Pakistan has successfully completed its inaugural Panda bond issuance in China’s interbank bond market, raising RMB 1.75 billion through a three-year transaction that marks the country’s first direct entry into China’s capital markets.

Standard Chartered (China) Ltd. Co acted as the only foreign bank serving as joint lead underwriter and joint book runner for the transaction, supporting Pakistan in broadening its international financing channels while strengthening financial connectivity between regional capital markets.

The issuance received strong support from multilateral development institutions, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which together guaranteed 95 per cent of the bond’s principal and interest payments. The structure helped attract significant demand from Chinese banks, securities houses, and international financial institutions.

The transaction was reportedly more than five times oversubscribed, allowing Pakistan to price the bond at 2.50 per cent, the tightest end of the indicated pricing range.

Salman Ansari, Global Head, Capital Markets, Standard Chartered, described the issuance as a strategically important transaction that expands Pakistan’s access to global liquidity pools while demonstrating the growing relevance of regional capital markets within the international funding landscape.

The transaction also reflects the broader evolution of the Renminbi within global financial markets, as China continues expanding the role of its currency beyond trade settlement into cross-border financing and sovereign funding structures.

Jerry Zhang, Global Head of Banks & Broker Dealers and Head of Coverage, Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered, said the transaction highlighted the bank’s role in connecting international issuers with China’s domestic capital markets while also reflecting the continued internationalisation of the Renminbi.

The Panda bond market has increasingly attracted a wider range of sovereign, supranational, and institutional issuers in recent years as regional economies explore diversified funding channels and deeper access to Chinese liquidity pools.

Students at GEMS Modern Academy (“Modern”) have delivered another year of outstanding student performance in the ICSE Grade 10 and ISC Grade 12 Board examinations, as the school achieved a 100% pass rate across both cohorts.

Students delivered exceptional performances, with a significant proportion attaining top scores across subjects. At the ICSE level, 61.3% of students achieved above 90%, while at the ISC level, an impressive 73.7% of students scored above 90%. The school recorded strong overall averages of 90.1% for ICSE and 92.5% for ISC, reflecting sustained academic excellence.

These results further reinforce GEMS Modern Academy’s reputation as one of the UAE’s leading Indian curriculum schools, known for balancing academic rigour with a strong focus on innovation, wellbeing, and global citizenship.

Sydney Atkins, Principal of GEMS Modern Academy, said: “In a year filled with uncertainty, we knew this for sure; the collective effort of a community united in a singular purpose is stronger than any external circumstance. We are so proud of our students, our passionate and dedicated teachers, and our parents who are our biggest cheerleaders and critical friends. Because of this dream team, we are able to make our students’ dreams come true. Well done, boys and girls, we are so proud of every one of you.”

ISC Grade 12 results

• Total Strength: 175
• Pass Rate: 100%
• Batch Average: 92.5%
• 95% and above: 40% (70 students)
• 90% and above: 73.7% (129 students)
• 80% and above: 97.1% (170 Students)
• 90% and above in all five subjects: 39.4% (69 Students)
• Number of 100s: 29 (Math – 7, Chemistry – 6, Computer Science – 4, Accounts – 2, Political Science – 4, EVS – 4, Mass Media – 2)
• 175 students appeared for the ISC (Grade 12) including, 4 students with Special Education Needs. 
• Average of Students of Determination in ISC is 87.25%
• 3 Students on the KHDA Rahhal program have successfully completed their schooling through this flexible academic arrangement. 
• Girls batch average 93.1%; Boys batch average 92%

Leading the cohort with the highest score is Khyati Agarwal with 99.5%; Mukul Agarwal stood a close second with 99.25% and 6 students tied at 3rd place with 98.75%

Khyati Agarwal, has secured offers from top universities including Duke, Imperial College London, UCLA, Northwestern, and the University of Michigan said: “This year asked more of me than I thought I had and gave me even more in return. I’ll always be grateful to my Principal, supervisors, and teachers. They all taught me that consistency, faith and the support of my school, family and friends can turn a dream into a reality! I could not have asked for a better finish to the first chapter of my life. Here’s to my next.”

Mukul Agarwal, who is Modern’s first student to receive an offer from Oxford University, said: “Studying at the University of Oxford has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, and I’m incredibly grateful to see that dream become a reality. This milestone would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my parents and grandparents, the guidance and encouragement of my teachers, and the constant belief they all had in me.”

ICSE Grade 10 results:

• Total Strength: 150
• Pass Rate: 100%
• Batch Average: 90.1%
• 95% and above: 20% (30 students)
• 90% and above: 61.3% (92 students)
• 80% and above: 96.7% (145 Students)
• 90% and above in all six subjects: ­22.7% (34 students)
• Number of 100s: 7 (Economics – 3, Drama – 1, Robotics and AI – 3)
• 150 students appeared for the ICSE (Grade 10) examination, including 2 students with Special Education Needs.
• Average of Students of Determination in ICSE is 81.3%
• Girls batch average 90.42 Boys batch average 90%

Geetika Pati topped the batch with 97.2% and Eshan Tikam and Medha Ratheesh tied in the second place with 96.6%.

Reflecting on her achievement, Geetika Pati, said: “My learning experience at GMA has been a very fruitful one. This was not my journey alone but one of my parents, my teachers who are willing to push you forward at every turn, and everyone who has been there for me throughout this year. I dedicate this victory to my family and GMA.”

GEMS Modern Academy, which is celebrating 40 years of excellence this year, continues to set benchmarks in delivering a balanced education that nurtures both academic capability and personal growth.

Nargish Khambatta, Executive Vice President – Education, GEMS Education, added: “Good results are not achieved perchance. Each accomplishment represents hours of consistent effort and patience, supported by a committed team of teachers, parents and leadership team all working towards the same goal. Maintaining this level of disciplined focus for 40 years is testament to a culture of excellence that has been carefully nurtured over the years keeping the children at the heart of all our decisions. Congratulations on yet another set of excellent results that validates Team Modern! Bravo!”

Graduates from the school consistently secure placements at leading universities worldwide, pursuing diverse pathways across disciplines.

People spend around 90% of their time indoors, yet many still underestimate how deeply interior environments shape the way they think, feel, and function. A home can sharpen the mind or quietly weaken it. It can create calm, or increase tension in ways that are not always immediately visible. This is why human-centric design has become one of the most important priorities in architecture and interiors today.

At NKEY Architects, this shift is becoming increasingly clear across residential projects. Clients are looking for spaces that are more than simply beautiful. They want homes that support mood and support daily life.

Here are four factors shaping that shift today.

The Psychology of Space

Wellness-focused residential properties are now commanding a 10% to 25% price premium over traditional homes. Light, colour, scale, and spatial order all influence emotional state, mental clarity, and even decision making.

Cooler tones may help support focus and alertness, while warmer, deeper shades tend to create a stronger sense of comfort and ease. A room can be visually impressive, but if it feels chaotic, it can still be mentally exhausting. By contrast, spaces with clear zoning and balanced proportions often feel calmer and easier to live in.

Behaviour-driven Design

The best interiors are built around how people actually move, pause, gather, work, and rest. Rather than treating layout as a visual exercise, designers are thinking more carefully about how spaces guide behaviour throughout the day.

Open-plan zones can encourage communication and togetherness, while quieter enclosed areas create room for privacy and focus. Ceiling height can also influence the way people think, with higher ceilings often linked to abstract thinking and lower, more intimate spaces supporting concentration and detail.

Sensory Experience in Interiors

Proximity to natural elements such as greenery and sunlight has been associated with a 15% increase in reported wellbeing and creativity, alongside a 6% increase in productivity.

Texture, acoustics, lighting, materiality, and tonal balance all shape how a room is felt on a physical and emotional level. Harsh lighting, reflective finishes, poor acoustics, and strong contrast can create overstimulation, irritation, or even avoidance of space. Softer transitions, tactile surfaces, controlled lighting, and warmer tones make a space feel more comfortable and easier to inhabit.

Flow, Structure, and Emotional Stability

If movement between zones feels awkward, if transitions are abrupt, or if the layout disrupts the rhythm of daily life, the overall experience becomes disjointed. Flow is what allows a space to feel natural rather than forced.

Structure also plays an important psychological role. In this context, masculinity in design is not about visual heaviness, but about direction, clarity, and control. A space without a clear centre can feel beautiful yet unfocused. A space with a strong axis, controlled paths, and a sense of spatial direction can create stability, physical alignment, and calm confidence.

Human-centric design is no longer an added extra. It is becoming the foundation of how meaningful homes are shaped. That means creating spaces that are visually refined and aligned with the people living in them. The strongest interiors do not simply look luxurious. They support clarity, confidence, and the way life is actually lived.