DHAKA (AFP) - Bangladesh opposition leader Khaleda Zia on Tuesday called on citizens to stage a mass march to the capital Dhaka in an escalation of protests aimed at derailing controversial January elections.
Zia s call stokes tensions in the impoverished country, with over 100 people already killed in clashes since late October when the opposition launched the protests to force Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and make way for the polls to be held under a neutral caretaker government.
"I urge all citizens to march to Dhaka on December 29. This march is to say no to these farcical elections and to say yes to democracy," Zia, a two-time former prime minister, said in a speech.
"Wherever you are, carry a red and green national flag and march to Dhaka. We call this a march for democracy," she said in the capital.
She asked the citizens to form "protest committees" in every village to foil the polls."
The centre-left government insisted it would go ahead with the January 5 polls despite a boycott by opposition parties and major foreign nations announcing they won t send any election observers.
On Monday, the United States joined the European Union and the Commonwealth countries in refusing to send observers to monitor polls, denting the credibility of the elections.
Both the US and EU have raised questions about the polls as the winners of more than half of the seats in the 300-seat parliament have already been declared as they faced no opponents.
It means technically that Hasina s Awami League government could form a government even before ballots are cast as the party and its allies have won 154 seats.
Zia s main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its 17 allies including the country s largest Islamist outfit, Jamaat-e-Islami party, called the uncontested victories "the worst scandal in the country s election history".
They said they are boycotting the polls because they fear the elections will be rigged by Hasina. The opposition wants Hasina to quit and make way for a neutral caretaker government to hold the polls in line with the four previous elections.
Hasina has rejected the opposition demand, saying the caretaker government system is unconstitutional.
Last week, she ruled out changes to the election schedule, mocking Zia, her bitter rival for nearly three decades, that she had missed the election train.
Zia s call for a mass march comes as the country has been reeling from the deadliest political violence since its independence from Pakistan in 1971.
At least 265 people have died since January in violence that has pitted opposition activists against police and ruling party supporters. At least 115 of them have been killed in the past two months when Zia stepped up her campaign to topple Hasina.
Zia said she was still ready "to continue talks" with Hasina to resolve the crisis after three rounds of UN-brokered talks between the two major parties yielded no result.
But Zia accused the government of not being sincere, charging that "it wants to cling to power at any cost".
Tuesday, 24 December 2013
137th birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam being celebrated today
LAHORE: The 137th birth anniversary of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah is being celebrated throughout the country today (Wednesday).
A number of programmes have been chalked out to highlight the guiding principles of unity‚ faith and discipline. The government has announced a public holiday on Wednesday.
Qur'an Khwani will be held at the Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi and a change of Guard's ceremony will also be held at the Mazar-e-Quaid.
Various cultural organizations and educational institutions have chalked out different programmes to highlight the life and political achievements of the great leader.
In a massage issued on the eve of 137th birthday of the father of nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said that Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah made history by carving out a new state by the strength of his wisdom, steadfastness, righteousness and statesmanship.
“The great Quaid envisioned Pakistan to be an independent homeland for the Muslims of subcontinent where they could live their lives according to their religious and cultural beliefs,” Nawaz added.
The PM reminded that Quaid envisioned Pakistan to be country where democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights will hold sway, adding his dream of Pakistan was of a country where there would be no discrimination on the basis of caste, creed or religion and where all citizens would enjoy equal rights, he added.
“On this auspicious day, we should pledge and resolve to work whole-heartedly and dedicatedly to build a strong and prosperous Pakistan,” the PM urged.
Prime Minister said that patriotism, dedicated work and selfless service for the greater glory of Pakistan could be the most befitting tribute to the memory of Quaid-e-Azam.
A number of programmes have been chalked out to highlight the guiding principles of unity‚ faith and discipline. The government has announced a public holiday on Wednesday.
Qur'an Khwani will be held at the Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi and a change of Guard's ceremony will also be held at the Mazar-e-Quaid.
Various cultural organizations and educational institutions have chalked out different programmes to highlight the life and political achievements of the great leader.
In a massage issued on the eve of 137th birthday of the father of nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said that Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah made history by carving out a new state by the strength of his wisdom, steadfastness, righteousness and statesmanship.
“The great Quaid envisioned Pakistan to be an independent homeland for the Muslims of subcontinent where they could live their lives according to their religious and cultural beliefs,” Nawaz added.
The PM reminded that Quaid envisioned Pakistan to be country where democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights will hold sway, adding his dream of Pakistan was of a country where there would be no discrimination on the basis of caste, creed or religion and where all citizens would enjoy equal rights, he added.
“On this auspicious day, we should pledge and resolve to work whole-heartedly and dedicatedly to build a strong and prosperous Pakistan,” the PM urged.
Prime Minister said that patriotism, dedicated work and selfless service for the greater glory of Pakistan could be the most befitting tribute to the memory of Quaid-e-Azam.
Thursday, 19 December 2013
Belgium sells European Commission HQ for nearly 640 mn euros
BRUSSELS: Cash-strapped Belgium is nearly 640 million euros richer after selling the European Commission's Berlaymont headquarters building to BNP-Paribas-Fortis bank and AG Insurance, a report said Wednesday.
The giant metal-clad Berlaymont dominates the area around the Schuman district in Brussels which is home to many of the main European Union institutions.
Futuristic when built in the 1960s as a symbol of European resurgence, the Belgian government sold the building to the Commission in 2004 for some 553 million euros on a 27-year lease, L'Echo said.
The business daily said BNP-Paribas-Fortis and AG Insurance will pay Belgium 636 million euros for the 18 years remaining.
In 2031, at the end of the lease, the Commission has the option to buy the building, offering a potentially large pay off for the two companies.
The sale proceeds mean total Belgian state debt will fall below the 100 percent of Gross Domestic Product threshold -- an improvement the Commission itself may welcome even if it still leaves the country well short of the 60 percent EU limit.
The giant metal-clad Berlaymont dominates the area around the Schuman district in Brussels which is home to many of the main European Union institutions.
Futuristic when built in the 1960s as a symbol of European resurgence, the Belgian government sold the building to the Commission in 2004 for some 553 million euros on a 27-year lease, L'Echo said.
The business daily said BNP-Paribas-Fortis and AG Insurance will pay Belgium 636 million euros for the 18 years remaining.
In 2031, at the end of the lease, the Commission has the option to buy the building, offering a potentially large pay off for the two companies.
The sale proceeds mean total Belgian state debt will fall below the 100 percent of Gross Domestic Product threshold -- an improvement the Commission itself may welcome even if it still leaves the country well short of the 60 percent EU limit.
Sunday, 15 December 2013
If NATO gets globalized
By Imran Chouhdary (imransaqib5@gmail.com)
Brusels.
The opportunity to visit the NATO Defense College in Rome was a learning experience in many regards. It was interesting to see how the biggest peace keeping “military” force gets educated and how its goals, methodologies and activities are evolved. I already knew that NATO constitute upon 28 members whereas, other 22 countries are working with NATO on various fronts as partners.
A civil-military coalition, NATO is expanding its goals and multiplying its activities with a well devised strategy inclined more towards the international disputes than that of defense and protection. Currently it is involved in around 200 border disputes worldwide.
Not surprisingly, the Middle East or Islamic countries are an important focus especially in the research work. A lot of work is being done in the recently established Middle East faculty (2009). NATO seems to have ambitions of solving the issues of the regions as well.
The NATO Defense College is currently working on three fronts; Education, Research and Outreach. For education, it invited leading educationists, academics and scholars from all across the world and a very well-established and well-equipped Think-Tank does the research work under highly qualified and able minds. And it possesses specialized trainers for the Specialized Outreach Program.
The delegates from across 67 countries of the world take various courses while attending more than 200 lectures in total while the field study institutions have been established in France, Germany and Britain. The NDC (Rome) does planning and the specific research on the under consideration decisions.
The officers scheduled for specific operations get training from the school in a German city 'Oberammergau'. People from different sections (including military personals, educators, thinkers, scholars, journalists, public representatives and NGO activists) get trainings.
After our visit to the NDC in Rome, we went to the town of Sisily known as 'Siracusa' where institute of higher studies in Criminal Science (ISISC) is situated. Here the course on criminal justice is being taught for the judges and lawyers of various countries including Europe. According to the administration they have taught and trained almost 27000 persons during 40 years, which includes judges from Iraq, Afghanistan and other Islamic countries. Duration for courses varies from one week to six months and it cost only 250 Euros per week. The course about Sharia Law and Islamic Justice System was highly informative.
NATO came into the existence by the end of the World War II when the United Forces of Japan and Germany had terrified Europe and rendered it hopeless despite of perpetual moral, financial and armed support of United States of America (USA). Meanwhile, in 1945, Americans did 'Trinity Test’; the first nuclear experiment and within next months, on 6th and 9th of August 1945, they carried out two nuclear attacks on the twin cities of Japan (Hiroshima & Nagasaki). After this, the rival super power USSR also started trying attaining the nuclear weapons and succeeded in doing so on 29th of August 1949.
Thus on 4th of April 1949, America signed with 11 European countries an agreement called as North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also known as NATO. The main purpose was to contain the power and influence of USSR and communism. However, in 1955, the 'Warsaw' pact united the countries of Eastern Europe and divided the Great Europe on the ideological basis thus again terrifying the remaining Europe.
So, NATO was actually to save the “world” from nuclear war but with the end of the Cold War, NATO also changed its objectives while shifting its focus towards the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Africa, and Afghanistan. Its expenditures are largely being sponsored by America. The Germany is second biggest donor.
Naturally, both the countries influence major decisions as well. Principally, all the member countries should be taken in confidence before any major decision but practically USA, and few other major powers, take decisions and sometimes, the Americas singlehandedly takes the decision and starts moving. The rest of the NATO has to move with it. For example, Germany, France and Belgium did not agree with the decision to attack Iraq but the America carried the strikes. In the same manner, France announced its attack on Libya without any agreement with other members.
Another important issue is the moral credibility of NATO that always finds a hostile population of the country where it does its operation. It is especially true with Islamic countries where populations always turn against NATO and demand its expulsion from the country. The NATO think tanks should carry out analysis of the reasons. Does NATO troop support groups disliked by the general masses or does it protects oppressors? Why the neutrality of NATO is always doubtful? Why it is seen with hidden agendas?
It is evident that the sentiments against America exist in Muslim world, which sees Europe as comparatively a softer power. The expectations and perceptions of Muslim world is one of the important dangers for the idea of the NATO expansion and truly globalised force. The NATO strategist should keep major resources for the rebuilding and development of the areas that come under its attack. It will pave the way in gaining the support of the local population. Moreover it will help then having a way for their respectful return and the achievements of global motives.
Brusels.
The opportunity to visit the NATO Defense College in Rome was a learning experience in many regards. It was interesting to see how the biggest peace keeping “military” force gets educated and how its goals, methodologies and activities are evolved. I already knew that NATO constitute upon 28 members whereas, other 22 countries are working with NATO on various fronts as partners.
A civil-military coalition, NATO is expanding its goals and multiplying its activities with a well devised strategy inclined more towards the international disputes than that of defense and protection. Currently it is involved in around 200 border disputes worldwide.
Not surprisingly, the Middle East or Islamic countries are an important focus especially in the research work. A lot of work is being done in the recently established Middle East faculty (2009). NATO seems to have ambitions of solving the issues of the regions as well.
The NATO Defense College is currently working on three fronts; Education, Research and Outreach. For education, it invited leading educationists, academics and scholars from all across the world and a very well-established and well-equipped Think-Tank does the research work under highly qualified and able minds. And it possesses specialized trainers for the Specialized Outreach Program.
The delegates from across 67 countries of the world take various courses while attending more than 200 lectures in total while the field study institutions have been established in France, Germany and Britain. The NDC (Rome) does planning and the specific research on the under consideration decisions.
The officers scheduled for specific operations get training from the school in a German city 'Oberammergau'. People from different sections (including military personals, educators, thinkers, scholars, journalists, public representatives and NGO activists) get trainings.
After our visit to the NDC in Rome, we went to the town of Sisily known as 'Siracusa' where institute of higher studies in Criminal Science (ISISC) is situated. Here the course on criminal justice is being taught for the judges and lawyers of various countries including Europe. According to the administration they have taught and trained almost 27000 persons during 40 years, which includes judges from Iraq, Afghanistan and other Islamic countries. Duration for courses varies from one week to six months and it cost only 250 Euros per week. The course about Sharia Law and Islamic Justice System was highly informative.
NATO came into the existence by the end of the World War II when the United Forces of Japan and Germany had terrified Europe and rendered it hopeless despite of perpetual moral, financial and armed support of United States of America (USA). Meanwhile, in 1945, Americans did 'Trinity Test’; the first nuclear experiment and within next months, on 6th and 9th of August 1945, they carried out two nuclear attacks on the twin cities of Japan (Hiroshima & Nagasaki). After this, the rival super power USSR also started trying attaining the nuclear weapons and succeeded in doing so on 29th of August 1949.
Thus on 4th of April 1949, America signed with 11 European countries an agreement called as North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also known as NATO. The main purpose was to contain the power and influence of USSR and communism. However, in 1955, the 'Warsaw' pact united the countries of Eastern Europe and divided the Great Europe on the ideological basis thus again terrifying the remaining Europe.
So, NATO was actually to save the “world” from nuclear war but with the end of the Cold War, NATO also changed its objectives while shifting its focus towards the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Africa, and Afghanistan. Its expenditures are largely being sponsored by America. The Germany is second biggest donor.
Naturally, both the countries influence major decisions as well. Principally, all the member countries should be taken in confidence before any major decision but practically USA, and few other major powers, take decisions and sometimes, the Americas singlehandedly takes the decision and starts moving. The rest of the NATO has to move with it. For example, Germany, France and Belgium did not agree with the decision to attack Iraq but the America carried the strikes. In the same manner, France announced its attack on Libya without any agreement with other members.
Another important issue is the moral credibility of NATO that always finds a hostile population of the country where it does its operation. It is especially true with Islamic countries where populations always turn against NATO and demand its expulsion from the country. The NATO think tanks should carry out analysis of the reasons. Does NATO troop support groups disliked by the general masses or does it protects oppressors? Why the neutrality of NATO is always doubtful? Why it is seen with hidden agendas?
It is evident that the sentiments against America exist in Muslim world, which sees Europe as comparatively a softer power. The expectations and perceptions of Muslim world is one of the important dangers for the idea of the NATO expansion and truly globalised force. The NATO strategist should keep major resources for the rebuilding and development of the areas that come under its attack. It will pave the way in gaining the support of the local population. Moreover it will help then having a way for their respectful return and the achievements of global motives.
'Mein Na Manoon' first ever play performed at MAO
(Lahore:) First ever stage play has been performed at MAO college auditorium during the last three days of the week. The play got high level appreciation from the audience.
The play represented village life with its typical simplicity of life with its unique sluggishness among the class of cultivators and peasants. The play depicted row between husband and wife on the performance of household chores and duties of men in the fields. The issue leads to shift of duties both by the husband as well as wife that is well shown through the title ‘Mein Na Manoon’( I can’t accept). It reflects change in the social strata that is slowly creeping into the family set ups. The play was written by Prof. Sadiqa Maqbool. The cast comprised of college students. All the set designing and direction was also done by the coordination of students and the staff.
Earlier this week an exhibition was also held depicting different periods of English history as it is represented in literature of the various stages of English history of English literature.
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
I am fine if a guy sings my song to impress my daughter: Honey Singh
The 23-year-old 'Lungi Dance' hitmaker, who is married for more than two years, said that audience like songs on girls so his maximum chartbusters are on the fairer sex.
"I am yet to have a child and if I am blessed with a baby girl and in future if a guy tries to impress my daughter by singing my hits, I have no issues with it. "It's a misconception that I compose songs for girls. I have sung a song for Bhagat Singh too but nobody knows about it.
I have sung about boys but all of them are super-duper flop," Honey said on the sidelines of Agenda AajTak conclave. Having started off his career with music direction in Punjab, the controversial rapper later shifted to Bollywood. But Honey says he never intended to sing for the Hindi Film industry. "I am not interested to sing in Bollywood.
I sing for only those actors whom I admire. I sing free of cost for them. I want to take independent music ahead and my songs are completely based on my observations," she said. The singer is currently gearing up for Tamil debut with 'Kolaveri Di' producer Anirudh Ravichander.
Zoya's film has nothing to do with our real life: Farhan
"Let me take this opportunity to very clearly state that Zoya's film has nothing to do with our real life relationship. It is entirely a work of fiction," said Farhan about the content in Zoya's film.
He will start shooting for Benegal's film after "my forthcoming film 'Shaadi Ke Side Effects' releases".
So far he has acted in films like "Rock On!!", "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" (BMB), "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" and each film has given a chance to do something new.
The actor-filmmaker said: "In some kind of away, I am automatically drawn to roles that take me to the other end of the spectrum."
Excerpts from an interview:
Q: You seem to be more active as an actor than a filmmaker?
A: When you are surfing, and you catch a nice wave, you don't leave it halfway through to find a better one. I am in that kind of a space. This journey seems so correct. I am truly enjoying this experience, working with the people that I am working with right now. And I'm getting such wonderful opportunities to work with such amazing talent. I don't know when again I'll have this opportunity. I am just now looking forward to my next film as an actor. And that's in Dev Benegal's film.
Q: Kareena is your co-star in this film?
A: Yes. She is. And I am really looking forward to working with her. We start shooting together right after my forthcoming film "Shaadi Ke Side Effects" releases.
Q: Does Dev's film give you the chance to do something new again?
A: Oh yes, that's almost become a subconscious precondition for every role I do. For me, to consciously seek unpredictable roles would be dangerous. In some kind of way, I am automatically drawn to roles that take me to the other end of the spectrum. I've just finished Saket Chowdhary's "Shaadi Ke Side Effects". For the first time it truly feels like I am doing a romantic comedy.
Q: This is the first time you're attempting a comedy?
A: As a full-on mood, yes. But there were pronounced elements of comedy in "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara". When I read Saket's script, I found it genuinely very funny. And at the same time it is maturely written.
Q: Are you consciously selecting a different co-star each time?
A: What?! No! But come to think it's true. It's been a different co-star every time. I've made no conscious effort to pick different co-stars each time. But that's a good occurrence. Every time you work with a new co-star a whole new dynamic emerges. I am sure the same will happen with Kareena.
Q: Tell me about the films that you and your friend Ritesh Sidhwani are producing?
A: There is my sister Zoya's film. It'd be shot when I am shooting Dev Benegal's film. But my work in the two films won't overlap. I have very seriously different looks for both the films.
Q: You are in all the two films that Zoya has directed so far and now a third?
A: Yeah, and why not? I am happily a constant in her films. And besides she works with other actors too, doesn't she?
Q: Zoya's film is about a brother and a sister? Is it based on your relationship with her?
A: No no. That confusion has prevailed for a while now. So let me take this opportunity to very clearly state that Zoya's film has nothing to do with our real life relationship. It is entirely a work of fiction.
Q: Are you doing any other films as an actor?
A: Yes, a film produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra to be directed by Bejoy Nambiar. It's Vidhu's script. That's something I am looking forward to.
Q: This is the one where you share screen space with Mr Bachchan? Do you two play father and son?
A: Yes, and no.
Q: Come to think of it so many films of yours have been trendsetters?
A: If you want to call them that. To me Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is definitely a landmark. It has taught me so much. Last week I went for my daughter's sports day. All the little students there in school, even the shy little 6-7 year olds were hiding behind each other and calling out 'Milkha' to me. That felt wonderful.
Q: Milkha has impacted the way we look at sports besides cricket?
A: Students have met me and said that the film has changed the way sports and games are looked on in the college curriculum. BMB has opened up a world of possibilities. It has inspired me to believe that the really difficult things in life can be achieved by sheer application. And it doesn't matter which vocation one is in.
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