Lahore: The University of Law (ULaw) and Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMA Pakistan) on Monday signed a partnership agreement to provide academic options to the members of ICMA Pakistan to study masters degrees awarded by ULaw.

A ceremony was held at ICMA Lahore Office where the agreement was signed and attended by senior officials from both organisations.

As a result of this agreement, ICMA Pakistan’s Associates and Members will be given access to highly specialised masters degrees in Global Accounting and Financial Management at The University of Law at preferential rates.

Students will be able to study these qualifications online whilst pursuing their employment or at one of the 12 teaching locations in the UK and Germany.

Addressing the ceremony, Professor Crisp said: “We are excited about this collaboration in Pakistan. ICMA Pakistan is an organisation of great importance and its members play a pivotal role in the economic development of Pakistan. The University of Law Business School will not just support this agreement but also work closely with ICMA Pakistan to support the employability agenda”

Zia Ul Mustafa Awan speaking on the occasionb said:  “This is our first academic partnership with a top tier University in Great Britain. This partnership is a testament of great work my team is doing to elevate not just the finance profession and ICMA Pakistan but also the profile of our beloved country. “

Present at this event were Professor Peter Crisp, Deputy Vice Chancellor Law, Zia Ul Mustafa Awan, President ICMA Pakistan; Dr Andres Perez, Director Business School, The University of Law; Faisal Azeem, Managing Director - Pakistan, Global University Systems; Kelvin Jones, Director of International, Global University Systems; Sabahat Khan, Chief Operating Officer - Pakistan, Global University Systems and Aamir Ejaz Khan, Executive Director, ICMA Pakistan and senior members of ICMA Pakistan Council. 

Bourla told CNBC that his company on Friday began testing the current vaccine against the Omicron variant, which was first reported in South Africa and reignited fears of a global wave of Covid-19 infections.

"I don't think the result will be the vaccines don't protect," Bourla said.

But the testing could show that existing shots "protect less," which means "that we need to create a new vaccine," Bourla said.

"Friday we made our first DNA template, which is the first possible inflection of the development process of a new vaccine," he said.

Bourla likened the situation to the scenario earlier this year when Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech developed a vaccine in 95 days when there were concerns the previous formula would not work against Delta, though that version ultimately was not used.

The current vaccine is "very effective" against Delta, the executive said, adding that the companies expect to be able to produce four billion vaccine doses in 2022.

On Monday, the World Health Organization warned the new Covid-19 Omicron variant poses a "very high" risk globally.

Bourla said he was also "very confident" that Pfizer's recently unveiled antiviral pill would work as a treatment for infections caused by the mutations, including Omicron.

Among newly-infected, high risk patients treated within three days of the onset of symptoms, Pfizer's pill has been shown to cut hospitalization or death by nearly 90 percent.

SOURCE: AFP/CNBC

However the 62-year-old was unable to unveil his take of the famed calendar in person in Milan after testing positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Italy last week. He joined a press conference remotely via video.

Called "On The Road", the calendar seeks to depict a day in the life of a touring musician.
Its cover shows guitarist and singer St. Vincent posing with a Pirelli guitar pick on her tongue. It features pictures of Cher and Pop in dressing rooms, Ora in the bath, rapper Saweetie pushing a luggage trolley and Hudson surrounded by flowers.

Rapper Bohan Phoenix poses on a piano while musician Grimes' photo is set in a futuristic setting. Adams, who snapped the photos in Los Angeles, Capri and Canada last summer, also features.

"With all these pictures, fantasy plays a big part in trying to create something," he said in a statement. "Because you don't want it to be literal, you want it to be glamorous, yet it gives the impression of what it might be like."

Adams said last week that he had tested positive for COVID-19 after flying into Milan and was going to hospital. It was the second time in a month he had tested positive for the virus. He has since posted photos, thanking doctors and nurses looking after him.

Adams is best known for songs like "Summer of ‘69", "Heaven" and "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You".

As a photographer, he has snapped Mick Jagger and Naomi Campbell, as well as Britain's Queen Elizabeth. He has also published books of his photos, including one on injured British soldiers.

First published in the 1960s, the Pirelli calendar has a limited run and is usually gifted to the company's clients. In recent years, it has moved away from featuring images of scantily-dressed models to more artistic themes, featuring various celebrities.

The 2021 edition was suspended due to the pandemic.

SOURCE: REUTERS