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Showing posts from November, 2020

The labour of leisure

It was recently announced by the Minister of Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhary that a special programme of animation and video games would be launched to encourage young people to be part of the large and lucrative global gaming industry. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3g4PDYB

People must be heard

Noise is an essential ingredient of democracy as it was conceived in the Bazaar or marketplace of Athens around 430 BC. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3fR5KbU

The government’s crashing ship and clashes with the opposition

The nation and people in opposition are getting increasingly worried about the internal and external anti-Pakistan proxy wars to destabilise the country and the government needs to watch out to act fast to counter it. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3lwka2A

Past in Perspective

“[Boko Haram serves] as a reminder that social justice remains incomplete without penetration through some very lamentable beginnings. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3lqIm6n

New Indian doctrine

Chanakya was an ancient Indian philosopher who served as the advisor to the Maurya ruler and authored the Arthashastra some 2400 years ago. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3lgpXZH

India sponsoring terrorism inside Pakistan

Pakistan has launched a fully offensive attack on India through providing irrefutable evidence to the international community and world forums about it persistently supporting and sponsoring terrorism to destabilise Pakistan and sabotaging CPEC as a whole. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3o7n8vT

RCEP: Economic fortunes and challenges

With economic windfalls and challenges, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is an ‘Asian Economic Stride’, on a global trade stage. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/36lDoDm

Past in Perspective

“I do not accept women or children either: drive them back to their people or shoot them. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/33u3l1Y

The Arabs and India

The Arabs were quite familiar with India from the pre-Islamic days. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/2KEcChd

The fatal second wave

Covid-19 is making a resurgent come back in Pakistan. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/39jc22S

‘Whatever the cost’

On Friday, in the midst of useless political frenzy concerning the upcoming PDM ‘power show’ in Multan, Rana Sanauallah (one of the closest confidants of Maryam Nawaz) was questioned about the possibility of delaying the planned ‘jalsa’, in light of unprecedented Covid-19 numbers. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/37ghHnI

Past in Perspective

“If women want any rights more than they’ve got, why don’t they just take them, and not be talking about it. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3qcDLrR

G-B is going to grow

A lot is being discussed about the 4th industrial revolution in the knowledge-based economies, and the accompanying innovations it is bringing in the fields such as material sciences, regenerative medicines, and genomics. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/2JiIoA1

Higher education and exports

Historically, what we used to call the ‘Gilgit Agency’ was made up of the princely states of Hunza and Nagar, the smaller entities of Chilas, Koh Ghizr, Ishkoman, Yasin and Punial, and the Gilgit Wazarat. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3lnjrAJ

Rogue India on the warpath

India comes across as a frustrated country, continuously ruing its unfulfilled, self-professed promise. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3fFT083

Past in Perspective

“It was not so easy to forget that for many years Maradona had committed the sin of being the best, the crime of speaking out about things the powerful wanted kept quiet,”–Eduardo Galeano Diego Maradona, one of the greatest football players of all time was born on 30 October 1960, in Lanus, Argentina. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/33q1ETf

India’s terrorist plot against Pakistan

Under the façade of democracy India has long been engaged in pushing its hegemonic designs by fomenting trouble in neighbouring countries, including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3macuE4

The way forward

Pakistan is currently faced with a national crisis of an unprecedented magnitude due to the onset of the pandemic particularly the second wave which seems more threatening from its first stint regarding claiming human lives and its debilitating impact on the economy. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/36auVmL

Hope for content

The seismic shift to digital on-demand forums has brought new hopes for diversification of high-value entertainment content. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/37ilTn4

Past in Perspective

“Because I was politically involved (in Algeria’s war), the bourgeois establishment wanted to cover up my ‘past errors’. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/368jifO

‘Thanksgiving’—a universal event

The event today, ‘Thanksgiving’ is the most American event we can find, well, except for that it is also celebrated in Canada, a month earlier. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/2V1wcWT

The motivating monster

In my line of work as a therapist one of the most common presenting issues clients want to work on is lack of motivation. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/2Jd67l4

Time to counter India’s regional designs

We have been witnessing multiple changes in the world for the past few months. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3o1c831

Past in Perspective

“What the imperialists cannot forgive us is that we have made a Socialist revolution under their noses. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/2JcMolg

Treading on the same rake

Inter-country relationships are built on vision and foresightedness. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3lY8Qx0

The Foreign Minister of Iran

Recently Dr Javad Zarif, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran visited the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and met Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Imran Khan. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3l2uMG3

Economy—are we headed in the right direction?

There was a needless and rather pointless presentation by the Finance Minister last week comparing the economic performance of the PML(N)’s last 9 quarters with the first 9 quarters of the PTI government. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3lb8KkF

Past in Perspective

“A person can only be born in one place. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/2JdqP3S

The case for cryptocurrencies

There is a burgeoning conversation in Pakistan around the use and ownership of an asset class commonly known as “cryptocurrencies. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3nQbgyd

Beware CPEC

As preparations for the 10th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting of the CPEC get into full swing, this year the meeting will be held in an environment where production and distribution systems across the globe have been impacted by the COVID -19 virus and therefore, cooperation within regional partners and global markets is imperative. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/398OBZT

China will bring golden development opportunities for Pakistan

At the recent China International Import Expo (CIIE), a Chinese speaking Pakistani jeweler Aqeel Ahmed Chaudhry was very happy because the sapphires and other jewels he exhibited attracted many Chinese businessmen. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3606wjI

Past in Perspective

“A work of art must make a man react… It must agitate him and shake him up. from The Nation - Columns https://ift.tt/3pYWg3c

Mainstreaming non-state actors

The creation of Pakistan was based on the two-nation theory. Hindus and Muslims were not able to live together, therefore Jinnah’s vision was that Muslims should have an independent state. Pakistan is a nation which consists of different ethnicities, distinctive cultures, customs, traditions and languages. Quaid-e-Azam, while addressing the ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2KyNKrl

Kashmir, Pakistan and the issue of self-determination

The people of Kashmir have always looked towards Pakistan with the hope that this is the nation which will enable them to break their shackles of slavery and steer them to the path of freedom. However, in the recent years, some of the enigmatic statements and actions emerging from the country have created serious doubts in the Kashmiri minds.The ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2J6gN4w

Treks and sustainable tourism

We did two fascinating treks during October 2020 on the sides of River Kunhar at the mouth of the Kaghan Valley. We first climbed the Makra feature along the Kunhar River’s left bank and the other to Musa ka Musalla off the right bank. However, our experiences over the years suggest that treks traverse a dwindling natural resource base and ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3lZpfl0

Past in Perspective

“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.” Martin Luther King’s ‘dream’ for the emancipation of African American’s launched a new era into the world platform. He worked hard and diligently for ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UNXn7g

Responsibility to predict and prevent

It is said that “there are two kinds of forecasters: those who don’t know, and those who don’t know they don’t know.” Most of the appalling events that happen in our personal or national life are attributed to failure to precisely foresee or accurately forecast all possible and probable scenarios that could help to ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3lUcFTR

Another Universal Children’s Day

Three decades ago on November 12 1990, Pakistan ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The United Nations adopted this convention on November 20, 1990; the day also known as Universal Children’s Day. But as a state, is the commitment we made thirty years ago result-oriented? The answer is not very definite, as ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/36Wjazo

Reform of Madrassas

A perusal of the history of Islamic civilisation bears testament to a time when educational systems across the Muslim world, the ‘madrassas’, were unchallenged cathedrals of religious and scientific advancement.We are told of a time, at the turn of the eleventh century, when Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and even atheist scholars from the ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/36XTjHd

Past in Perspective

“I do not write to give joy to readers but togive them a conscience.”— Pramoedya Ananta Toer Pramoedya Ananta Toer, the greatest Indonesian writer of all times,  was born on February 6, 1925, in Blora. Pram, as he was widely known, joined the anti-colonial struggle against Japan during World War II and later enlisted in an ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2IYrPJc

The need for national harmony

In a recent statement, ISPR said that officials of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and Pakistan Rangers Sindh, involved in the kidnapping of Sindh Inspector General Mushtaq Mahar have been removed pending further departmental proceedings for acting “overzealously…with the fall out of the desecration of ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2IOv4U2

Slip of the tweet

Recently, the US embassy in Islamabad retweeted a tweet of Pakistani politician Ahsan Iqbal who shared news about the US elections along with his sarcastic remarks. The tweet went viral and qualified to be controversial because of its very nature of political opinion. The embassy officially apologised through its Twitter account for what was done ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UPqoPO

Parliamentary oneness deepens on CPEC

2020 has become a watershed year in deepening parliamentary consensus on CPEC. Along with a number of meetings, two major events have brought together all democratic and political key players in the national assembly and senate on a unified agenda; that the future of Pakistan is centred on CPEC trade and investment.Consensus made its mark first at ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/336Zxnc

Past in Perspective

“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”–Nelson Mandela Yesterday, November 20 was World Children’s Day. Therefore, going back to the history of the efforts to protect the children’s rights is important. After, the establishment of the United ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/333VtUE

An open letter to Ayaz Sadiq

The Indian Economic Times story on October 30 quoted a statement from former Air Force chief BS Dhanoa, who said that India was ready to wipe out Pakistan’s forward brigades had Islamabad’s “military adventure” been successful in response to the Balakot aerial strikes and added that “our military posture was very ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2HiHum9

COVID: Staging a comeback

Prime Minister Imran Khan, while briefing the media on the pandemic and the deliberations of the NCOC on Monday November 16, rightly urged the nation to follow SOPs strictly and wear facemasks in public, as it reduced the risk of contracting the virus. He said that the number of coronavirus cases had quadrupled during the last 14 days. He revealed ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UIqSr1

A nation in search of a destination

We lost East Pakistan because of unreasonable Indian-sponsored agitation and we did not care about the hate in the eyes of the people of Bengal and failed to counter this hate and our enemies. The enemy is back in the town with the same tricks to replicate to achieve its evil designs. I wish our then leadership had sensed those anti-Pakistan moves ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3nH3XsA

Past in Perspective

“…the protection of human rights creates a pretext for intervention as given approval by the UN Security Council in the form of the R2P (responsibility to protect) norm, as used in the 2011 Libyan intervention. The same applies to international criminal accountability.”–Richard A. Falk In 2005 the international community ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/331jxHC

An energy-secure Punjab

Energy is an essential ingredient of socio-economic development and economic growth. Over the past two years the PTI government, which came to power on the promise of increasing economic development, has made large strides in ensuring an enhanced supply of commercial energy. Currently, Pakistan produces a total of 33,961 MW of energy. Over half of ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3kHGWE3

The persecuted victim

A week ago, I came across a video that went viral on social media. It showed the employee of a well-known local bank harassing and inappropriately touching a woman inside the bank. It’s believed that the woman was also employed at the bank.As a woman I have experienced harassment myself. It ranges from being inappropriately touched to a man ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/32WEYd2

Admitting mistakes and defeat

President Donald Trump said in this year’s presidential election that he didn’t like to lose, probably because he felt he couldn’t really make mistakes and be at fault, and if so, he wouldn’t like to admit it and blame others around him. But then he did lose, and that even to someone he had nicknamed ‘Sleepy ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UBPtOp

Past in Perspective

“Books and all forms of writing are terror to those who wish to suppress truth.”–Wole Soyinka Born on July 12, 1904, Ricardo Eliezer Neftali Reyes y Basoalto adopted the pseudonym “Neruda.” Little did Ricardo know that the world would know him by his pseudonym more than his actual one. Since an early age, Neruda ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2HdvQsI

Revenue collection—a new look

While coming from the FBR (Federal Bureau of Revenue) it somewhat makes sense, but it has almost become a fashion in Pakistan to the point of becoming a fault that nearly everyone from the average man on the street to the most celebrated intellectuals call out the fact that Pakistanis do not meet their fair tax obligations and only if everyone ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3kJQ0s2

Bridging the gender digital divide

The impacts of crises are never gender neutral, and COVID-19 is no exception. While men reportedly have a higher fatality rate, women and girls are especially hurt by the resulting economic and social fallout. Impacts on women and girls have worsened across the board. Women are losing their livelihoods faster because they are more exposed to ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3lFIEav

Globalisation undeterred

For all the pundits who have been heralding a firm and decisive “retreat” of globalisation in the past few years, there is now a stunning counterexample of resurgent globalisation in the world. In the midst of global economic gridlock and a public health catastrophe, a large group of Asian-Pacific countries have just signed the largest ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/38RKMZ9

Past in Perspective

“Without revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement.”–Vladimir Lenin The Russian Revolution of 1917 was one of the most explosive political events of the twentieth century. The violent revolution marked the end of the Romanov dynasty and centuries of Russian Imperial rule. During the Russian Revolution, the ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3nCGIjh

Revamping Pakistan’s bar councils

Bar councils across the country have their affairs governed under the Pakistan Legal Practitioners and Bar Council Act 1973. It establishes a hierarchy of two tiers of bar councils that has the Pakistan Bar Council as a parent body comprising lawyer’s associations. And second in line are the four provincial bar councils that have their rules ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2ILOrgd

New plan promotes new development

The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was held in Beijing from October 26th to 29th, and “the Proposals of the CPC Central Committee on Formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2035) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/36DjGSG

Only the motivated can rise

Demotivated nations have no future. According to Comrade Lee Kuan Yew, the builder of modern Singapore, the primary task of political leadership and the bureaucracy is to motivate the nation to perform. The success of the island nation rests on these two pillars; honest and able political leadership combined with an efficient and performing ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3kEo3Sz

Past in Perspective

“Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future, too.”–Marcus Aurelius Osman Ghazi, son of Ertugrul, is believed to be the man who laid foundations of the Ottoman Empire. Critics of Recep Erdogan started calling him a neo-Ottoman after he had won the last elections in Turkey. ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3f34Cla

The impact of Biden’s victory

In topping Trump in a race that was both upended and largely defined by the coronavirus, the Democratic nominee Joseph Biden has become the first challenger to defeat an incumbent first-term president in nearly 30 years by gaining the highest number of votes by any president in the history of America. With his victory, his running mate, California ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/32IRzAk

Pakistan wins international support

The longstanding Pak-India conflict is not new to the world, nor is the fact that India has been making full use of proxy warriors and miscreants for decades, to destabilize Pakistan. What is new is that Pakistan finally decided to come out with a loud and clear declaration of calculated and precise evidence-based factual details on how, when, ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3eZuLBo

Killing of Pakistani Hindus in India

The white in the Pakistani flag represents minorities and is symbolic of the idea that non-Muslims are to be treated as equal citizens of the country. The Hindu population of Pakistan has not changed since 1951, when it accounted for 1.5 to 2 percent. This is contrary to the claims of forced conversion to Islam, clearly false, made by Indian ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UxgUZD

Past in Perspective

“You will miss meWhen you’ll be in our favourite restaurantWith the girl who doesn’t like biryani”–Saumya Sinha Biryani is undoubtedly the most famous of all the rice dishes in the South Asian cuisine. The popularity of biryani can be gauged from the disputes around its origin. Some claim that the dish came from Iran ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3nsKE6a

The best bet

A string of challenges in our national journey has brought our signature trait of resilience into sharp relief. The prudent tackling of the first spell of COVID-19 pandemic brought to the fore this characteristic, but this feature will be put to a real hard test in post-pandemic economic recovery by a government that has predicted more turbulence ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UqygqP

An unprecedented inquiry

Finally the cat is out of the bag. The court of inquiry convened by the COAS Gen Bajwa on the request of Bilawal Bhutto for the IG Sindh case in Karachi has been concluded and the recommendations have been made public. In the inquiry, blame has been apportioned on a Brigadier from ISI and a Lt Col from Rangers for reacting zealously under the ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UsgrHZ

A failed system?

Pakistan is a democratic ‘constitutional republic’. In simpler words, Pakistan is a democracy that is supposed to function according to the institutional framework enshrined under the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973. The success of this structure, as envisioned in the Constitution, is predicated upon certain ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UvhMhn

Past in Perspective

“... the ways by which men arrive at knowledge of the celestial things are hardly less wonderful than the nature of these things themselves.”–Johannes Kepler Johannes Kepler, the foremost German astronomer of his times, died on November 15, 1630. His name would remain alive forever since he discovered three laws of ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/38L3t0y

Making appreciable headway

Everyone in urban and rural areas of Pakistan needs a shelter or home, preferably their own—be it of a small, medium or large size. However, with the passage of time, this was becoming impossible for more and more people, particularly those belonging to the public or private sector with meagre sources of income. The cost of the land, even in ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3eXRz4h

France and hate speech

On January 7, 2015, a black Citroën traversed through Rue Nicolas Appert in Paris and made its way to the Charlie Hebdo office. Upon reaching, two men dressed in black from head to toe, broke into the building and opened fire, killing 12 people including the editor at Charlie Hebdo, Stéphane Charbonne. Just as this vindictive bloodbath ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2H0y8vl

Anti-Pakistan conspirators in action

I have been writing for a long about proxy wars coupled with hybrid wars linking it with 5th generation warfare duly funded by some countries of the world and also by India. India has expedited its interference in neighbouring countries under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Soon after he was sworn in for a second term, I had stated outside ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3eZNNYj

Past in Perspective

“Night flows these days like a wave of wine, Dawn opens like a rose full of colour and scent; If cups are desolate, have some respect for spring; Fill the heart with desire, the eyes with blood.”–Faiz Faiz Ahmad Faiz born on February 13, 1911, in Sialkot emerged as one of the greatest Urdu poets in the post-partition ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2H0y6nd

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan : Request for a 42-Month Arrangement Under the Extended Credit Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan : Request for a 42-Month Arrangement Under the Extended Credit Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Published November 13, 2020 at 10:00AM

Norway : Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Risk Analysis and Stress Testing

Norway : Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Risk Analysis and Stress Testing Published November 10, 2020 at 10:00AM

Spain : Selected Issues

Spain : Selected Issues Published November 13, 2020 at 10:00AM

Spain : 2020 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Spain

Spain : 2020 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Spain Published November 13, 2020 at 10:00AM

Improving education in Punjab

As a fundamental human right, education is vital to human, social and economic development. In Pakistan, this right has been enshrined in the constitution as Article 25-A, which makes the state responsible to provide free and compulsory education to children aged 5-16 years. Under the current Chief Minister, Sardar Usman Buzdar, the government has ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/35r2bpt

Gilgit Baltistan elections

‘This is an election of Gilgit Baltistan but nobody is talking about its issues, pains and miseries emanating from a disputed identity. Political parties are having a series of election rallies only to amplify their rhetoric as if rallies are being held in the rest of Pakistan. Crowds are chanting to voice party slogans but, believe me sir, ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/32CYfji

Commendable commitment to housing

A self-owned shelter called home is the dream of every individual and family, as apart from being a basic need it is also a necessity-driven desire from the perspective of social recognition and prestige. For the incumbent governments and the parties aspiring to win the franchise of the people to rule the country, housing also has a great ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3ksVrvt

Past in Perspective

Since the 18th century, there were voices that would advocate for women rights and their participation in the public sphere more vigorously. The advocates of women rights and their participation in public life were Europeans. While Europe attribute feminism as the outcome of the Enlightenment project, it is also important to credit a Muslim ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3nk5xAr

Researchers engineer tiny, shape-changing machines that deliver medicine to the GI tract

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Researchers engineer tiny, shape-changing machines that deliver medicine to the GI tract 'Theragrippers’ are inspired by a parasitic worm that clamps onto its host's intestines More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301630&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Heavy rainfall drives one-third of nitrogen runoff, according to new study

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Heavy rainfall drives one-third of nitrogen runoff, according to new study Research looked at nitrogen runoff from farmland in the Mississippi River basin More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301631&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

A suitable proposal

Getting married and more importantly at the right age and even more importantly to a ‘suitable boy or girl’ is the top most priority of all parents across all classes of our society. I believe parents in our culture place marriage at a higher priority than the professional or personal development of their children. In many cases ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/35mcafo

World Pneumonia Day

High temperature with heavy breathing and wheezing; nine-month old Tehreem is cuddled in her mother’s arms. Nasreen, 22, had taken her to the health house in her neighbourhood and then to the lady doctor who sits in the clinic in the main G-6 Markaz, but no one could tell her what was wrong.Within a few days, her situation got worse as she ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3ngu9u1

Strong when on your shoulders

There is a famous song by Josh Groban, American singer and Irish Secret Garden member, entitled ‘You Raise Me Up’. “You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up to walk on stormy seas; I am strong when I am on your shoulders; You raise me up to more than I can be.” The music for the song was composed by ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2Ip6rN0

Past in Perspective

“[T]he world is governed by institutions that are not democratic - the World Bank, the IMF, the WTO.”–Jose Saramago The foundations of World Bank (WB) were laid down at Bretton Wood Conference along with that of International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1944. Though WB claims that its principal aim is to promote global development and ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/32yFeig

Philippines : Financial Sector Assessment Program-Detailed Assessment of Observance—Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision

Philippines : Financial Sector Assessment Program-Detailed Assessment of Observance—Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision Published November 10, 2020 at 10:00AM

‘Social Media Managers Are First Responders’

Constantly navigating a 2020 news cycle that eats itself and a Twitter stream that endlessly flows, “ social media managers are first responders ,” writes Marta Martinez . The people tasked with handling social media at a company are expected to stay abreast of what’s happening in the world, react swiftly, and act as an official voice for a brand. Yet individuals in these roles are not always provided the support and resources to do their jobs well, and the time and effort involved in this type of work, including strategy, content creation, and community management, is often dismissed as trivial. Hey, can you whip up a few tweets? Can you promote this on our accounts? Let’s launch more channels! Let’s build a community!  Under “normal” circumstances, social media management is hard work that requires a varied skillset. In 2020, it’s a stressful and hazardous job, says Matthew Kobach, who worked as the New York Stock Exchange’s social media manager, and one that should be paid accordin

New smartwatch app alerts deaf and hard-of-hearing users to common home-related sounds

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New smartwatch app alerts deaf and hard-of-hearing users to common home-related sounds Prototype used machine learning to classify sounds in real time More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301616&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Silk Road contains genomic resources for improving apples

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Silk Road contains genomic resources for improving apples The apple's domestication history has led to untapped sources of genes More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301618&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Cabo Verde : Second Review Under the Policy Coordination Instrument and Request for Modification of Targets

Cabo Verde : Second Review Under the Policy Coordination Instrument and Request for Modification of Targets Published November 10, 2020 at 10:00AM

COVID-19 and inequality

One must acknowledge that divine help notwithstanding, the government’s policy vis-Ă -vis managing the corona pandemic has been quite prudent where it has consistently tried to balance safety with employment and personal income sustainability. However, the challenge may not be as simple as that, as pointed out by two recent reports ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3eNcgjm

America first, Trump second

So, the ‘America First’ strategy didn’t work as Donald Trump finished second in the presidential race. Despite his refusal to concede, it is clear that the curtains are officially drawn on America’s first reality TV show host turned President.For many, Trump’s defeat is a self-fulfilling prophecy. That he was a victim ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/36rcpoK

Comparing the Pak-India COVID fights

As the second COVID wave hits the world and nations across the globe grapple with the emerging challenge, it may be important to compare Pakistan’s COVID management strategy with India to draw some lessons to deal with the second wave.Pakistan and India were affected by COVID’s first wave in Feb-March this year, despite a better ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/36lJItz

Past in Perspective

“Having spent nearly 10 years of my life in jail and another five or more years underground or under house arrest, I’ve never doubted that Pakistan would overlook my contribution.”–Sobho Gianchnadani Born in 1920 in a village near Mohenjo Daro, Sobho Gianchandani was a prominent Sindhi politician, activist, and ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/32wuDEs

The triumph of Trumpism

After more than 100 hours of the polls closing, several states in the United States are still counting votes in the Presidential Election 2020. Just yesterday, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., was declared as the presumptive ‘President-elect’ by most television networks. However, this result is still ‘presumptive’ for now. ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2UbcJCI

Banning PML

As a Muslim league child, I am appealing to the Prime Minister (PM) to ban all factions of the Pakistan Muslim League for repeatedly derailing democracy in the republic. The All-India Muslim League (AIML) was the founding party of Pakistan. On August 14, 1947 after the partition of the Indian Subcontinent, AIML ceased to exist as a unified party ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3leqzQB

Kashmir—a bleeding wound

The partition of the sub-continent left the fate of 568 princely states undecided by giving the right to decide which of the two countries they would join to their rulers. Being an overwhelmingly Muslim majority state, and because of the geographical location, Jammu and Kashmir should have joined Pakistan. But Hari Singh acceded to India contrary ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/35cnCtZ

Past in Perspective

“Nations are born in the hearts of poets, they prosper and die in the hands of politicians.” On this day in 1877, Muhammad Iqbal was born in Sialkot. Muhammad Iqbal is Pakistan’s national poet. However, he was more than a poet. Muhammad Iqbal wore many feathers on his hat. He was a poet, lawyer, politician, religious scholar and ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3pcjtOG

Cameroon : Request for Disbursement Under the Rapid Credit Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Cameroon

Cameroon : Request for Disbursement Under the Rapid Credit Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Cameroon Published November 09, 2020 at 10:00AM

Genomic data 'catches corals in the act' of speciation and adaptation

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Genomic data 'catches corals in the act' of speciation and adaptation Diversity in Hawaiian corals is likely driven by co-evolution More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301606&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Autonomous multi-drone aerial surveys of Antarctic penguin colonies

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Autonomous multi-drone aerial surveys of Antarctic penguin colonies Documenting a colony of Adélie penguins More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301609&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Summit of the democracies

With President-Elect Joe Biden having declared victory in the 2020 presidential race, a new tenor for international economic and diplomatic engagement is likely to be set, which in Biden’s words is to “renew the spirit and shared purpose of the nations of the free world”. An important manifestation of that “renewal” ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/358cUF4

These things are clear

As I sit to write this piece four days after the election, Joe Biden is leading in enough states to make it clear that he will win enough electoral college votes to become the 46th President of the United States. What was also clear is that Republicans will likely retain control of the Senate and the Democrats, while still the majority in the ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3nbmCNb

Expectations from the President-elect

The Democrats have struck back, led by Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States of America. The world is expecting reasonable changes in the American policies vis-Ă -vis peace and tranquillity throughout the world. While offering you, President Biden, my heartiest congratulations for election as the new President of the USA ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/32Hr66r

Past in Perspective

“Let us sink all our differences and stand united together under the same banner under which we truly achieved Pakistan and let us demonstrate once again that we can, united, face all dangers in the cause of glory of Pakistan, the glory that the Quaid-i-Azam envisaged for Pakistan.”— Fatima Jinnah Not much has been written about ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2JQdizR

World Town Planning Day 2020

Year 2020 advances towards its end and with that, it brings about the 71st anniversary of World Town Planning Day. The concept of world urban planning day has been reformed from a day to a week in which every day, a new aspect of urbanisation is marked and pondered upon. One of those days is known as “World Urbanism Day”.The history of ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2U4dihp

CPEC is the future of both Pakistan and Balochistan

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is generally described as a game changer for Pakistan and Balochistan. But in my reckoning, CPEC is much more than that. In the long-term perspective, CPEC is the future of Balochistan in the same way as Balochistan is the future of Pakistan.It is time the Pakistan government gave Balochistan the ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/32pHxUx

US-India strategic congruence

The US-India strategic partnership must be viewed as a subset of US’ Indo-Pacific strategy. India is central to it. The US is determined to circumscribe China’s inexorable rise as a contesting global power by restricting its sphere of influence in the Indo-Pacific Region (IPR), Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Eurasia, South-Central Asian ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3lfyzAU

Past in Perspective

“Seen in the light of evolution, biology is, perhaps, intellectually the most satisfying and inspiring science. Without that light it becomes a pile of sundry facts — some of them interesting or curious but making no meaningful picture as a whole.”–Theodosius Dobzhansky Charles Darwin is known for his revolutionary work in ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3eFItcy

US-India strategic congruence

The global geopolitical alignments are achanging. The world is inexorably moving towards a multipolar dispensation. The US is withdrawing from mainland Asia and is largely restricted to its peripheries only—the Arabian Peninsula in the West and the Indo-Pacific Region (IPR) in the East. China is fast emerging as a behemoth to challenge the ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/36erWYX

Communication matters

The controversial statement of Ayaz Sadiq, PML-N’s MNA and former speaker of the National Assembly regarding the release of military prisoner Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, caused uproar across the country. Similarly, the statement of Fawad Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Science and Technology was also termed controversial by a section ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/38kYP9o

Beware of the invisible war

Noam Chomsky said, “Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.” This article is a sequel to my previous pieces titled “Disinformation Warfare Counter Strategy Needed for Pakistan” and “What makes a country collapse?” This article is prompted by the ongoing blitz unleashed against ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/38fvixH

Past in Perspective

“If you’re going to be a writer you have to be one of the great ones, and they don’t make them anymore … After all, there are better ways to starve to death.”–Gabriel Garcia Marquez Gabriel Garcia Marquez was born on March 6, 1927, in Aracataca, Colombia. Considered as one of the greatest authors of all time, ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3evwazm

The politics of Islamophobia

The term Islamophobia can be decoded as the racism, discrimination, hatred, prejudice, bigotry and fear against Islam and its followers, Muslims. Anti-Muslim sentiments are increasing rapidly as the leaders of the countries especially in the west are using it as a tool for their own political objectives. Historically, an American political ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3680tZ8

Traitors; not again

Many assumed that things would become unpleasant and noisy soon as the war of words and political rallies heated up. But so soon and so massively; very few thought so. The so-called narrative and posture of defiance adopted by the opposition alliance (PDM) in general and PMLN in particular had to come close to the ‘real thing’ sooner ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2I2uUrM

The march towards a welfare state

Sitting governments all over the world have the disadvantage of incumbency. The opposition, the media and critics relish taking a dig at the government. The phenomenon gains more intensity in a politically-charged atmosphere with the result that even the good steps taken by the government for promoting the well-being of the people fails to attract ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3k0CoZe

Past in Perspective

Newspapers began circulating in the 17th century. The first real newspaper in England was printed in 1665. The first successful daily newspaper in Britain was printed in 1702. The first American newspaper was printed in 1690. It was called Publick Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestick. The first newspaper in Canada was the Halifax Gazette in ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3oZcHfb

No social distancing in the Cretaceous: New study finds earliest evidence for mammal social behavior

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No social distancing in the Cretaceous: New study finds earliest evidence for mammal social behavior Mammal social behavior goes back to the Age of Dinosaurs More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301591&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Model could improve design of vaccines, immunotherapies

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Model could improve design of vaccines, immunotherapies Results may lead to more effective vaccines More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301592&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

U.S. Presidential Election 2020: How rational are voters?

In the lead up to the U.S. presidential election 2020, Joe Biden has been well ahead of his opponent Donald Trump in almost all the national polls. Although national polls give a fair idea of the extent of candidates’ popularity across the country, they may still not be the right way to predict the election results. The US uses an electoral ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3esBkfm

Professionals for sale

Last week I took my son to a very well-known chest specialist in Islamabad. It’s not the first time I have consulted him, but it’s the first time I am choosing to express my anger at how a noble profession of a doctor often referred to as a ‘Messiah’ is being treated by many unprofessionally, lacking any compassion or ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3mSv5V7

Learning to tolerate opposing ideas

A guest at a party I attended a few days ago said that we live in very difficult times. He had lost his job soon after the Corona pandemic struck. Luckily, his wife had kept her job. An elderly man at the table, who had come from Afghanistan as a refugee in the early 1980s, said that he had seen difficult times before, and then he became both ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2TW9PRT

Past in Perspective

“The crisis you have to worry about most is the one you don’t see coming.”–Mike Mansfield On this day in 1979, the Iran hostage crisis began. Some 3000 opponents of Shah in Iran seized 66 American citizens at the US embassy in Tehran after the US allowed him to enter the country for medical treatment. Within the next ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2TTIqAb

Mexico : 2020 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report

Mexico : 2020 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report Published November 04, 2020 at 10:00AM

Clouds' greenhouse effect instrumental in origin of tropical storms

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Clouds' greenhouse effect instrumental in origin of tropical storms Understanding storm development as numbers push names into the Greek alphabet More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301583&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Most migratory birds rely on a greening world

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Most migratory birds rely on a greening world Birds synchronize their movements with seasonal changes in vegetation More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301580&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

ALMA shows volcanic impact on the atmosphere of Jupiter's moon Io

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ALMA shows volcanic impact on the atmosphere of Jupiter's moon Io Io is the most volcanically active moon in our solar system More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301575&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

New technology tracks role of macrophages in cancer spread

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New technology tracks role of macrophages in cancer spread Macrophages characterized as the Jekyll and Hydes of the immune system More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301576&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

New strides in building a closer China-Pakistan community

I am honoured to be the 18th Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.A few days ago, I departed from Beijing, flew over the towering Karakorum Mountains and arrived in the beautiful city of Islamabad with joy. Although this is my first visit to this country, Pakistan ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3p1Xk5V

Poll: How Arab Americans will vote and why

When they go to the polls to cast their ballot for President of the United States, 59 percent of Arab Americans say they will vote for Democratic candidate Joseph Biden with only 35 percent supporting the re-election of President Trump. This is one of the findings of a nationwide poll of 805 Arab American voters conducted by the Arab American ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3mSNoK3

US Presidential Elections 2020

As the race for US Presidential Elections 2020 enters a very important phase, President Donald Trump’s fears increase with each passing moment, as his fiasco on the domestic as well as foreign fronts will be the sole reason for a potential bitter defeat in the upcoming Presidential Elections.President Donald Trump has miserably failed to ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3evsDRG

Past in Perspective

“An earthquake achieves what the law promises but does not in practice maintain — the equality of all men.”–Ignazio Silone It is not just the human mind that makes and break the planet we inhabit. Natural calamities also play a significant role in shaping the Earth. Tsunamis, earthquakes, floods are some of the natural ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3kTQlJK

Niger : Sixth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility and Request for Waiver for Nonobservance of Performance Criterion-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Niger

Niger : Sixth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility and Request for Waiver for Nonobservance of Performance Criterion-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Niger Published November 03, 2020 at 10:00AM

The BECA pact; a serious threat

Back on July 12 2016, I had urged the US to abstain from spying on Pakistan through the Indian satellite under the cover of collecting weather data. I was right in my claim that the Indian satellite spectrum will be covering the Pakistan region and will put our security in danger as India is our arch-enemy. The Indo-USA agenda has now come out ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2HSiTod

Custodians of the House

My friend Sardar Ayaz Sadiq the son of Lahore, remained custodian of the house from 2008 to 2013. He had to briefly step down when he was unseated by the Election Tribunal for ballot irregularities. Once there was a time in the land of the pure when political leaders gracefully left the arena when fingers were pointed at them. Perhaps we live in ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/323NtST

The future status of Gilgit-Baltistan

In May 1999, the Supreme Court of Pakistan delivered a landmark judgement which declared that “the people of Northern Areas were citizens of Pakistan for all intents and purposes and could therefore invoke constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights.” It accordingly directed the government to take proper administrative and ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/34So7t8

Past in Perspective

“Every single empire in its official discourse has said that it is not like all the others, that its circumstances are special, that it has a mission to enlighten, civilize, bring order and democracy, and that it uses force only as a last resort. And, sadder still, there always is a chorus of willing intellectuals to say calming words about ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/364IXFg

Modern computational tools open new era of fossil pollen research

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Modern computational tools open new era of fossil pollen research Integrating machine-learning technology with high-resolution imaging helps identify plant species More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301568&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Bridges with limb-inspired architecture can withstand earthquakes, cutting repair costs

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Bridges with limb-inspired architecture can withstand earthquakes, cutting repair costs Damage to the nation's bridges can come with a hefty price tag in repairs More at https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301570&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1 This is a Research News item.

Trinidad and Tobago : Press Release; Financial System Stability Assessment; and Statement by the Executive Director for Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago : Press Release; Financial System Stability Assessment; and Statement by the Executive Director for Trinidad and Tobago Published October 29, 2020 at 09:00AM

Afghan peace—the final countdown

The world awaits with baited breath for the outcome of the Intra-Afghan talks. They are a part of an important deal between the United States and the Taliban, signed in February 2020. The win-win peace formulation that promises to usher us into a new era of peace, security and development remains a pipe dream when confronted with several landmines ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2JsJOry

The need for a cohesive National Action Plan

While warfare is as old as human history and its basic objectives remain unchanged, its methods, means and techniques have continuously transformed with the evolution of technology. In modern times, the unacceptably high cost of men, material and resources has made hybrid warfare the desired means of attaining national objectives with the ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2HU9ZqF

Myth-busting and India

The aim of writing this article is to rebut Indians, Pakistani pseudo-intellectuals and liberals who often spew venom against the armed forces of Pakistan. Some people in Pakistan promote false narratives as part of a sustained campaign against armed forces while referring to wars with India. Let us have a look at the wars fought by Pakistan with ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/3ej5xgI

Past in Perspective

He dwells not only in temples and mosques –The whole creation is his abode.The whole world is bewitched by his tale,but wise are those who are lost in his love.–Sarmad Kashani Sarmad Kashani was born to an Armenian Jewish family in Kashan, Persia. His date of birth is estimated to be around 1590. In 1631, he migrated to Thatta, Sindh ... from Opinions News https://ift.tt/2Jt7X19