، بلیو انٹرنیشنل کوآپریشن انٹرپرینیور اینڈ ینگ سائنٹسٹ فورم، ایسٹ ایشیا سیپورٹ الائنس کانفرنس، انٹرنیشنل سیویڈ اینڈ ہیلتھ انڈسٹری فورم اور ایسٹ ایشیا میرین کلچر اینڈ ٹورازم ڈویلپمنٹ فورم شامل ہیں۔ ایک مقابلہ گلوبل میرین ٹیک انوویشن اینڈ انٹرپرینیورشپ مقابلہ (فائنل) ہے اور ایک ایکسپو ایسٹ ایشیا میرین ایکسپو ہے۔

فورم میں، اقوام متحدہ کے “اوشن ڈیکیڈ” اوشن اینڈ کلائمٹ کولبریشن سینٹر کی منظوری دی گئی اور “اوشن ڈیکیڈ” کے لیے بڑا سائنس پلان جاری کیا گیا۔انٹرنیشنل میرین چیمبر آف کامرس ایسوسی ایشن الائنس کی نقاب کشائی بھی کی گئی۔ عوامی خدمات کی مصنوعات کا ایک سلسلہ جاری کیا گیا ہے، جیسے ماڈرن میری ٹائم سٹی ریسرچ رپورٹ (2021)، ایسٹ ایشین میری ٹائم سٹی کلچرل اینڈ ٹورازم ڈویلپمنٹ انڈیکس رپورٹ (2022)، ژنہوا چنگ داو 50 انڈیکس، چین جاپان-آر او کے اکنامک اینڈ ٹریڈ انڈیکس اور ایسٹ ایشیا پورٹ برتھنگ ایفیشینسی انڈیکس (2021) جس میں بین الاقوامی بحری تعاون کے لئے ایک “بیرومیٹر” اور “ونڈ انڈیکیٹر” تخلیق کیا گیا ہے۔

فورم کے ایک حصے کے طور پر ایسٹ ایشیا میرین ایکسپو تھیم پر مبنی “بلیو میرین سائنس اینڈ ٹیکنالوجی” آن لائن اور آف لائن منعقد کی گئی جس میں آف لائن ایکسپو، آن لائن ورچوئل ایکسپو اور موضوعاتی تقریبات سمیت تین سیکشنز شامل تھے۔اس ایکسپو کے دوران 70 سے زائد ممالک اور علاقوں کے 550 سے زائد انٹرپرائزز اور اداروں نے آف لائن شرکت کی اور 4.14 آر ایم بی بلین یوآن کی مطلوبہ ٹرانزیکشن رقم حاصل کی۔ ایسٹ ایشیا میرین ایکسپو کھولنے اور تعاون کے لئے ایک اعلی سطحی پلیٹ فارم بن گیا ہے، شہروں اور کاروباری اداروں کے لئے تعاون کا مرکز اور سرمائے، صلاحیتوں اور معلومات کے لئے ایک اجتماع گاہ بن گیا ہے۔

صوبہ شانڈونگ کی سمندری انتظامیہ کے مطابق 2016 میں مشرقی ایشیا میرین کوآپریشن پلیٹ فارم کے آغاز کے بعد سے اس کے وافر نتیجہ خیز نتائج برآمد ہوئے ہیں۔ چنگ ڈاؤ فورم اور ایسٹ ایشیا میرین ایکسپو کا پانچ بار کامیابی سے انعقاد کیا گیا ہے جس میں ایسٹ ایشیا میرین کوآپریشن رپورٹ اور ایسٹ ایشیا پورٹ ہائی کوالٹی ڈویلپمنٹ رپورٹ سمیت 21 رپورٹیں جاری کی گئی ہیں۔ چار بین الاقوامی تعاون اتحاد قائم کیے گئے ہیں جن میں ایسٹ ایشیا سی پورٹ الائنس اور میرین انڈسٹری اینڈ ٹیکنالوجی کوآپریشن الائنس شامل ہیں اور مشرقی ایشیا کے خصوصی ماہرین تھنک ٹینک آف ایسٹ ایشیا میرین کوآپریشن سمیت تین تھنک ٹینک قائم کیے گئے ہیں۔سی این وائی 84.5 ارب کی مجموعی سرمایہ کاری والے 34 منصوبوں پر دستخط کیے گئے ہیں اور 70 سے زائد ممالک اور علاقوں کی 1400 کے قریب کمپنیاں اور ادارے ایکسپو میں شرکت کے لئے راغب ہوئے ہیں، ایک مطلوبہ ٹرانزیکشن رقم 4.81 بلین سی این وائی رجسٹر ہوئی ہے اور اس طرح بین الاقوامی میرین فورم اور معروف میرین ایکسپو کا برانڈ بہت اثر و رسوخ کے ساتھ تخلیق کیا گیا ہے۔

ماخذ: صوبہ شانڈونگ اور چنگ ڈاؤ میونسپل پیپلز گورنمنٹ کی سمندری انتظامیہ

 

EXCEL and Petróleos Internacionales del Caribe Announce Signing of Strategic EPC Partnership for PIC Americas

HOUSTON, July 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EXCEL (“EXCEL”™) Petróleos Internacionales del Caribe (“PIC”) and its operating division in Mexico, Petróleos Internacionales del Caribe Inc., Sucursal México (“PICMEX”)  jointly announced today the signing of a Strategic Engineering, Procurement and Construction Partnership, “Exclusive Agreement” with PIC for the engineering, procurement and construction of PIC’s key Export Facilities in Houston, TX together with GLM compressed storage systems for various fuels and key gas pipelines forward positions for the required fueling elements for its Maritime and Terrestrial Operations. The operations will be vital to the US, the Americas and the United Mexican States with PIC one of kind solutions with its other key partnerships.

The Strategic EPC Partnership between PIC and EXCEL represents a significant investment milestone in the commercialization of the export facilities and receiving terminals, as it signals the commencement of project specific pre-FEED (Front End Engineering Design) studies by PIC for the delivery of its maritime and terrestrial operations that will ensure uninterrupted shipments by PIC and its other global partnerships for decades to come.

These studies will cover the design of the production and export terminals, receiving terminals and plants, along with the Fleet that will be built to transport and deliver fuel to PIC’s markets in Mexico and throughout the Americas. Following completion of the pre-FEED studies and Final Investment Decision (FID) by PIC and EXCEL, PIC and its consortium partners will undertake the FEED for final design and construction for the projects in Mexico that PIC has positioned thus far with its consortium partners.

“EXCEL is very proud to be partners with such a great organization like PIC and being the chosen EPC for PIC’s state of the art facilities and pipelines,” said Jason Hardwick, President of EXCEL Midstream Solutions.

“EXCEL is pleased to enter this partnership and will provide the very best Engineering, Procurement and Construction services,” said Dave Roberts, Chairman and CEO of EXCEL USA.

“These projects will provide Mexico, and other countries in Central and South America, and the Americas with affordable fuels and power, as well as significant carbon emissions reductions, a key component in achieving sustainability and balanced for PIC and its Partner. We are excited to take this significant step with EXCEL,” said Michael Hood, CEO of PIC. “Through this exclusive operational partnership, PIC and EXCEL will accelerate commercialization of the Export Facilities to help meet the fuel supply and electricity needs of PIC’s customers in Mexico and throughout the Americas and abroad, while substituting higher-emission fuels to continue driving down emissions towards a greener brighter future. In addition to the thousands of new employment opportunities, this export operation will bring forth to the Great State of Texas over the next decade.”

About Petróleos Internacionales del Caribe and Petróleos Internacionales del Caribe Inc., Sucursal México
Petróleos Internacionales del Caribe (“PIC”) is a global company based in the USA. The company develops and operates a variety strategic related operations with its key partnerships. Petróleos Internacionales del Caribe Inc., Sucursal México (“PICMEX”) is an affiliate of PIC and is headquartered in Mexico. For more information, please visit www.pic-sas.com.

About EXCEL
EXCEL is a premier provider of full service civil, structural, mechanical, fabrication, electrical and instrumentation engineering, construction, and maintenance services, as well as disaster recovery services. EXCEL has a long successful history of managing and meeting the challenging schedules and budgets of projects of all sizes, and we are consistently recognized for our exemplary safety record and work quality. Our experience, breadth of projects, dedication to safety, and excellent corporate culture help us attract and retain the most highly skilled team of craft and supervisors available to serve our clients’ needs. For more information, please visit www.excelusa.com and www.excelmidstream.com.

Contact
Jay Shahidi, Financial Controller
+1 714-553-7482
shahidi.jay@pic-sas.com

Hannah Stocking Boards Cast of Ryan Kavanaugh’s Production ‘SKILL HOUSE’ Alongside Bryce Hall, 50 Cent, Neal McDonough, Paige VanZant, and More

The project marks the first installment in the R-rated next-level horror film franchise

Hannah Stocking

Hannah Stocking

LOS ANGELES, July 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ryan Kavanaugh’s Proxima Media announced that internet personality and actor, Hannah Stocking has joined the cast of upcoming horror flick, SKILL HOUSE. The film stars social media phenomenon and TikTok star, Bryce Hall and features UFC veteran, BKFC and AEW star Paige VanZant, and global hip-hop icon, 50 Cent, who is also serving as a producer through his G-Unit Film & Television as well as Neal McDonough who most recently had major roles in Yellowstone, The Arrow, The Flash, Residential Evil, Van Helsing, and many others.

The first installment in the R-rated next-level horror film franchise, SKILL HOUSE is a saw-like take that breaks into the phenomenon of social media fame and culture, SKILL HOUSE offers an unflinching depiction of “clout” and explores the new phenomenon of “influencers”, their fame and what they are willing to do to attain it. The Los Angeles-based film, which is being primarily shot in the original “Sway House,” looks at the world of social media and pushes the limits when “clicks” and “clout” become life or death literally, with Emmy-winning special effects artist Steve Johnson (GHOSTBUSTERS, BICENTENNIAL MAN, SPIDER-MAN 2) delivering some of the most realistic guts and gore fans have seen.

Hannah Stocking is a multi-talented creator, internet personality, actor, and host whose meteoric rise in digital entertainment, and eventual crossover into traditional media, has been spearheaded by her unique brand of comedy, one that is often elevated by a blend of humor and science content and now boasts over 50 million followers combined across all of her platforms. Stocking’s credits include Tyler Perry’s no. 1 movie BOO 2! A MADEA HALLOWEEN and SATANIC PANIC. She has also starred in an episode of Stories From Our Future, a series of shorts produced in collaboration with Netflix’s Black Mirror and has even appeared in music videos including Hard 2 Face Reality by Poo Bear ft. Justin Bieber, and Electronica as well as Find Me by Marshmello.

“Just as this film is the first of a new genre of horror, social media personalities like Bryce and Hannah are a new genre of celebrity. We are breaking creative boundaries and career boundaries here,” explains director Josh Stolberg. “Hannah has dynamic talent and encompasses everything this project is about – internet fame and the evolution in the entertainment industry. We are thrilled to have her joining our cast.”

The project is financed and controlled by Proxima Media, owned and operated by Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony nominated mega-producer Ryan Kavanaugh. It is written and directed by horror film legend Josh Stolberg, co-writer of horror films such as SPIRAL: FROM THE BOOK OF SAW (starring Chris Rock and Samuel L Jackson), JIGSAW, PIRANHA 3D, SORORITY ROW, as well as the next SAW film (tentatively titled SAW X). Through his G-Unit Film & Television, Jackson will also produce alongside Kavanaugh, Alex Baskin, and Lifeboat Productions’ Amy Kim and Jaime Burke. Daniel Herther, who oversees production and creative development at Proxima, will serve as executive producer alongside Jason Barhydt and Bobby Sarnevesht.

Additional cast includes Leah Pipes (SORORITY ROW, The Originals), McCarrie McCausland (Army Wives, The Originals), Ivan Leung (THE TENDER BAR, All American, Grey’s Anatomy), John DeLuca (Spree, American Horror Story), and Caitlin Carmichael (MIDNIGHT IN THE SWITCHGRASS, EPIPHANY).

For more information and all the latest on SKILL HOUSE, follow along on Instagram (@skillhousemovie), Twitter (@skillhousemovie), and TikTok (@skillhousemovie).

About Hannah Stocking
Hannah Stocking is a multi-talented creator, actress, and host whose meteoric rise in digital entertainment, and eventual crossover into traditional media, has been spearheaded by her unique brand of comedy, one that is often elevated by a blend of humor and science content. A social media powerhouse, she boasts over 50 million followers combined across all of her platforms, including 7.8 million subscribers on YouTube. Her YouTube channel, which amassed one million subscribers in less than five months, has accumulated 2.1 billion lifetime views with an array of content. She has also amassed over 26 million followers on TikTok and 22 million followers on Instagram.

Stocking regularly pulls from her background as a double major in chemistry and biology to insert an extra element into her content. Stocking has employed this signature style when developing several original science-based series. She, most notably, teamed up with ATTN: to create a series of informative videos that presented everyday concepts, such as crash dieting and the teenage brain, in an easily accessible and entertaining manner.

Her talent and charisma shine in traditional mediums, as much as they do online. She joined E! News as a guest correspondent for their coverage of the 2017 Grammy awards. She made her big-screen debut in Tyler Perry’s no. 1 movie BOO 2! A MADEA HALLOWEEN and followed it up by landing a role in the 2019 Chelsea Stardust-directed SATANIC PANIC. She also starred in an episode of Stories From Our Future, a series of shorts produced in collaboration with Netflix’s Black Mirror.

Her career has earned her outstanding features from PAPER Magazine, GQ Thailand, Modeliste Magazine, and other publications for her ability to express herself through beauty and fashion as a digital creator and entertainer. She was honored with the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day’s Pioneer Award, the first digital creator to earn the distinction.

Stocking is managed by John Shahidi and Sam Shahidi of Shots Studios.

About Josh Stolberg
Josh Stolberg is a writer, director, and producer responsible for some of the most popular horror films today, including JIGSAW, PIRANHA 3D, SORORITY ROW, and most recently, SPIRAL. He has written films for Netflix, Disney, Lionsgate, and more. He is currently writing a Dwayne Johnson actioner at Netflix as well as the next installment of the popular Saw franchise.

About Lifeboat Productions
Amy Kim and Jaime Burke are award-winning producers with over 20 years of diverse experience. They have produced original content for all the leading streamers and studios with their most recent credits, including the upcoming series Surfside Girls for Apple+ and Amazon’s Undone. Kim got her producing start with the Academy Award Winning Short Film, WEST BANK STORY and served as Head of Production for Michael Eisner’s digital studio Vuguru before forming Lifeboat Productions with Jaime Burke in 2012. Burke started her film-producing career with such titles as THE POSSESSION OF MICHAEL KING and the indie horror classic, THE PACT. This is their second collaboration with writer/director Josh Stolberg.

About Proxima and Ryan Kavanaugh
Founder of Proxima Media, the controlling shareholder of Triller, Ryan Kavanaugh is one of the most accomplished, prolific, and honored executives in entertainment industry history. Using an intelligent model of film finance, he was dubbed the creator of “Moneyball for movies.” He produced, distributed, and/or structured financing for more than 200 films, generating more than $20 billion in worldwide box office revenue and earning 60 Oscar nominations. He is the 25th highest-grossing film producer of all time. His productions include Fast and Furious 2-6, 300, Social Network, Limitless, Fighter, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers, and Mama Mia! Kavanaugh and Proxima pioneered an innovative finance deal for post-bankruptcy Marvel, making the studio and finance structure that led to Marvel Cinematic Universe. He built the SVOD (streaming) category with Netflix, which boosted that company’s market capitalization from $2 to $10 billion. Kavanaugh is the co-founder of Triller, one of the three fastest-growing social media apps. He recently led the acquisition, merger, and re-launch of the social media and music app.

He also created the powerhouse television company, now known as Critical Content, producing hit shows like Catfish on MTV and Limitless on CBS, which he sold for $200M. The company had 40 television series across 19 networks before its sale. Kavanaugh has earned several achievements and awards, from Variety’s Producer of the Year Award to The Hollywood Reporter’s Leadership Award, from Fortune’s 40 Under 40 Most Influential People in Business to Forbes’ Fortune 400, Billion-Dollar Producer by the Daily Variety and the 100 Most Influential People in the World by Vanity Fair. Proxima and Kavanaugh are repped by Neil Sacker.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/24aae164-2a42-42ff-84d5-912661b2aedd

Media Contact
Jive PR + Digital
Lynsey Gray
lgray@jiveprdigital.com