The 2023-24 women's college basketball season is six weeks away, and everyone from the transfer portal is officially enrolled in their new schools. So it's time to look at what all the player movement means with a final ranking of the top transfers.

LSU doubled down on its national championship by winning the offseason too: The Tigers bring the top two transfers -- Hailey Van Lith and Aneesah Morrow -- to Baton Rouge. Coaches around the country have embraced the transfer portal as their primary recruiting tool, but no one else has done so with as much success and as quickly as Kim Mulkey. She won last season's title with nine new players, three of whom were transfers who instantly became starters. The term "superteam" gets thrown around a little too easily these days, but with Van Lith and Morrow joining Angel Reese, the Tigers will have three All-American-type players on the floor together this season.

While LSU garnered most of the portal headlines, much of its competition in the SEC changed significantly because of transfers as well. The conference will look very different in 2023-24. Thirteen of the 35 players on this list landed at SEC schools. Texas A&M and Mississippi State completely reshaped their rosters in the portal and seem primed to make a major jump in the standings. Tennessee added an entirely new backcourt, one that could score enough for the Lady Vols to compete for the conference title. Ole Miss, already a program on the rise, brought in three starters from other programs.

Much of April's analysis focused on the impact of the players' decision to transfer. Now we look more closely at how they might change their new team, and the rankings reflect that. Potential impact was as much a consideration as pure talent, and this list has plenty of both.

1. Hailey Van Lith, 5-foot-7, G, graduate student

Louisville to LSU
No transfer's performance will be more analyzed and scrutinized than Van Lith's. But no transfer has as much potential to make as big an impact as Van Lith. LSU needs a replacement for Alexis Morris, a transfer who ended up being indispensable for the Tigers. Van Lith carries herself much the same way and can provide the edge, grit and big-moment excellence Morris did.

With Reese, Morrow and Flau'jae Johnson around her, Van Lith shouldn't have to be the volume shooter she became at Louisville. Despite lifting her scoring average to 19.7 PPG last season, she shot just 41.1% from the field and had 50 more field goal attempts than the next-highest total in the ACC last year. Expect her career-best 3.2 assists per game to rise. Mulkey will also like Van Lith's durability. She missed just one game in three years with the Cardinals and played nearly 37 MPG last season.

2. Aneesah Morrow, 6-foot-1, F, junior

DePaul to LSU
It's hard to imagine LSU's opponents getting many rebounds with Morrow joining Reese in the frontcourt. Morrow ranked sixth in the country last season (12.2 RPG), and Reese (15.4 RPG) was second. That's after Morrow topped the nation with 13.8 boards as a freshman. Morrow's video game numbers continue: She averaged 23.8 PPG last season. Morrow has fallen short of a double-double only 13 times in 66 career games.

She did spend more time away from the basket as a sophomore, and her shooting dipped to 42.5%. With Reese and sophomore Sa'Myah Smith patrolling the lane for the Tigers, Morrow might be asked to step to the perimeter more this season, too.

3. Lauren Betts, 6-foot-7, C, sophomore

Stanford to UCLA
The balance of power in the Pac-12 shifted greatly when Betts, the No. 1 recruit in the country two years ago, left Stanford for UCLA, helping to make the Bruins this season's front-runners. That means the Cardinal aren't the preseason favorite to win the conference for the first time since 2018-19. Betts' lack of playing time last season -- 9.6 minutes per game -- was surprising. That shouldn't be a problem at UCLA, especially after a promising summer in which Betts averaged a double-double helping Team USA to a silver medal at the FIBA AmeriCup in Mexico.

4. Jewel Spear, 5-foot-10, G, junior

Wake Forest to Tennessee
As the last of the top transfers to make her plans known, Spear tilted these rankings and possibly the outlook for the SEC race more than any other player. Her scoring mentality and the fact she spent two years as the Demon Deacons' No. 1 option will be welcomed in Knoxville. The Lady Vols needed another top offensive player, especially in the backcourt, to supplement Rickea Jackson, and Spear is that player. She averaged 17.4 points and made nearly three 3-pointers per game in the past two seasons, and she too played on Team USA's AmeriCup squad this summer.

5. Celeste Taylor, 5-foot-11, G, graduate student

Duke to Ohio State
Taylor's arrival makes the Buckeyes' already devastating full-court press even better. She was the leader of a Duke defense that allowed the second-fewest points in the country last season. Taylor's 2.2 steals per game ranked fourth in the ACC, and she'll now be paired in a backcourt with Jacy Sheldon, who averaged 3.5 SPG in the 13 games she played. Taylor, who played two seasons at Texas before the past two with the Blue Devils, also put up 11.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

6. Lexi Donarski, 6-foot-0, G, graduate student

Iowa State to North Carolina
A Cyclones mainstay is moving east after 95 starts, 13.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, plus a 2022 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Tar Heels coach Courtney Banghart will lean heavily on that level of experience, and her backcourt, with Donarski joining Deja Kelly, has started 182 combined college games. Donarski's 12.1 PPG last season was a career low, but if she recaptures the 41.1% 3-point shooting she had as a freshman, it will go a long way toward UNC replacing the production of graduate Eva Hodgson (41.7% on 3-point shooting).

7. Endyia Rogers, 5-foot-7, G, graduate student

Oregon to Texas A&M
After a season in which the Aggies were young and scored just 53.7 points per game against SEC competition, coach Joni Taylor needed to add experience and offensive punch to put next to sophomore Janiah Barker and her sizable potential. Rogers checks both boxes. Twice a first-team All-Pac-12 performer at Oregon -- which followed two productive seasons at USC -- Rogers arrives in College Station to spark immediate improvement after a 9-20 season, and bridge the gap to the next phase of Taylor's rebuild. Rogers has never averaged less than 13.1 PPG and was a 38.7% 3-point shooter a year ago.

8. Diamond Johnson, 5-foot-5, G, junior

NC State to Norfolk State
The Spartans have already won the past two MEAC championships, and now they have added a former Big Ten All-Freshman team selection and ACC Sixth Player of the Year award winner. After one season at Rutgers and two at NC State, Johnson made the decision to finish her career at Norfolk State and should be the overwhelming favorite to win the MEAC Player of the Year. As the Wolfpack's full-time starter at point guard last year, Johnson averaged 12.3 points and 3.5 assists and was named All-ACC second team.

9. Jayda Curry, 5-foot-6, G, sophomore

California to Louisville
It might have been fun to see Curry and Van Lith, two small, high-scoring guards, play together, but instead Curry becomes Van Lith's replacement. If the Cardinals are to reach a sixth consecutive Elite Eight, she will have to produce, which is exactly what Curry did in two seasons at Cal. She was Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and led the league in scoring at 18.6 points per game in 2021-22, and ranked sixth in the Pac-12 at 15.5 points per game last season. Her assists numbers took a jump to 3.5 per game, and now she will have fellow transfers Nina Rickards (Florida) and Kiki Jefferson (James Madison), plus program mainstay Olivia Cochran to pass to.

10. Kennedy Fauntleroy, 5-foot-7, G, sophomore

Georgetown to Oklahoma State
The Cowgirls' prospects for this season changed significantly when Fauntleroy decided to make Stillwater her landing spot for the next three years. Leading scorer Naomi Alnatas used up her eligibility and top rebounder Taylen Collins transferred to Auburn, leaving a huge gap in production. Fauntleroy can fill plenty of holes. Her 10.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.4 steals per game and 37.5% shooting from 3-point range made Fauntleroy the unanimous Big East Freshman of the Year. She was just the 75th-rated prospect coming out of high school, but Fauntleroy has the potential to be one of the Big 12's best players in the coming years.

11. Te-Hina Paopao, 5-foot-9, G, senior

Oregon to South Carolina
The Gamecocks said goodbye to their entire starting lineup, making Paopao's decision to leave Eugene for Columbia so important. She will step in alongside Raven Johnson to form a talented backcourt. A first-team All-Pac-12 selection in her first two college seasons, Paopao wasn't as consistent last year, but did settle in toward the end of the season, averaging 19.7 PPG in Oregon's final nine games. Paopao is at her best with the ball in her hands, but her skill package, which included 42.4% 3-point shooting last season, allows her to take on any role.

12. Kennedy Todd-Williams, 6-foot-0, G, junior

North Carolina to Ole Miss
An already athletic Rebels team picked up another versatile two-way player with the addition of Todd-Williams. She joins returners Snudda Collins, Marquesha Davis and Madison Scott to form a group of interchangeable wings that coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin can use to defend aggressively and play fast. Todd-Williams leaves North Carolina after what was easily her best season after averaging 13.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

13. Kiki Jefferson, 6-foot-1, G, graduate student

James Madison to Louisville
Jeff Walz has now remade his roster via the transfer portal for three straight seasons. The previous two resulted in trips to the Final Four and the Elite Eight. If the Cardinals are to continue that kind of success, Jefferson is a key. She showed last year that her dominance at James Madison could extend to a higher level of competition with a 17-point game against Ohio State in the NCAA tournament and 30 points in an early-season loss to North Carolina. The Sun Belt Player of the Year averaged 18.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

13. Shayeann Day-Wilson, 5-foot-6, G, junior

Duke to Miami
The Hurricanes seem like the perfect landing spot at exactly the right time for Day-Wilson. The departures of Haley Cavinder and Destiny Harden created an opportunity in coach Katie Meier's backcourt, and after an ACC Freshman of the Year season in 2021-22, Day-Wilson saw her numbers drop across the board last season in Durham. Miami will need the 12.7 PPG and 3.7 APG production that Day-Wilson, who has two years of eligibility remaining, tallied in her rookie year.

14. Lauren Park-Lane, 5-foot-3, G, graduate student

Seton Hall to Mississippi State
Sam Purcell used the portal to restock his backcourt, one that could be high-octane. Starting every game she played in four seasons with the Pirates, Park-Lane earned three first-team All-Big East honors. Her 20.8 points and 6.3 assists per game were both third-best in the Big East. Just a career 31.4% 3-point shooter, Park-Lane thrives in the lane and can finish over taller opponents.

15. Destinee Wells, 5-foot-6, G, junior

Belmont to Tennessee
One of the best mid-major players in the country for the past three years, Wells is now ready to test herself in the SEC. But don't expect the career-high 19.5 points per game Wells scored last season. Her job in Knoxville will be more about getting the ball to Rickea Jackson, Tamari Key and Spear. Wells has been an outstanding distributor throughout her career, averaging 4.5 assists per game, a number that could climb higher with the talent around her. The Lady Vols, eighth in the SEC in 3-point shooting, will also welcome Wells' 45.5% shooting from behind the arc in 2022-23.

16. KK Deans, 5-foot-8, G, graduate student

Florida to Ole Miss
Plenty went right for the Rebels in their Sweet 16 run a year ago, but they still had a shooting problem. Deans might solve it. She led the Gators in scoring last season at 14.1 PPG and was the third most prolific 3-point shooter in the SEC. Her 38.3% accuracy from deep was better than anyone on the Rebels, who were only 29.7% from behind the arc as a team a year ago. Deans played her first three years at West Virginia and was twice named honorable mention All-Big 12.

17. Erynn Barnum, 6-foot-2, G, graduate student

Arkansas to Mississippi State
It took four years, but Barnum blossomed last season with the Razorbacks, improving her scoring average from 7.6 to a team-leading 15.0. She was also Arkansas's second-leading rebounder (6.5 RPG) and earned second-team All-SEC. Barnum does most of her work in the paint, making 59.1% of her 2-point attempts. She should take some of the inside scoring burden off 6-5 Jessika Carter.

18. Jakia Brown-Turner, 6-foot-0, F, senior

NC State to Maryland
A four-year starter at NC State, Brown-Turner decided to return home. As a steady, dependable contributor, the 2019 Maryland Gatorade Player of the year was a vital part of the Wolfpack's recent success. Brown-Turner will now look to follow in the footsteps of recent Maryland transfer success stories like Abby Meyers, Chloe Bibby, Katie Benzan and current teammates Brinae Alexander and Lavender Briggs. She holds career averages of 10.4 PPG and 4.3 RPG, but is coming off the lowest scoring (9.1 PPG) and worst shooting season (41.0% from the field) of her career.

19. Maria Gakdeng, 6-foot-3, F, sophomore

Boston College to North Carolina
Gakdeng was one of the league's best interior defenders immediately upon her arrival in the ACC. Now she will just be protecting the rim in Chapel Hill instead of Chestnut Hill. The Tar Heels were already the fourth-stingiest defense in the conference. Now with Donarski and Gakdeng, they should be even tougher to score against. Gakdeng's 1.8 blocks per game ranked third in the ACC, and her 11.3 points per game were second on the Eagles.

20. Jada Walker, 5-foot-7, G, junior

Kentucky to Baylor
Nicki Collen loaded up on transfer guards to play alongside All-Big 12 first-teamer Sara Andrews, and Walker is the best of the bunch. Her game grew as last season progressed, and she was Kentucky's best player by the time the SEC tournament arrived. Walker ranked second on the team at 12.6 points per game and also averaged 3.1 assists and 2.6 steals. Walker is joined by Madison Bartley (Belmont), Denae Fritz (Iowa State) and Yaya Felder (Ohio) from the portal, giving the Bears a deep and experienced backcourt.

21. Darrione Rogers, 5-foot-11, G, senior

DePaul to Mississippi State
After making huge gains in her junior season at DePaul, Rogers is off to Starkville to join fellow Big East transfer Park-Lane and senior returner JerKaila Jordan (11.9 PPG) in what could be the highest scoring backcourt in the SEC. Rogers went from 9.9 PPG as a sophomore to 16.8 a year ago. She's also a playmaker like Park-Lane. Rogers finished third in the Big East with 5.1 assists per game. Park-Lane was second.

22. Rose Micheaux, 6-foot-2, F, junior

Minnesota to Virginia Tech
After making a huge jump in her second year in Minnesota, Micheaux decided to leave the Gopher program soon after Lindsay Whalen resigned as coach. The Hokies could be the big beneficiaries of an ascending career. Micheaux went from averages of 4.7 points and 4.1 rebounds to 13.8 and 7.9, and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten. She should step into the power forward role that was held by Taylor Soule a year ago.

23. Aicha Coulibaly, 6-foot-0, G, senior

Auburn to Texas A&M
Auburn lost six players to the portal, none more valuable than Coulibaly, who led the Tigers in scoring (16.0 PPG) and rebounding (6.5 RPG). Now she takes that production across the SEC to the quickly rebuilt Aggies. But she really might help Texas A&M on defense. Her 2.2 steals per game was good for fifth in the SEC. The Aggies ranked last in the league in takeaways last season.

24. Kayla Padilla, 5-foot-9, G, graduate student

Penn to USC
A former guard at Brown, Lindsay Gottlieb tapped into her Ivy League roots and lured three players to L.A. via the portal: Padilla, Kaitlyn Davis (Columbia) and McKenzie Forbes (Harvard). Padilla moves west with the best résumé of the three. First-team All-Ivy in all three of her seasons at Penn, Padilla averaged 18.0 points per game and shot 38.2% from 3-point range in her career.

25. Sali Kourouma, 5-foot-11, F, graduate student

Little Rock to Arizona
A native of Mali of West Africa, Kourouma began her career at junior college Grayson College in Texas before moving to Little Rock. Injuries slowed Kourouma in both her seasons as a Trojan, but when she was on the floor, she was one of the best mid-major players in the country. She averaged 17.7 points and 6.5 rebounds in 41 games with Little Rock and helped lead the Trojans to the OVC regular-season championship last year.

26. Matilda Ekh, 6-foot-0, G, junior

Michigan State to Virginia Tech
The graduation of Kayana Traylor doesn't sting quite as much with the arrival of Ekh. A 38.9% 3-point shooter in her two years at Michigan State, Ekh could be even better playing alongside Georgia Amoore. Ekh started all but two games as a Spartan and was extremely consistent, averaging 11.8 points per game each season.

27. Frannie Hottinger, 6-foot-1, F, graduate student

Lehigh to Marquette
Megan Duffy's first piece of offseason good news came when point guard and leading scorer Jordan King elected to use her fifth year to come back to Milwaukee. The next came when Hottinger chose to leave the Mountain Hawks for the Golden Eagles. The pair gives Duffy the most experienced backcourt in the Big East. If not for UConn's Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, it would also be the best.

28. Kaitlyn Davis, 6-foot-1, F, graduate student

Columbia to USC
Davis, along with Abbey Hsu, led the Lions to the two best seasons in program history, and now she's off to test herself in the Pac-12. Davis averaged 13.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the WNIT runner-up. Davis, one of five graduate students on the Trojans roster, should not only produce as an inside scorer, but might also serve as a mentor to potential future superstar JuJu Watkins.

29. Beyonce Bea, 6-foot-1, F, graduate student

Idaho to Washington State
The Cougars needed another scorer to pair with Charlisse Leger-Walker and they get one in Bea in what could be one of the most underrated transfer acquisitions of the spring. In four years at Idaho Bea never failed to average double figures, peaking with a 23.1 points per game last season, good for sixth in the country. Bea was also one of the best rebounders in the Big Sky, averaging over 8.5 boards in her final two years as a Vandal.

30. Maddie Nolan, 5-foot-11, G, senior

Michigan to Colorado
Already with her entire veteran core returning, Buffs' coach JR Payne was able to lure Nolan to Boulder for her fifth season. While her 3-point shooting percentage dropped from 40.5% in 2022 to 34.2% last season, Nolan still gives Colorado a consistent deep shooting threat to pair with Frida Forman (39.3% 3-point shooting) to spread the floor and open room for ultra-quick point guard Jaylyn Sherrod to penetrate, and for 6-3 Quay Miller to operate in the post.

31. Sedona Prince, 6-foot-7, C, graduate student

Oregon to TCU
An injury-plagued career looked to be over nearly a year ago when Prince said a torn ligament in her elbow suffered in the preseason would end her time in college. But by the time last season ended and former Oregon assistant Mark Campbell landed the head coaching job at TCU, Prince was off to Fort Worth. Campbell has remade the Horned Frogs' roster through the transfer portal, and Prince, who averaged 9.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 201-22, should be a focal point.

32. Taina Mair, 5-foot-9, G, sophomore

Boston College to Duke
Getting Mair was a big acquisition for coach Kara Lawson after losing Taylor and Day-Wilson. Expect Mair to play big minutes (she averaged 36.6 MPG as a freshman at BC) as the Blue Devils' lead guard. She proved she could score in the ACC (11.1 PPG) and was eighth in the country with 6.6 assists per game. If Duke is to overcome major personnel losses, Mair and 6-5 Yale transfer Camilla Emsbo will have to have big seasons.

33. Paris Clark, 5-foot-8, G, sophomore

Arizona to Virginia
The Wildcats just weren't the right fit for Clark. Cavaliers' coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton hopes Virginia will be. Clark was a top-25 recruit out of the Bronx but played in just 24 games and averaged 3.8 points in Tucson last season. Last year transfers Camryn Taylor, Mir McLean and Sam Brunelle were Virginia's leading scorers as the Cavs improved from five to 15 wins in Coach Mox's first year. Clark is the cornerstone of the next phase of the rebuild.

34. Lauren Ware, 6-foot-5, C, sophomore

Arizona to Texas A&M
With the scoring Joni Taylor added in Rogers and Coulibaly and the upside potential of Kyndall Hunter (Texas) her deep dive into the portal was complete with the 6-5 Ware. Coming off a season lost to a knee injury Ware may take some time to round into form, but she did average 1.1 blocks in 52 appearances with the Wildcats and could be the ideal rim protection for an Aggies team that should be much improved.

35. Anna DeWolfe, 5-foot-8, G, graduate student

Fordham to Notre Dame
Predicting how a player will perform against upgraded competition is difficult, but shooting typically translates across all levels. And DeWolfe can shoot. She made 35.3% of her 3-point attempts last season and averaged 18.7 PPG in her final three seasons as a Ram. DeWolfe fills a void for the Irish -- who shot just 30.7% from 3-point range a year ago -- that they never filled once Dara Mabrey was lost midseason to a leg injury.

Also considered: Camille Hobby, NC State to Illinois; Teisha Hyman, Syracuse to Rhode Island; Jaden Owens, Baylor to TCU; Sydney Johnson, Boston University to Georgia Tech; Taylen Collins, Oklahoma State to Auburn; Madison Bartley, Belmont to Baylor; Camilla Emsbo, Yale to Duke; Payton Verhulst, Louisville to Oklahoma

Karachi: The Gold price in Pakistan declined by Rs1,000 per tola on Monday.

According to the sources, the cost of 24-carat gold experienced a decline of Rs1,000 per tola, reaching a value of Rs2,02,000.

Similarly, the price of 10 grams of 24-karat pure gold traded at Rs173,182 as per bullion market.

The 22-karat gold, the current price stands at Rs183,333 per tola.

Meanwhile, the yellow metal of 22 karats of gold which is usually used for jewellery making, sold at the rate of Rs158,751 per 10 grams.

The price of 10 grams of silver is fixed at Rs2,700 per tola in the market.

It's important to note that the gold rates decreased for the third consecutive week in a row. These prices were discovered from reliable sources in the regional bullion markets, particularly in Multan and Karachi.

Moreover, the gold in Pakistan fluctuates multiple times throughout the day in sync with global market trends.

Karachi: Electricity prices in the country witnessed a notable increase of Rs3.28 per unit on Monday.

According to the report, this price hike is implemented as part of the quarterly adjustment and it is set to remain in effect from October 2023 to March 2024.

As per the report, all the countrywide consumers including residential, commercial, industrial and K-Electric will be subject to the increased rates.

This move is expected to have a substantial financial impact on consumers, with an estimated cost of 146 billion rupees collectively.

All consumers will be forced to shoulder an extra burden of 146 rupees as a result of the high price of power.

Customers using 100 units face a monthly surcharge of Rs328.14, while those using 200 units will pay a monthly surcharge of Rs656.28.

In addition, for the usage of 300 units, an additional bill of Rs684.42 and for the use of 400 units, an additional bill of Rs912 would be incurred.

Furthermore, Customers would be charged an additional fee of Rs. 1,140 for 500 units and Rs. 1,368 for 600 units.

Customers who use 700 units would incur an additional monthly cost of Rs1,596.

Tokyo: Oil prices climbed on Monday, reversing some of Friday’s losses, as investors focused on a tight global supply outlook and a last-minute deal that avoided a U.S. government shutdown restored their risk appetite.

Brent December crude futures rose 18 cents, or 0.2%, to $92.38 a barrel by 0037 GMT after falling 90 cents on Friday. Brent November futures settled down 7 cents at $95.31 a barrel at the contract’s expiry on Friday.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 23 cents, or 0.3%, to $91.02 a barrel, after losing 92 cents on Friday.

Both benchmarks rallied nearly 30% in the third quarter on forecasts of a wide crude supply deficit in the fourth quarter after Saudi Arabia and Russia extended additional supply cuts to the end of the year.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries with Russia and other allies, or OPEC+, is unlikely to tweak its current oil output policy when a panel meets on Wednesday, four OPEC+ sources told Reuters, as tighter supplies and rising demand drive an oil price rally.

“Oil prices started the week on a strong note amid supply concerns with no policy change by OPEC+ expected, while the avoidance of a U.S. government’s shutdown over the weekend gave some relief,” said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, president of NS Trading, a unit of Nissan Securities.

“Still, whether or not the market will rise further will depend on future demand trends,” he said.

A last-minute decision by Republican House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy to turn to Democrats to pass a short-term funding bill pushed the risk of shutdown to mid-November, meaning the U.S. federal government’s more than 4 million workers can count on continued paychecks for now.

Amplifying supply fears, the U.S. oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by seven to 623 in the week to Sept. 29, the lowest since February 2022, energy services firm Baker Hughes (BKR.O) said in its closely followed report on Friday.

Brent is forecast to average $89.85 a barrel in the fourth quarter and $86.45 in 2024, according to a survey of 42 economists compiled by Reuters on Friday.

Meanwhile, investors remained cautious about the Chinese economy as the country’s factory activity expanded at a slower pace in September, a private-sector survey showed on Sunday, with sluggish external demand weighing on the outlook even as output increased.

The world’s second-largest economy is showing some signs of stabilising after a flurry of modest policy measures, but the outlook is clouded by a property slump, falling exports and high youth unemployment, raising fears of weaker fuel demand.

Courtesy: Reuters 

Karachi: Pakistan's inflation rate rose to 31.4% year-on-year in September from 27.4% in August, statistics bureau data showed on Monday, as the nation reels from high fuel and energy prices.

The country is embarking on a tricky path to economic recovery under a caretaker government after a $3 billion loan programme approved by the International Monetary Fund in July averted a sovereign debt default, but with conditions that complicated efforts to rein in inflation.

On a month-on-month basis, inflation climbed 2% in September, compared to an increase of 1.7% in August

Reforms required by the IMF bailout, including an easing of import restrictions and a demand that subsidies be removed, have already fuelled annual inflation, which rose to a record 38.0% in May.

Interest rates have also risen to their highest at 22%, and the rupee hit all-time lows in August before recovering in September to become the best performing currency following a clampdown by authorities on unregulated FX trade.

In its monthly report on Friday, the ministry of finance stated that it expected inflation to stay high in the upcoming month, averaging about 29-31% as a result of an increase in electricity tariffs and a significant rise in fuel prices.

The report added that inflation was, however, expected to ease, especially from the second half of the current fiscal year that starts on Jan. 1.

On Saturday Pakistan cut petrol and diesel prices from a record high, after two consecutive hikes. The finance ministry cited international prices of petroleum products and the improvement in the exchange rate, following the clampdown on unregulated FX trade.

Inflation has been elevated, hovering in double digits, since November 2021. The South Asian country targeted inflation at 21% for the current fiscal year, but it averaged 29% during the first quarter.

Worsening economic conditions, along with rising political tensions in the run-up to a national election scheduled for November, triggered sporadic protests in September, with many Pakistanis saying they are struggling to make ends meet.

Analysts said the inflation reading was in line with market expectations.

Tahir Abbas, head of research at Arif Habib Limited, a Karachi-based investment company, said inflation appeared to have peaked for the current fiscal year and would subsequently recede.

"The higher reading is mainly due to the low base effect which was also mentioned in the last monetary policy statement. Going forward, in the next few months, we expect inflation to ease to around 26-27%," said Fahad Rauf, head of research at Ismail Iqbal Securities, a Karachi-based brokerage firm.

Rauf said higher inflation statistics should not impact monetary policy.

Islamabad: Federal Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti announced that any security personnel found involved in cross-border smuggling would be court-martialed on Monday.

The government has intensified its crackdown on smugglers involved in transporting commodities and dollars to Afghanistan, especially in the last few months when havoc was wreaked on the already weakening economy.

The crackdown was successful since speculation decreased and the rupee significantly appreciated versus the dollar to become the world's best-performing currency. ‘

However, analysts are concerned about another round of devaluation because they are skeptical of the long-term consequences of administrative actions.

"If I say that security forces weren't involved in [smuggling], it won't be right as the [smuggled] items are transported via trucks, not camels," Bugti said during a press conference in Islamabad.

He said that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir had told military personnel that whoever is found involved in illegal cross-border trade would face the consequences.

Karachi: Sri Lanka U19 will arrive in Pakistan this month to feature in one four-day and five one-day matches against Pakistan U19.

All six matches will be played in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium from 15 to 31 October.

As per the ICC’s eligibility criteria for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024, players born on or after 1 September 2004 will be eligible to get selected.

This will be Pakistan U19 second bilateral series in this year. In April, Pakistan U19 toured Bangladesh and featured in a series consisted of one four-day, five one-dayers and one T20. Pakistan U19 won all the three-format series, which included winning five-match one-day series by 4-1. Last year in November, Bangladesh U19 toured Pakistan and played one four-day, three one-dayers and two T20 match series in Multan.

Usman Wahla, PCB Director – International Cricket: “We are delighted to welcome the Sri Lanka U19 team to Pakistan for this exciting bilateral series. The series will provide an excellent platform for young talent to showcase their skills and gain an invaluable experience ahead of next year’s ICC U19 World Cup.

“Our U19 team has played some exceptional game of cricket recently and the series at home showcases the board’s vision of nurturing young talent and providing opportunities to future stars of Pakistan cricket.

“I wish luck to both young teams, and may the matches be played in a spirit of camaraderie.”

Schedule:

12 October – Sri Lanka U19 team arrival

15-18 October – Four-day match

22 October – First One-Day

24 October – Second One-Day

27 October – Third One-Day

29 October – Fourth One-Day

31 October – Fifth One-Day

1 November – Sri Lanka U19 team departs

 

Apple has acknowledged the iPhone 15's overheating problem and started to attribute some of the reports to third-party software.

The high-tech phone manufacturer Apple stated that a few errors have been identified which can cause the iPhone to run warmer than expected.

However, it is it is completely normal for the new models of iPhones to get hot during the first 24 hours as there is a lot going on in the background like iCloud backup from an old phone or software installation.

Apple has identified software as a second port of call for the heat issue, stated that, “We have also found a bug in iOS 17 which is effecting certain users, and will be resolve through an upcoming software update.

However, the specific details of this bug remain undisclosed.

“Another issue involves some recent updates to third-party apps that are causing them to overload the system,” Apple claimed, adding that a team of Apple is working with these third-party application developers to fixes the bugs.