Comparison of Intel processors

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France's Lagarde first woman IMF chief

WASHINGTON: France's Christine Lagarde was named Tuesday the first-ever female chief of the IMF, faced with an immediate crisis as violent Greek protests rocked the stability of the eurozone.

The French finance minister, respected for her leadership during the financial crises that have shaken Europe over the past three years, was selected by the International Monetary Fund's executive board to take up the five-year job from July 5.

Her victory came after the BRIC powers -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- added their endorsements on top of US and European support, after efforts to construct an emerging economy bloc to challenge Europe's 65-year lock on the job.

Lagarde replaces fellow countryman Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who resigned abruptly on May 18 after being arrested in New York for an alleged sexual assault.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's office declared the pick a "victory for France," while British finance minister George Osborne welcomed the "good news for the global economy."

Lagarde's choice over Mexican central bank head Agustin Carstens was expected, but not assured until Washington gave her its decisive endorsement and the BRIC countries added theirs.

The 55-year-old lawyer, a divorced mother of two and finance minister since 2007, was chosen by consensus rather than a vote of the 24 IMF executive directors, the board said.

A European has held the position by tacit agreement with Washington since 1946, and Europe's leaders were determined to have someone already deeply involved in its ongoing crises, especially Greece.

The secretive process, coming after the IMF promised transparency, drew criticism from groups pressing for more openness in the Fund.

"This travesty of an appointment process undermines the credibility of the IMF. Rumors had circulated about some openness, but before the candidates were interviewed, the decision had already been made," said Luc Lampriere, the director of Oxfam France.

Lagarde had to earn the support of the emerging powers, where worries over eurozone stability were accompanied by concerns that she would be too focused on Europe, and unable to take a neutral stance.

She stressed she would work for the Fund's entire membership.

"The IMF has served its 187 member countries well during the global economic and financial crisis, transforming itself in many positive ways," she said in a statement after her nomination.

"I will make it my overriding goal that our institution continues to serve its entire membership with the same focus and the same spirit."

Carstens, who failed to rally developing economies to mount any real challenge, praised Lagarde as "very capable" but added that he hoped she would strengthen IMF governance "so as to assure its legitimacy, cohesiveness and ultimately, its effectiveness."

The Fund, which plays a crucial but often controversial role in aiding countries in financial straits, was left reeling after Strauss-Kahn resigned in the middle of tense negotiations over Greece's massive bailout.

IMF chief since 2007, Strauss-Kahn was arrested in New York on allegations that he sexually assaulted a hotel chambermaid, allegations he denies.

Though not an economist, Lagarde has gained wide respect as France's point-woman during its leadership of the G20 as well as in European debt talks.

She faces an immediate crisis on the job with Greece, where protesters and police battled in the streets on the eve of an expected parliamentary vote on the IMF-European Union-dictated austerity program to help the country avoid default -- but also likely add to the hardship in its ravaged economy.

"If I have a message this evening about Greece, it is a call to the Greek opposition for it to join in national unity with the party which is currently in power," Lagarde urged in an interview on France's TF1 television.

Looking ahead, she needs to advance reforms of the global finance system to protect against systemic weaknesses coming from some of the most powerful economies, including Europe and the United States.

She also must deliver on promises of a bigger role in the IMF for the BRICs.

"India looks forward to governance and quota reforms of the Fund to reflect global economic realities," India's IMF director, Arvind Virmani, said in a statement endorsing Lagarde.

There were also calls for the IMF to make the process of choosing its managing director more transparent.

"She should waste no time in establishing a legitimate selection process for the next managing director that is truly based on merit," said Mohamed El-Erian, head of the investment giant Pimco and a one-time candidate to run the Fund.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011

Loadshedding in Pakistan gives birth to new cottage industry

Small manufacturers start making candles, generators, UPS etc

Nafees Tahir

LAHORE: The unending loadshedding was giving rise to a new form of cottage industry which was producing scores of goods to counter the power outages. Loadshedding, though, has adversely affected the big industries, yet it helped small industry to grow.

Small manufacturers, who were actually exploiting loadshedding, are getting handsome amount by making emergency lights, candles, generators, UPS and many others. The ignored and even dying business of artificial power sources got strength in the current “era of darkness.” This loadshedding crisis started for a long time ago, which gave birth to the electrical equipments price-hike. Since that period, the price has not come down and the manufacturers earning abnormal profits for energy articles. An industry has come into being which was creating jobs (sort of cottage industry) and has expanded to many homes from workshop or factory and manual labour has been benefitted.

According to an estimate, there are 10,000 factories in Lahore, among which approximately 30-40 percent factories have been closed because of loadshedding. These factories were utilising electricity and sui gas in a huge amount. In these factories, plastic molding, rubber articles, leather garments, cotton, iron-made goods, and many other things were being produced.

According to the labour department sources, approximately 800,000 labourers have been dispelled from their jobs. While, 400,000 to 800,000 labourers were receiving less wage. “The owners have finished the overtime facility because of loadshedding and this was increasing our hardships,” said Mubarak, a worker at Band Road.

However, on the other hand, many producers are making Ultra Power Supply (UPS) of 500-1000w and selling them on various prices ranging from Rs 6,000-12,000. They claimed that at least two tube lights, two fans, one computer and one TV could be run, but the price, they are charging, did not include the cost of battery of 48A or more, which was available in the market at Rs 2,400 to Rs 4,500. Moreover, the battery age was approximately one-year and if the battery spoiled, the consumers have to bear more charges for its repairing or replacing.

Rashid, a generator dealer said that 2007 has recorded an increase in the prices of ordinary generator by Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 depending on different brands, sizes and quality. Usually, the China made generators were being used more, as compared to other imported ones, whose rates were very high.

Saleem, a generator dealer, told The Post that the market was stocked with various varieties of generators in accordance with their power capacity, some were operated on diesel, and petrol and some on gas.

It is pertinent to mention here that replica articles have also captured the markets due to its low price, although there was a serious concern about their quality. Most of the shopkeepers were selling artificial light gadgets because, they said, the common people forced them to bring these goods to the markets. But the risk of these commodities, being a substandard quality, pose a grave risk that it might be exploded.

In summer season, coolers and fans demand would also rise, especially in schools, colleges, homes, offices etc. and in case of continuity of loadshedding, the demand of artificial energy resources would likely to rise.

Add Columns, Rows to a DataTable in C#

DataTable dt = new DataTable();
        
//Create an ID column for adding to the Datatable
DataColumn dcol = new DataColumn(CustomerID ,typeof(System.Int32));
dcol.AutoIncrement = true;
dt.Columns.Add(dcol);
//Create an ID column for adding to the Datatable
dcol = new DataColumn(NAME, typeof(System.String));
dt.Columns.Add(dcol);

1. DataRow myNewRow;  
2. myNewRow = dt.NewRow();  

Now that the DataRow has been created and initialized, simply add values to the object as you would an array. In the two examples below, we are adding values to two different columns in our row. We are first assigning the column with name customerId the integer value of 1. Secondly, we are assigning the column with name username a string johndoe. Repeat as needed.

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1. myNewRow["customerID"] = 1;   

Finally, we want to add this newly created row (with two columns) to the originally blank datatable we created in the beginning.

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1. dt.Rows.Add(myNewRow);  

Shahid Afridi's U Turn?