(Lahore: 30th April) The election of Punjab Professors and Lecturers Association (PPLA) stirred great warmth and excitement here all around the province.
The PPLA elections are conducted after every four year in the Punjab, Pakistan. The college teachers working in the public sector participate in these elections. In these elections there were 3 major parties Ittehad e Asatza (Prof. Arif Group), Tanzeem e Asatza (Prof. Nazim H Group) and Prof. Zahid's Group. In the initial unofficial declared results Ittehad e Asatza with Flag symbol has shown victory. The entire panel of Flag at Govt. MAO College won with leading victory.
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
Sunday, 28 April 2013
Go behind the scenes with the European institutions
BRUSSELS: Enjoy a day of fun and Europe when the EU institutions open their doors to mark Europe Day in May. The European Parliament will be offering a varied programme for the whole family in Brussels and Luxembourg on 4 May and in Strasbourg on 19 May, so don't miss the chance to have fun and find out more about how the EU works and makes a difference to your life!
The Festival of Europe will feature concerts, brass bands, artistic events, fun activities, exhibitions, tours of the official buildings, interactive information stands, debates, a quiz, meetings and photo opportunities with MEPs. Children will also be able to enjoy themselves in the specially-designed kids corner. This year's open day will be all about you as 2013 is the European Year of Citizens.
Last year's open day was dedicated to active ageing and solidarity between the generations. The Parliament treated visitors to activities such as street-basketball, laughter-yoga or Tai Chi, chess, a children's village as well as a concert at Place du Luxembourg in Brussels.
All other EU institutions in Brussels, such as the Council and the Commission will also be open to the public on 4 May. Click on the link on the right to find out more about what we are preparing
The Festival of Europe will feature concerts, brass bands, artistic events, fun activities, exhibitions, tours of the official buildings, interactive information stands, debates, a quiz, meetings and photo opportunities with MEPs. Children will also be able to enjoy themselves in the specially-designed kids corner. This year's open day will be all about you as 2013 is the European Year of Citizens.
Last year's open day was dedicated to active ageing and solidarity between the generations. The Parliament treated visitors to activities such as street-basketball, laughter-yoga or Tai Chi, chess, a children's village as well as a concert at Place du Luxembourg in Brussels.
All other EU institutions in Brussels, such as the Council and the Commission will also be open to the public on 4 May. Click on the link on the right to find out more about what we are preparing
Bangladesh collapsed building owner arrested near border-police
DHAKA: The owner of a Bangladesh factory building that collapsed killing more than 370 people was arrested on Sunday attempting to flee to India, police said.
Mohammed Sohel Rana, a leader of the ruling Awami League's youth front, was arrested by the elite Rapid Action Battalion in the Bangladesh border town of Benapole, Dhaka District Police Chief Habibur Rahman told Reuters. REUTERS
Mohammed Sohel Rana, a leader of the ruling Awami League's youth front, was arrested by the elite Rapid Action Battalion in the Bangladesh border town of Benapole, Dhaka District Police Chief Habibur Rahman told Reuters. REUTERS
Altaf, Asfand, Zardari discuss election situation
LAHORE (Web Desk) - MQM Chief Altaf Hussain and ANP President Asfandyar Wali have discussed political situation in the context of upcoming elections in the country on telephone.
Altaf Hussain expressed concern over the wave of terrorism against liberal parties and discussed future strategy with ANP chief.
MQM chief also called President Asif Zardari to discuss the wave of terror attacks on the offices of PPP, ANP and MQM.
Many workers of the three parties have been killed during the past few days in series of attacks on rallies and election offices of these three parties.
Altaf Hussain earlier said that the upcoming elections would become controversial if all the parties were not given a level-playing field.
Altaf Hussain on Sunday telephoned the President of Awami National Party (ANP) Asfandyar Wali Khan and President Asif Ali Zardari, and discussed the overall political situation in the country.
They exchanged views on overall political, and law and order situation in the country ahead of general elections.
They expressed their grave concern over terrorist attacks on ANP and MQM offices. They expressed their resolve to launch a joint struggle against terrorism.
The ANP, MQM leaders and President Zardari said that the acts of terrorism were rising disproportionately in the three provinces of Pakistan spreading fear and panic as compared to Punjab.
“Whether only Punjab is Pakistan as it is the only province where electioneering was being carried out freely while the worst kind of terrorism was continuing in the remaining three provinces of the country,” they added.
They strongly condemned act of terrorism on the ANP, PPP and MQM and asked all the liberal parties to join hands against the terrorists.
Altaf Hussain expressed concern over the wave of terrorism against liberal parties and discussed future strategy with ANP chief.
MQM chief also called President Asif Zardari to discuss the wave of terror attacks on the offices of PPP, ANP and MQM.
Many workers of the three parties have been killed during the past few days in series of attacks on rallies and election offices of these three parties.
Altaf Hussain earlier said that the upcoming elections would become controversial if all the parties were not given a level-playing field.
Altaf Hussain on Sunday telephoned the President of Awami National Party (ANP) Asfandyar Wali Khan and President Asif Ali Zardari, and discussed the overall political situation in the country.
They exchanged views on overall political, and law and order situation in the country ahead of general elections.
They expressed their grave concern over terrorist attacks on ANP and MQM offices. They expressed their resolve to launch a joint struggle against terrorism.
The ANP, MQM leaders and President Zardari said that the acts of terrorism were rising disproportionately in the three provinces of Pakistan spreading fear and panic as compared to Punjab.
“Whether only Punjab is Pakistan as it is the only province where electioneering was being carried out freely while the worst kind of terrorism was continuing in the remaining three provinces of the country,” they added.
They strongly condemned act of terrorism on the ANP, PPP and MQM and asked all the liberal parties to join hands against the terrorists.
Hollande holds firm despite record low popularity
PARIS (AFP) - His government has been damaged by a major scandal, his country s economy is stagnant and his popularity at a record low, but French President Francois Hollande has vowed to "hold firm" and not to be "intimidated".
As the one-year anniversary of his election nears, opinion polls show the Socialist leader, perceived by some as indecisive and meek, has become deeply unpopular at a time of economic and social malaise in France.
"I became president at an exceptional time. Exceptional from an economic standpoint -- a long crisis, a recession in Europe, unemployment at a historic level," Hollande told AFP and other news agencies in an interview held days ago but only allowed out now.
He also pointed to France s military intervention in Mali to help push back Islamic extremists, as well as a rise in populism in the country and elsewhere in Europe.
"It is the duty of the president to hold firm and see further ahead, beyond storms of the moment," he added, referring to concern among the French and even members of his Socialist majority over the direction of his policies.
At the time of his election on May 6 last year, Hollande had promised to jump start the economy and create jobs by stimulating growth, but a year on, unemployment has reached record highs and growth is almost non-existent.
Many of his projects have also been met with opposition, such as a landmark gay marriage bill and proposed transparency and anti-fraud reforms following a scandal involving ex-budget minister Jerome Cahuzac, charged with tax fraud.
A survey by polling firm Ifop published in the Journal du Dimanche (JDD) newspaper last weekend showed Hollande is currently more unpopular than any other French president since 1958 when Ifop launched its leader popularity ratings.
Of the nearly 1,900 people questioned, 74 percent said they were unhappy with Hollande, citing his general record and image but also the Cahuzac scandal.
And on Sunday, another Ifop poll published in the JDD revealed more than three-quarters of respondents wanted a national unity government put in place.
Last month, a Socialist member of parliament caused shockwaves after he openly criticised Hollande, calling the current economic situation "very serious".
"When you re president of France... you take stock of the situation and you shift gears," Pascal Cherki said.
Hollande said that while he understood the French people were directing their anger at him as president, he thought accusations that he is indecisive were "totally inappropriate."
"You can criticise my decisions, think that I m going down the wrong path, say that I didn t go in the right direction, but if there is one thing I m sure of it is that for one year, I have made major choices for France," he said.
He pointed to measures unveiled in November implementing tax breaks for businesses worth up to 20 billion euros a year to try and address the flagging competitiveness at the heart of the country s economic malaise.
The French leader also highlighted labour law reforms that are being pushed through parliament, aiming to boost jobs and competitiveness by giving more flexibility to employers.
Of his critics, he said that he had "long understood that if I allowed comments to affect me, I could not go forward.
"As president, and I think that was true for all my predecessors, whoever they were, I have set myself a course of action, never be intimidated, follow one s path. And make sure it s the right one."
As the one-year anniversary of his election nears, opinion polls show the Socialist leader, perceived by some as indecisive and meek, has become deeply unpopular at a time of economic and social malaise in France.
"I became president at an exceptional time. Exceptional from an economic standpoint -- a long crisis, a recession in Europe, unemployment at a historic level," Hollande told AFP and other news agencies in an interview held days ago but only allowed out now.
He also pointed to France s military intervention in Mali to help push back Islamic extremists, as well as a rise in populism in the country and elsewhere in Europe.
"It is the duty of the president to hold firm and see further ahead, beyond storms of the moment," he added, referring to concern among the French and even members of his Socialist majority over the direction of his policies.
At the time of his election on May 6 last year, Hollande had promised to jump start the economy and create jobs by stimulating growth, but a year on, unemployment has reached record highs and growth is almost non-existent.
Many of his projects have also been met with opposition, such as a landmark gay marriage bill and proposed transparency and anti-fraud reforms following a scandal involving ex-budget minister Jerome Cahuzac, charged with tax fraud.
A survey by polling firm Ifop published in the Journal du Dimanche (JDD) newspaper last weekend showed Hollande is currently more unpopular than any other French president since 1958 when Ifop launched its leader popularity ratings.
Of the nearly 1,900 people questioned, 74 percent said they were unhappy with Hollande, citing his general record and image but also the Cahuzac scandal.
And on Sunday, another Ifop poll published in the JDD revealed more than three-quarters of respondents wanted a national unity government put in place.
Last month, a Socialist member of parliament caused shockwaves after he openly criticised Hollande, calling the current economic situation "very serious".
"When you re president of France... you take stock of the situation and you shift gears," Pascal Cherki said.
Hollande said that while he understood the French people were directing their anger at him as president, he thought accusations that he is indecisive were "totally inappropriate."
"You can criticise my decisions, think that I m going down the wrong path, say that I didn t go in the right direction, but if there is one thing I m sure of it is that for one year, I have made major choices for France," he said.
He pointed to measures unveiled in November implementing tax breaks for businesses worth up to 20 billion euros a year to try and address the flagging competitiveness at the heart of the country s economic malaise.
The French leader also highlighted labour law reforms that are being pushed through parliament, aiming to boost jobs and competitiveness by giving more flexibility to employers.
Of his critics, he said that he had "long understood that if I allowed comments to affect me, I could not go forward.
"As president, and I think that was true for all my predecessors, whoever they were, I have set myself a course of action, never be intimidated, follow one s path. And make sure it s the right one."
Morsi’s aides visit Iran to discuss Syria war
CAIRO (Reuters) - Senior aides to Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi made a rare visit to Tehran for talks with Iran on an Islamic initiative to seek a peaceful solution to Syria s civil war, the two sides said on Sunday.
Tehran is Syria s closest ally and has provided money, weapons, intelligence and training for President Bashar al-Assad s forces, while Egypt has given political support to the opposition Syrian National Coalition fighting to oust him.
Mursi s foreign affairs adviser Essam Haddad and his chief-of-staff Rifaa El-Tahtawy met Iranian officials in a follow-up to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad s groundbreaking visit to Cairo in February for an Islamic summit.
An Iranian Foreign Ministry statement said they agreed on "the necessity of an action plan...to act on the Egyptian president s plan on the Syria crisis through an acceptable political solution which can help end the violence and help national reconciliation with the participation of the people of Syria".
Mursi included Iran, alongside Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, in a diplomatic "Islamic Quartet" of countries established last year to try to broker a solution in Syria.
The Egyptian leader proposed negotiations between Syrian government representatives not directly involved in repression and opposition leaders under regional or UN auspices on a transition of power.
However, the Saudis stayed away from the group in February in apparent irritation at the inclusion of the Iranians, and Syria has rejected foreign involvement in the national dialogue proposed by Assad.
The visiting Egyptian officials met Ahmadinejad and senior figures in Iran s foreign policy establishment, national security adviser Saeed Jalili, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"The relationship between Cairo and Tehran is extremely sensitive, and should be managed wisely. And this is what Egypt is doing," Haddad said on a television talk show broadcast on Saturday.
The two countries do not have full diplomatic relations, which were broken off after Egypt gave sanctuary to the deposed shah following Iran s 1979 Islamic revolution and signed a peace treaty with Israel in the same year.
Ties have thawed gradually since the 2011 uprising that toppled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, but ultraconservative Sunni Salafists in Egypt protested against the launch of tourist flights with Iran, prompting the government to suspend the plan.
The Salafis contend that Iran is trying to spread Shi ite Islam in Sunni Muslim countries such as Egypt, a charge that Tehran denies.
Tehran is Syria s closest ally and has provided money, weapons, intelligence and training for President Bashar al-Assad s forces, while Egypt has given political support to the opposition Syrian National Coalition fighting to oust him.
Mursi s foreign affairs adviser Essam Haddad and his chief-of-staff Rifaa El-Tahtawy met Iranian officials in a follow-up to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad s groundbreaking visit to Cairo in February for an Islamic summit.
An Iranian Foreign Ministry statement said they agreed on "the necessity of an action plan...to act on the Egyptian president s plan on the Syria crisis through an acceptable political solution which can help end the violence and help national reconciliation with the participation of the people of Syria".
Mursi included Iran, alongside Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, in a diplomatic "Islamic Quartet" of countries established last year to try to broker a solution in Syria.
The Egyptian leader proposed negotiations between Syrian government representatives not directly involved in repression and opposition leaders under regional or UN auspices on a transition of power.
However, the Saudis stayed away from the group in February in apparent irritation at the inclusion of the Iranians, and Syria has rejected foreign involvement in the national dialogue proposed by Assad.
The visiting Egyptian officials met Ahmadinejad and senior figures in Iran s foreign policy establishment, national security adviser Saeed Jalili, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"The relationship between Cairo and Tehran is extremely sensitive, and should be managed wisely. And this is what Egypt is doing," Haddad said on a television talk show broadcast on Saturday.
The two countries do not have full diplomatic relations, which were broken off after Egypt gave sanctuary to the deposed shah following Iran s 1979 Islamic revolution and signed a peace treaty with Israel in the same year.
Ties have thawed gradually since the 2011 uprising that toppled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, but ultraconservative Sunni Salafists in Egypt protested against the launch of tourist flights with Iran, prompting the government to suspend the plan.
The Salafis contend that Iran is trying to spread Shi ite Islam in Sunni Muslim countries such as Egypt, a charge that Tehran denies.
Sunday, 21 April 2013
The most radical elements are not in the majority now
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told the foreign affairs committee of EUropean Parliament in Strasberg that: "The most radical elements are not in the majority now" in the Syrian resistance but warned that they could gain control "if the conflict carries on."
"It is very difficult not to be pessimistic" about the "appalling" situation in Syria, said Mr Fabius, warning of the "absolute risk" that the regime could use chemical weapons. He supported lifting the EU embargo on arms supplies to the opposition, stressing that the decision, which should be taken by May, must guarantee that weapons are not "diverted".
MEPs insisted in the debate that EU humanitarian aid must reach those for whom it was really intended. They also appealed to Mr Fabius to cooperate more closely with the moderate Gulf states to ensure that radical Sunni forces did not gain ground in Syria and they pointed to the need to start preparing now for the post-Assad period.
On Mali, the French foreign minister said the decision to convert the Africa-led International Support Mission for Mali (MISMA) into a UN peace-keeping mission "should be adopted in the third week of April." A thousand French troops would remain in the country "to support the stabilisation mission if necessary, particularly against terrorist operations." Mr Fabius also stressed the importance of holding presidential elections in July and parliamentary elections "ideally, immediately afterwards."
MEPs were concerned that the dates for the withdrawal of French troops, the electoral process and the deployment of the UN mission coincided. They also insisted that all the aid pledged must be delivered and called for a comprehensive solution for the Sahel, to tackling the trafficking of drugs, people and weapons in the region.
"It is very difficult not to be pessimistic" about the "appalling" situation in Syria, said Mr Fabius, warning of the "absolute risk" that the regime could use chemical weapons. He supported lifting the EU embargo on arms supplies to the opposition, stressing that the decision, which should be taken by May, must guarantee that weapons are not "diverted".
MEPs insisted in the debate that EU humanitarian aid must reach those for whom it was really intended. They also appealed to Mr Fabius to cooperate more closely with the moderate Gulf states to ensure that radical Sunni forces did not gain ground in Syria and they pointed to the need to start preparing now for the post-Assad period.
On Mali, the French foreign minister said the decision to convert the Africa-led International Support Mission for Mali (MISMA) into a UN peace-keeping mission "should be adopted in the third week of April." A thousand French troops would remain in the country "to support the stabilisation mission if necessary, particularly against terrorist operations." Mr Fabius also stressed the importance of holding presidential elections in July and parliamentary elections "ideally, immediately afterwards."
MEPs were concerned that the dates for the withdrawal of French troops, the electoral process and the deployment of the UN mission coincided. They also insisted that all the aid pledged must be delivered and called for a comprehensive solution for the Sahel, to tackling the trafficking of drugs, people and weapons in the region.
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