Research Work & Projects

When Modi announced the Janta Curfew on March 19 with catchy words like ‘taali bajao, thali bajao’, the Bollywood mentality came into action with rich and poor sharing videos of claps, bells and thali-banging to Modi’s official twitter account. Some got so excited that they came out on the streets and started celebrating the ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2w2mlXK

On March 14, 2020, people from all walks of life gathered to pay their last tribute to a great comrade. The socialist, democrat politician who rose to be the Finance Minister in the first cabinet of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) passed away at the age of 98 years. He took on the elite who were the beneficiaries of the benevolence of the first dictator ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UOJcyA

As Pakistan entered its 7th day of industrial lockdown on Friday March 27, (including 3 days of 23rd’s long weekend) the question being asked by all stakeholders is that does the government really have an industrial plan amidst the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic? Industrial lockdowns are always very tricky to handle and if called ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UwMQxV

“Modernism, rebelling against the ornament of the 19th century, limited the vocabulary of the designer. Modernism emphasized straight lines, eliminating the expressive S curve. This made it harder to communicate emotions through design.”-Eva Zeisel James Joyce is hailed as the “Priest of Modernism”   Modernism in the ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3azVOQB

Co-occurring contaminants may increase North Carolina groundwater risks Contaminant safety standards don't account for mixtures More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300303&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Reducing reliance on nitrogen fertilizers via biological nitrogen fixation Nitrogen fertilizer benefits crop growth, but has negative effects on the environment and climate More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300304&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Belgium : 2020 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; Staff Supplement; and Statement by the Executive Director for Belgium Published March 31, 2020 at 09:00AM

Belgium : Selected Issues Published March 31, 2020 at 09:00AM

“If we had an outbreak somewhere in the United States, do we not then quarantine that part of the country, and how do you then enforce a quarantine? … One option is the use of a military that’s able to plan and move.” The above-mentioned quote, although relevant and relatable in its content, is, in fact, a dated address, given by President George Bush 15 years ago. Since the Avian Flu of the 2000s, thematic concerns within the politics of outbreaks have not evolved a lot. Thus, equating a national health emergency to a state of war is not a semantic ... Read Full Post from The Big Picture – The Express Tribune Blog https://ift.tt/2UNRqqr

Man since antiquity has appealed to the idea of justice when confronted with unfairness and discrimination, and primarily in destitute above all. Nonetheless, the unfortunate dilemma stays the timing of this realisation and resort. The appeal to justice is not restricted to any individual aspect of life. Instead, it spreads across almost every ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2ULZ0BX

In developed countries, there are institutions, not personalities, with the mandate to guide the nation in crises: a layout map for actions to be taken, timeline of these actions and metrics for the success or otherwise of these actions. The job of the existing political leadership is to debate and implement these plans as the executive authority ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/39yjl34

The picture captures Faiz’s words “This sacred morning light, this dawn, bearing the wounds of night/ Surely, this is not the morning we waited for…” than any other attempt could have.   Margaret Bourke-White was born in 1904, in the Bronx, New York. Her interest in photography began as a young girl, when she would ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2vZflLe

Providing and focusing on education amidst an unfavourable and constantly deepening crisis is indeed a huge challenge for all concerned. It is indeed an extraordinary circumstance that the world faces today as it sees an escalation in the number of COVID-19 cases every day. However, the question is, to put it in Shakespearean ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2wRSaD9

Kuwait : 2020 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Staff Supplement Published March 30, 2020 at 09:00AM

Soraya Roberts | Longreads | March 2020 |  9 minutes (2,261 words) The image that struck me most was the empty piazza. That Italian square — I believe it was in Venice — with no one in it. Maybe a bird or two. It looked inviting but also wholly unnatural. A city square is made for people, lots of people, people from everywhere. If people aren’t there, does it cease to be a square? I wondered the same thing about the Louvre and its tens of thousands of objects with no one to look at them — is it still a museum, or is it just a warehouse? I wondered about all those Berlin concert halls with no one to hear their music, all those Indian cinemas with no one to watch their films, all those crumbling ruins everywhere, standing there with no tourists to behold them or to record that beholding for everyone else. At this particular point in history, does art exist if we aren’t sharing it?  By sharing I mean not only sharing a moment with the art itself, but also sharing the space wit...

One of the fundamental things to understand about COVID-19 is that nobody in the world has a crystal ball that can accurately explain and predict the impact of the virus. Governments, weak and strong, have been left scratching their heads as their healthcare systems buckle under the pressure. As the total number of global cases approaches the one million mark, the machinery that regulates global economies has halted. For Pakistan, difficult decisions were made to lock down certain parts of the country, with a focus on ensuring the mitigation of impact for particularly vulnerable groups, including daily wage workers.  The ... Read Full Post from Welcome to Pakistan – The Express Tribune Blog https://ift.tt/346G6dz

The COVID-19 outbreak has thrown the world into a state of fear and uncertainty. Hence, countries today are banking on their doctors to save lives, not on their armies or their multinational companies. In Pakistan, many doctors and medical personnel do not have access to personal protective equipment (PPEs) to prevent them from being infected by coronavirus patients while performing their duties. Yet, by putting their lives at risk, doctors across the country are bravely fighting this war against COVID-19. However, despite this, there remain a few journalists, television channels and publications which, just for the sake of ratings, are dispensing news based on a limited understanding of medical ... Read Full Post from Welcome to Pakistan – The Express Tribune Blog https://ift.tt/2JoN3Np

The test is tough. Beyond the first month since the initial coronavirus case was detected in Pakistan on February 26, Pakistan stands at an official tally of 1526 confirmed cases and 13 reported deaths. While the official dashboard either plodding, measured or precautious; the numbers reported from sources otherwise continue to scream and warn ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3dHPzMO

In case of the Subcontinent, the first prominent Turk was Mahmud of Ghazni son of Sabuktagin, a former Mamluk worrier slave. When the Samanid dynasty based in Bukhara began to decline, Sabuktagin seized control of Ghazni in 977. During Mahmud’s reign, his empire stretched from the Oxus to the Indus valley and the Indian Ocean. The Bhamani ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3dEE8Fu

Today, evolving an inclusive and viable national response strategy to effectively contain the spread of COVID-19 is indeed a formidable challenge faced by Pakistan, like most other countries in the world. As of March 29, there have been as many as 1495 confirmed coronavirus cases while the death toll has risen to 12 in Pakistan. A lockdown has ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/341HNJa

The great Russian master of letters and words Leo Tolstoy was born on September 9, 1828 in Tula Province, Russia. Born to a long line of Russian nobility, he was the fourth child of Countess Maria Volkonsky and Count Nicolay Ilyich Tolstoy (1797-1837) a Lieutenant Colonel. In 1844, at the age of sixteen and the end of what Tolstoy says “was ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/39nCmFf

Just like the rules of war and laws of nature, economic principles have a way of punishing with vengeance those who defy them. Over the last couple of months, a troublingly ill-informed narrative was built around the interest rate regime in Pakistan. Firstly, the entire debate was a victim of the media’s sciolism and devoid of any mention of ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UqAbN2

Pakistan’s fight against the spread of coronavirus is entering its most critical phase. Despite the ongoing lockdown, there have been more than 1,400 coronavirus cases confirmed across Pakistan, 12 of which have resulted in loss of life. And as had been expected, Punjab has overtaken Sindh as the province with the highest number of confirmed ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/39uIkUN

Yesterday, Pakistan reached the 4th week and the most critical phase of the Coronavirus pandemic. It is a race against time to deploy critical medical supplies from abroad and provide safe conditions to medical staff. Prime Minister Imran Khan insists that taking precautions and staying indoors is the best measure; denying the virus space to ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3dFO2XA

“I was reading the dictionary. I thought it was a poem about everything.” Steven Wright   This is an image of the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary.   A dictionary helps us to understand a language in a way that no other book can. It is a collection of words in one or more languages. A dictionary defines a ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2yegtvf

India has suddenly fallen silent. Some of the prominent cities where life never stops have come to a standstill. The chants of endless community prayers have ceased. An eerie silence pervades the country ever since the nationwide lockdown was declared on March 24th. However, beyond the surface of this deepening quiet is a disquiet and the sense of unease over the success of this unprecedented lockdown. Never before in the annals of human history have 1.3 billion people been confined to their homes like Indians are today in an attempt to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID 19). Today the ... Read Full Post from The Big Picture – The Express Tribune Blog https://ift.tt/2JrcU7b

This article is the second in a two part series which explores the history, current status and future of Muslims in Europe. Read Part I here. ~ Beginnings of a European Islam It will be safe to assume that a European form of Islam is emerging now, and has its roots in European history. The idea is to develop new interpretations of Islamic theology which will be in line with the European intellectual tradition and culture. According to some European Muslim scholars this branch of Islam will be a new religio-cultural off shoot, and will help to thwart extremist ideologies from the Middle East. ... Read Full Post from The Big Picture – The Express Tribune Blog https://ift.tt/2vTsohd

The Turks (Oghuz) accepted Islam in the 8th or 10th century while they were still in Central Asia. During the 9th and 10th centuries, they formed a principality in the Aral Sea region and in the area of the northern Caspian Sea, where they inherited a vast area. They began their southward migration in four waves from 8th century to the 11th in ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UqHmVE

Around the world, economic catastrophe has shaken up governments and made economists resort to flipping through the pages of the playbook of the 2008 global financial crisis. To keep sinking economies afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic, governments are pumping liquidity into the banking system to prevent the stock market from crashing. It is not ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3dzrpDQ

As mankind is scrambling in the face of the onslaught of novel coronavirus, our nation is weighing its strengths and limitations in tackling this universal health emergency of unprecedented scale. In the national discussion ignited by this gigantic challenge, our usual proclivity to lambast ourselves has muted strengths that present silver ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UrOWzn

The triumph of economic liberalization has coincided with a sharp increase in income inequality. –Chrystia Freeland   The U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morgenthau, Jr., addresses the delegates to the Bretton Woods Monetary Conference, July 8, 1944.   The foundations of World Bank (WB) were laid down at Bretton Wood ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UnkZA5

Kyrgyz Republic : Request for Purchase Under the Rapid Financing Instrument and Disbursement Under the Rapid Credit Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; Informational Annex; and Debt Sustainability Analysis Published March 27, 2020 at 09:00AM

New mathematical model can more effectively track epidemics Model could allow leaders to evaluate the effects of countermeasures to epidemics More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300277&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Physicists test coronavirus particles against temperature, humidity Research examines how virus particles behave in different environments, including changing seasons, air-conditioned offices More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300275&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Maize, not metal, key to native settlements' history in New York Researchers use radiocarbon dating and Bayesian analysis to reassess history of Native American sites More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300276&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Botswana : 2019 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Botswana Published March 27, 2020 at 09:00AM

This article is the first in a two part series which explores the history, current status and future of Muslims in Europe. ~ Is Muslim integration in secular European societies possible? This question is of importance as Islam is growing and thriving in European cities and towns, mainly through migration but also through higher birth rates among European Muslims. However, Islamist terror attacks in recent years have increased concerns about Islam and the future of European Muslims among the European populace. Growing frictions between the already present European Muslim minority and the host community is evident from the rise of the spectre of the right-wing ... Read Full Post from The Big Picture – The Express Tribune Blog https://ift.tt/3byH1pz

Myanmar : 2019 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Myanmar Published March 26, 2020 at 09:00AM

Life is full of surprises. Both pleasant and unpleasant. But some come as a shock. A rude awakening. You’re planning a family holiday. Thinking of the next Netflix hit. And making a grocery list for the coming month. And the next thing on your TV screens is people dying of a virus. Dying in huge numbers. Deaths multiplying each passing ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2yeO0Wp

An agreement reached between the Taliban and the US only recently is, perhaps, the most crucial first step in bringing peace to Afghanistan. Regardless of what the future holds, it is clear to every stakeholder that there is no alternative but a negotiated end to the war. An important question remains: Will this agreement and the subsequent ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3buyxjb

The global community is currently facing the most dangerous challenge of the century in the form of COVID-19 which, due to its exponential spread across the world, is quite similar to the influenza pandemic of 1918-29, estimated to have claimed 30-40 million lives in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Brazil and the South Pacific. At the moment, ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2R3LGrR

“In colonial conquest, language did to the mind what the sword did to the bodies of the colonised.”– Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o is considered the founding father of the decolonising discourse The colonisation project of the world outside Europe left deep marks on the regions that experienced ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/33MHFgg

Toward an unhackable quantum internet Researchers demonstrate the missing link for a quantum internet More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300266&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

'Sushi parasites' have increased 283-fold in past 40 years Herring worms can be found in a variety of raw fish and squid More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300267&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Hidden source of carbon found on the Arctic coast Overlooked carbon source contributes to local coastal ecosystems More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300262&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

When it comes to climate, plants and animals aren't so different Plants, animals remarkably similar in their responses to changing environmental conditions More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300264&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

New technique has potential to protect fruit from citrus greening Disease is devastating the citrus industry More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300265&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Somalia : Second Review Under the Staff-Monitored Program and Request for Three-Year Arrangements Under the Extended Credit and The Extended Fund Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Somalia Published March 26, 2020 at 09:00AM

Somalia : Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper-Joint Staff Advisory Note Published March 26, 2020 at 09:00AM

Somalia : Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative-Decision Point Document Published March 26, 2020 at 09:00AM

Within a fragile and deceptively undulating ‘democratic’ landscape, politics and politicians in Pakistan have consistently maintained a rather adversarial character. In fact, at any given point in the erratic democratic history of the country, all leading national political parties have shown their tenacious adherence to adversarial politics. Perhaps, this is the only kind of mainstream politicking that party leaders are capable of doing in Pakistan. What unraveled in the wake of COVID-19 crisis was no different, a severely adamant inability of the country’s political leadership to conduct consensual politics. Spain or Senegal, no matter how rich or poor the economy, presently ... Read Full Post from Welcome to Pakistan – The Express Tribune Blog https://ift.tt/2xoyKWj

We say that faith and words can move mountains, and that may be true. But we also know that often words alone have little power and impact, even if we have faith. We need some concrete and visible action, we think. Many times, when I say something, nobody really listens, and also when others speak, I don’t listen carefully and think about ... from Regional News https://ift.tt/2vOjKR6

Recently, Pakistan has been very badly affected by the locust infestation. The southern part of Punjab with the north side of the Sindh and eastern part of Balochistan are the worst-affected. The locust that often attacks in south-east Asia migrates from Africa; there are almost 19 kinds of grasshoppers so far found in the world. and a locust ... from Regional News https://ift.tt/33Ju6OQ

As this is not the time to play politics but to save our people, I consider it my utmost national obligation to write this open letter to all political parties of the country and the government to come together to fight this deadly virus. We delayed in calling the Army Medical Corps (AMC) which should have been the part of the anti-coronavirus ... from Regional News https://ift.tt/3ampHUi

In their greatest hour of need, the world failed the people of Rwanda. –Kofi Annan   Just in 100 days, more than 800,000 people, mostly Tutsi, were killed.   The genocide against the Tutsi is known as the Rwandan genocide. The Hutu majority government oversaw the mass slaughter of Tutsi people. In four months of genocide i.e., ... from Regional News https://ift.tt/2JctZlv

Republic of Fiji : 2019 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Republic of Fiji Published March 25, 2020 at 09:00AM

In this intimate and moving piece for The New York Times Magazine , Jessica Lustig writes about the dystopian horror story she’s living as she cares for her husband, who has been battling Coronavirus for the past two weeks. CK and I had settled in to watch “Chernobyl,” the HBO series about the 1986 nuclear accident and its aftermath, when T first felt sick and went to lie down in the bedroom. We stopped after three episodes. That time, when we would sit on the couch watching something together, is behind us. Now there is too much rushing back and forth, making sure T has a little dinner — just a tiny bowl of soup, just an appetizer, really, that he is unable to smell, that he fights nausea to choke down — taking his temperature, monitoring his oxygen-saturation levels with the fingertip pulse oximeter brought by a friend from the drugstore on the doctor’s advice, taking him tea, dispensing his meds, washing my hands over and over, texting the doctor to say T is worse again, standin...

Life is full of surprises, both pleasant and unpleasant. But some surprises are more of a shock than anything else. A rude awakening of sorts.  Just a few days ago, life was normal. You were perhaps planning a family holiday, maybe thinking of what needs to be done around the house and making a grocery list for the next month. And suddenly, everything changed. China was under attack from a very different kind of enemy, a virus. One that rapidly spread across the globe and shut down economies. In a few short weeks, it forced various governments to shut borders, ... Read Full Post from Welcome to Pakistan – The Express Tribune Blog https://ift.tt/2UFajMa

At the expense of sounding morbid, one can say India’s state-abetted anti-Muslim pogrom in New Delhi earlier this month presented an opportunity for Iran. In the context of downward trends in Indo-Iran ties in recent times, the potential for Iran to establish its credentials as a Muslim power in South and West Asia through a strong stance on India’s brazen anti-Muslim policies has risen considerably. However, Ayatollah Khamenei’s recent statement on the Delhi pogroms failed to build upon strong rhetoric from Iranian state clerics last August when India annexed occupied Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). It, in fact, has harmed Iran’s thus-far ... Read Full Post from The Big Picture – The Express Tribune Blog https://ift.tt/2Jb7pJJ

The homogenising sequel of globalisation has been aptly described by Thomas Friedman as the ‘flattening of the world’ due to the presence of porous borders across the globe. In light of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1991 “the walls came down and the windows went up” and this laid the foundation of the process of ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2wyfvcI

The Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940 is considered a significant development which led to the establishment of Pakistan as separate homeland for the Muslims of the Subcontinent. As the Pakistani nation celebrates 80 years of this historic event at a very critical time, when we are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic which has engulfed the whole ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2y1F8TD

As the Pakistani government gears up to grapple with the medical side of weeks 4 and 5 (marking a potentially exponential spread) of COVID-19, serious fears are now also beginning to emerge on whether or not Pakistan can economically sustain such a multipronged war. Amidst an environment of plummeting markets, squeezed spending, widespread ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2wyftBC

“The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.” –Chinua Achebe, Things Fall ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2QJp0wA

Usually competition among businesses benefits the consumers, but there are some that actually harm them. For example, there existed a severe competition and rivalry among the various American intelligence agencies before 9/11. The chief rivals were the CIA and the FBI. Both jealously guarded their secret intelligence that they refused to share with the other. Two of the 9/11 terrorists had arrived in Los Angeles in January 2000. The CIA knew of their presence in the country and also knew of their plans to do something nefarious. But it did not share those details with the FBI. We saw ... Read Full Post from The Big Picture – The Express Tribune Blog https://ift.tt/3agSF83

Many years ago, I read Christina Lamb’s famous but controversial book titled Waiting for Allah: Pakistan’s Struggle for Democracy. Although her book, touched upon various facets of the Pakistani society, it focused on the role of religion. She made two key arguments. First that Pakistan was trapped by the need to adhere to a “true” version of Islam, which impeded its progress. She wrote, “The more the country strives for what its religious scholars see as true Islam, the less equipped it becomes for running a twentieth-century state, and the more it is forced to watch once-lagging competitors such ... Read Full Post from Welcome to Pakistan – The Express Tribune Blog https://ift.tt/2WFiHy6

California's air quality regulations help farmers prosper Study of 35-year period shows marked increase in production of perennial crops More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300234&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Researchers find new minor planets beyond Neptune Updated catalog of trans-Neptunian objects could aid in future searches for undiscovered planets More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300235&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Graphene underpins a new platform to selectively ID deadly strains of bacteria Team demonstrates the first electrical detection of two pathogenic bacteria species More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300236&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

New nano strategy fights superbugs Material 'traps and zaps' floating DNA that makes bacteria resistant More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300237&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

The life and death of one of America's most mysterious trees Tree-ring scientists trace the origin of a log unearthed almost a century ago More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300238&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Sustainable Adhesives of the Future Won't Stick Around Chemists hope alternative adhesive will provide a more environmentally friendly option More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300239&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

A few weeks ago, the driver of a minivan slept at the wheel while travelling on the Motorway (M-2). He crashed into a truck resulting in five casualties. Several slogans have been displayed on the road saying “Speed thrills but kills”, “Don’t drive if you are tired”, “Check your tyres” etc. Sloganeering ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2WBnY9O

In the months since the novel coronavirus rose from a regional crisis to a global threat, which killed nearly 10,000 people, drug makers, large and small have scrambled to advance their best ideas for thwarting this pandemic. As COVID-19 spreads illness, death and catastrophe around the world, virtually no economic sector has been spared for harm. ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2QBUPYc

This week, shut in my home away from my friends and family, like millions other around the world, has been one of introspection. We are living through unprecedented times. A global pandemic has swept our world, the likes of which the last three generations has not witnessed. The one question that everyone seems to be asking themselves and others ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3bmnMQ0

“There is no better way to bring people together than with desserts.” –Gail Simmons   Turks use pistachio as the main nut in baklava.   Foods do travel. If one goes to an outlet of Kitchen Cuisine or any other bakery in one of the large cities of Pakistan, one sees some new entrees as well behind the glass showcases. ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3agaIez

John J. Lennon is a contributing editor for Esquire and a contributing writer for The Marshall Project . He is serving a sentence of 28-years-to-life in Sing Sing prison. For Esquire , he reports on how Sing Sing has been preparing the prison facility for the virus from among a population for whom social distancing isn’t possible . Sing Sing is on the east bank of the Hudson River, in Westchester County. Behind a thirty-foot wall, 1600 of us live in close quarters on open-tier cellblocks stacked four or five floors high. In here, there is no such thing as “social distancing.” Look down the phone line at any prison in America, and you’ll see prisoners holding socks. When it’s you’re your turn, you pull the sock over the handset. Lately, some guys have brought nasal-spray bottles filled with bleach and water, which they use to wipe everything down. A primitive form of preventative health. Read the story

This gradual increase in temperature of the earth’s atmosphere is negatively impacting nature and mounts a serious threat to people. Global warming affects the population and distribution of species, ecological composition, natural production of fuels and goods leading to habitat fragmentation, change in climate and overexploitation. The ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2xfmNlK

Every aspiring student of political science will quote Benedict Anderson to tell you that nations are imagined communities. While there is debate over man being individualistic or communitarian there is a relative consensus over states and nations being artificial constructs. At this point any political scientist would promptly differentiate ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3a7i7wR

There appears an illustrative reminder in the top left corner of the front page of The Nation every day, updating the number of days that have passed since the Indian authorities imposed a strict lockdown in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) on August 5, last year. As I am writing these lines, this lockdown has entered the 230th consecutive day. ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/39capAr

“If women want any rights more than they’ve got, why don’t they just take them, and not be talking about it.” –Sojourner Truth   Sojourner Truth is an American women rights and anti-slavery activist. She died on November 26th in 1883 at the age of 96. She is, perhaps best known for her speech titled ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UtdIOb

The world economy has turned upside down in the last few months after the coronavirus outbreak in China. Globally, stock markets have collapsed. Factories are shut down, airports are deserted, offices have stopped their operations and shops are closed to try to contain the virus. Social distancing, self-isolation and a few other practices are ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2xc51zZ

Recently, the cement sector has been in the news for its robust expansion – new plants are being setup and existing plants are increasing their capacity. The Pakistani cement sector has grown exponentially – having doubled its annual production capacity after every decade or even earlier. The fast growth has been driven by both public ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3beoNtc

Over the past few days, the spread of coronavirus has revealed an unsettling truth: our species, and our way of life, is brittle. Despite the carefully constructed veneer of invincibility, we are a people that are only ever one disease away from falling apart. That our individual lives and collective systems are mortally frail. And that, while the ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2QzQN2E

“One day the great European War will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans.” –Otto Von Bismarck, 1898   Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie on the 28 June 1914, moments before their assassination.   This iconic picture shows Archduke Franz Ferdinand with his wife Sophie on the day they were ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3didOkh

If we were in the middle of a military war, a media campaign against active-duty soldiers would be considered ‘distasteful’ at best, if not outright ‘seditious’. On March 16th, two doctors in Islamabad were shifted into isolation for treating a patient suspected of COVID-19 (coronavirus) infection. These doctors who put the patient on the ventilator were not equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). Basic PPEs may include face masks, surgical gloves, aprons, and gowns. In a different war, these doctors would have medals being pinned to their chest. But in this crucial war for public health and safety, such healthcare professionals ... Read Full Post from Welcome to Pakistan – The Express Tribune Blog https://ift.tt/39a9MHg

Every soldier is motivated to lie in wait for a day that may never come and yet be prepared if it does; even to the peril of life. Military planners spend entire careers identifying a threat that may never materialise. The world over, militaries are being requisitioned to help contain and fight back the coronavirus pandemic. In the developing and ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3bd6CUM

Out of the ten countries most affected by coronavirus, COVID-19, excluding China and the USA, the respective population in its entirety of the eight countries is not even close to Punjab, one of the four provinces of Pakistan: Italy is 60.8 million; Iran 81.16; Spain 46.66; Germany 82.79; France 66.99; South Korea 51.47; Switzerland 8.57 million; ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2J6pZTk

In 1979, the Nobel Peace Prize went to Mother Teresa for her work to help the poor die with dignity. In 2006, the Nobel Peace Prize went to Grameen Bank (GB), Bangladesh and Dr Muhammad Yunus for his work to help the poor live with dignity. Even though 2005 was marked as the year of microcredit by the United Nations (UN), it was perhaps because of ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/33AKu3U

After the fall of Soviet Union, media was one of many things that observed a decline in quality of reporting. The most glaring example of media falling for official lies was the media coverage of Iraq War that the US initiated in 2003. Many critics accused US mainstream media channels of selling a pro-war narrative to the Americans during the ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UoPaG1

Argentina : Technical Assistance Report-Staff Technical Note on Public Debt Sustainability Published March 20, 2020 at 09:00AM

In trying times, many of us gravitate to escapist cultural consumption — think Seth Rogen watching Cats for the first time while very, very high. You’d assume that a story about mid-market post-apocalyptic bunkers in South Dakota would be the last thing to fit that bill, yet I somehow found Mark O’Connell ’s excerpt on that very topic , in The Guardian , oddly soothing. The piece takes great pleasure in describing the obvious folly of the enterprise — how could it not? (I kept wondering: all these communities would depend on contracted armed forces for protection, but what would stop these mercenaries from killing their wealthy overlords and taking over all the fancy dry foods in their underground pantries?) But it also shows how this absurd concept is, in fact, a very natural next step for a society that largely refuses to act as one. The place was, I read on the company’s website, “strategically and centrally located in one of the safest areas of North America”, at an altitude ...

Italy : 2020 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Italy Published March 20, 2020 at 09:00AM

Italy : Financial System Stability Assessment Published March 20, 2020 at 09:00AM

In trying times, many of us gravitate to escapist cultural consumption — think Seth Rogen watching Cats for the first time while very, very high. You’d assume that a story about mid-market post-apocalyptic bunkers in South Dakota would be the last thing to fit that bill, yet I somehow found Mark O’Connell ’s excerpt on that very topic , in The Guardian , oddly soothing. The piece takes great pleasure in describing the obvious folly of the enterprise — how could it not? (I kept wondering: all these communities would depend on contracted armed forces for protection, but what would stop these mercenaries from killing their wealthy overlords and taking over all the fancy dry foods in their underground pantries?) But it also shows how this absurd concept is, in fact, a very natural next step for a society that largely refuses to act as one. The place was, I read on the company’s website, “strategically and centrally located in one of the safest areas of North America”, at an altitude ...

Before the sun has even risen, 47-year-old Laali Bai, a mother of five from Umerkot, begins her daily commute on foot towards the brick kiln, braving the often harsh morning air with the rest of her family members. She has been working at the kiln for the last five years, earning a daily wage of merely Rs500. Bai is visibly suffering from a skin allergy that she has most likely contracted from the soil that is used for making bricks. “I work for 12 hours a day and earn a mere Rs500. My family members and I use the soil to make bricks. ... Read Full Post from Welcome to Pakistan – The Express Tribune Blog https://ift.tt/2xab6Na

In most of my conversations about the political state of affairs in Pakistan, the consensus is often on two topics: a) critique of the performance of the Imran Khan-led government over the past few months, and b) an appreciation for Khan’s oratory skills after most, if not all, broadcasted speeches. In an age of populist politics, political divisiveness, online echo-chambers, there are few global leaders who have the unique capability to make people listen to them beyond the divides of politics, class, and religion. After listening to his speeches, I often go online and find people mentioning how they fall ... Read Full Post from Welcome to Pakistan – The Express Tribune Blog https://ift.tt/3a6DJcD

In a joint statement issued at the end of President Arif Alvi’s visit to China, the two countries have rightly underlined that the coronavirus is a common challenge for humanity, and all countries should unite and cooperate to overcome it together. With almost all the countries of the world having been affected by the pandemic in varying ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2Un4vqz

It was a special visit at a special time. His Excellency Dr Arif Alvi, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan visited China on March 16 & 17, 2020. As President Xi Jinping said during the meeting with President Arif Alvi, “China is deeply grateful for Pakistan’s support. Facts have proved once again that China and Pakistan ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3bcqOWW

An endemic is a disease constrained to a geographical area. But once a disease spreads around different geographic regions at the same time, it becomes an epidemic. A pandemic is a disease that puts the entire world into jeopardy. The SARS-CoV-2; one of the coronaviruses that cause an illness known as COVID-19, was declared a pandemic by the World ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2QsfyO4

The Black Panthers, also known as the Black Panther Party, was a political organisation that challenged the police brutality against the African Americans in the United States. The American society was fighting an internal war against racism then. The leading voices against racism were of Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X. However, they were not ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2wn1wqe

Republic of Moldova : Selected Issues Published March 18, 2020 at 09:00AM

Experience has proved that on time cooperation for preventing the proliferation of a crisis is both logical and an issue of public interest. Today, the world is witnessing a spread of infection in an increasing number of people to a scourge called COVID-19. Any inattention by world leaders to this scourge will lead to a further spread of the virus ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3b6RWq7

At the time of partition of the Subcontinent, the British ruling government of India played the unfair and dirty role of a broker between India and Pakistan, by favouring the top Congress political leadership of India in all respects, leaving behind the issue of the Muslim majority state of Jammu and Kashmir unresolved and essentially turned it ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3dfjcou

A couple of Saturdays ago, I had the opportunity to attend a large event organised by a private school – that was before the Government advised that we should refrain from big gatherings for some time. The event I attended was the annual event of Sir Syed Preparatory School System (SSPSS) in Khanpur, off Express Highway, at the ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2wa11Qn

“They talk about the failure of socialism but where is the success of capitalism in Africa, Asia and Latin America.”–Fidel Castro On September 18, 1960, Fidel Castro visited New York as a speaker at the United Nations General Assembly. Till then, America realised that Castro would not accept dictation from White House. ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2xQDUL4

Banded mongoose study reveals how behavior and landscape influence disease spread Research produces insights into what influences the transmission of pathogens More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300211&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Indian Ocean phenomenon spells climate trouble for Australia Southeast Australia on course for increasingly hot and dry conditions More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300207&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Republic of Moldova : Staff Report for the 2020 Article IV Consultation and Sixth Reviews Under the Extended Credit Facility and Extended Fund Facility Arrangements-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Republic of Moldova Published March 18, 2020 at 09:00AM

The tentative deal signed on February 29, 2020 between the United States (US) and the Afghan Taliban after almost two decades of war hinges on a successful execution of four main points. Firstly, America has to gradually withdraw its troops from Afghanistan over the next 14 months, with 5,600 troops to leave the country within 135 days. Secondly, the Taliban and the Afghan government (which was not a party to the deal) must open direct talks, which will be preceded by the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners currently held by the Afghan government and the release of 1,000 prisoners in Taliban captivity. Thirdly, the Taliban ... Read Full Post from The Big Picture – The Express Tribune Blog https://ift.tt/3bgQJwL

Where'd you get those genes? Individual growth can vary wildly when populations interbreed Scientists find that interactions between different types of DNA determine hybrid fitness More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300202&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Food systems are fodder for curbing cities' environmental impacts Urbanization a key driver of environmental change in the 21st century More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300201&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

According to informed statistics, Pakistan’s energy mix is formed of 64% fossil fuels, 27% hydropower, 5% nuclear power and 4% renewables. While Pakistan has strong potential for producing renewable energy, it is still far behind much of the world in developing these resources. Realising this pending need, the federal cabinet recently ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2QloO6A

The dairy and livestock sectors constitute the mainstay of socioeconomic development and rural livelihood of our country. The buffalo is the second most important dairy animal in the world. It is considered the “black gold” of Pakistan on account of its significant contribution towards the overall milk and meat production. Pakistan has ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3b98s9f

Senator Rehman MalikThe writer is Former Interior Minister of Pakistan, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Chairman of Think Tank “Global Eye”. He can be reached at: rmalik1212@gmail.com, Twitter@SenrehmanmalikBiowarfare is can now be considered 5th generation warfare and is becoming lethal day by day. This is a ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3b5PtMJ

“Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.”–Jim Jones This grisly image shows the remains of Jonestown Massacre victims.   Perhaps one of the most disturbing events in modern history, the Jonestown Massacre was the site of the largest recorded mass suicide and the point of origin for the phrase “drinking the ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2TYritR

Microbes far beneath the seafloor rely on carbon recycling to survive Study reveals how microorganisms survive thousands of feet beneath the ocean floor More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300200&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Size-selective fishing results in trade-offs between fishery yield, reproductive capacity How people fish matters as much as quantity harvested More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300199&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Bosnia and Herzegovina : Technical Assistance Report-Government Finance Statistics Mission Published March 17, 2020 at 09:00AM