CSP WEEKLY UPDATES (September 28-October 4, 2024)
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA & THE UNITED NATIONSØ PM Shehbaz urges US banks to invest in key sectors https://tribune.com.pk/story/2499280/pm-shehbaz-urges-us-banks-to-invest-in-key-sectors-stressing-us-pakistan-business-council-ties Ø Pakistan, US reaffirm desire to enhance cooperation in key areas https://www.radio.gov.pk/28-09-2024/pakistan-us-reaffirm-commitment-to-cement-bilateral-cooperation Ø Pakistani diaspora should play role to strengthen Pak-US ties: Rizwan Sheikh https://www.radio.gov.pk/02-10-2024/pakistani-diaspora-should-play-role-to-strengthen-pak-us-ties-rizwan-sheikh Ø Pakistan exports boom in US, UAE, UK https://dailytimes.com.pk/1230676/pakistan-exports-boom-in-us-uae-uk/ Ø Middle East Braces for Iran’s Next Move After Nasrallah Killing https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-30/israel-hezbollah-what-will-iran-do-after-beirut-attack Ø The Israel-Iran War Enters a New Stage | Middle East and North Africa Defense Intelligence Digest https://www.hudson.org/defense-strategy/israel-iran-war-enters-new-stage-middle-east-north-africa-defense-intelligence-can-kasapoglu Ø Russia-Iran Relations in the Rising Axis https://www.hudson.org/missile-defense/russia-iran-relations-rising-axis Ø ‘Chill of a new Cold War’ is in the air, Pakistan leader tells UN Assembly https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/09/1155061 Ø Text of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Speech at the UNGA https://gadebate.un.org/sites/default/files/gastatements/79/pk_en.pdf?_gl=1*tadpn6*_ga*MTkwOTUxMTg3Ni4xNjg5ODQ0MzA4*_ga_TK9BQL5X7Z*MTcyNzkzMjM0OC45Ni4xLjE3Mjc5MzIzNTUuMC4wLjA. *_ga_S5EKZKSB78*MTcyNzkzMjM0OC44Mi4xLjE3Mjc5MzIzNTkuNDkuMC4w Ø UN Assembly President calls for global unity as high-level debate concludes https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/09/1155181 Ø SECURITY COUNCIL LIVE: End ‘sickening cycle’ of escalation across the Middle East, Guterres urges https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/10/1155211 Ø Explainer: What is Security Council resolution 1701? https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/10/1155221 Ø Security Council briefed on progress in UN-AU partnership for peace https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/10/1155276
Source:The Express Tribune
October 07, 2024 06:23 UTC
Verified checkmarks in Google search aim to identify legitimate businesses
Google is testing a new verification feature in search results to help users identify genuine businesses. “We regularly experiment with features that help shoppers identify trustworthy businesses online, and we are currently running a small experiment showing checkmarks next to certain businesses on Google,” said Molly Shaheen, a spokesperson for Google public affairs. Notably, the check marks disappear when users log into different Google accounts, indicating that the rollout is still limited. The new search feature appears to extend Google’s Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI), which uses checkmarks in Gmail to signify verified senders. However, Google has yet to make an official announcement about the search checkmarks or provide a timeline for broader availability
Source:The Express Tribune
October 07, 2024 04:23 UTC
President Zardari expresses condolences to martyred army officer's family
President Asif Ali Zardari paid a visit to the family of martyred Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Ali in Faisalabad on Sunday to offer his condolences. During the visit, the president honored the bravery and sacrifice of the martyr, praying for his eternal peace and higher ranks in heaven. He also acknowledged the unwavering patriotism and immense sacrifice of both Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Ali and his family for the nation. Zardari emphasized the nation's deep respect for the sacrifices made by martyrs and their families, recognizing their invaluable contribution to the country. Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Ali, along with five other soldiers of the Pakistan Army, embraced martyrdom during a fierce exchange of fire with terrorists in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan on Saturday.
Source:The Nation
October 07, 2024 02:50 UTC
State’s Failure
The recent kidnapping of two Hindu citizens from Bhong serves as a stark reminder of the government’s failure to ensure the safety and security of all its citizens. This incident is not just deplorable; it is a glaring indictment of the state’s inability to uphold its primary responsibility—protecting its people. Security should not be a privilege; it is a fundamental right for everyone, regardless of their faith or financial status. The recent spate of kidnappings lays bare the grim reality that our government has consistently failed to protect its most vulnerable citizens. This is not merely an issue of law enforcement; it reflects a deep-seated failure to prioritise human life and dignity.
Source:The Nation
October 07, 2024 02:12 UTC
Nation observes 'Palestine solidarity day' today
The nation will observe Solidarity Day with Palestinian people on Monday (today) to condemn the Israeli brutalities in Gaza and Lebanon on the competition of one year since Israeli forces started their genocide campaign in Gaza. The decision to observe October 7 as the Palestinian Solidarity Day was taken in a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. It was also agreed that both the president and the prime minister would attend the APC. The prime minister also met with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman in Islamabad and both sides agreed to observe the solidarity day. Meanwhile, the government and the PPP formed a joint committee for Palestine Solidarity Day and All Parties Conference, comprising Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Sherry Rehman and Nayyar Bukhari.
Source:The Nation
October 07, 2024 01:51 UTC
The Nation fosters public services to meet the increasing cultural demand
We young people also need public cultural services to pursue our interests and enrich our lives,” Wang said. China has actively worked to improve its system of public cultural services in recent years as a way of widening its basic services among more people. The July resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on advancing modernization stipulates for improvement in the public cultural service system with a focus on delivering high-quality cultural resources to grassroots communities and enhancing the involvement of social entities in providing public cultural services. Notably, public cultural services should become “better quality, more efficient, fairer and sustainable,” said Li Guoxin, director of Peking University’s national center for modern public culture research. These public cultural spaces have helped her quickly build a social circle in this new city,” Wang added.
Source:The Nation
October 07, 2024 01:46 UTC
Casualties and arrests reported as PTI protest in Islamabad continues
Islamabad was the scene of protests on Sunday as demonstrators from PTI clashed with law enforcement, resulting in the death of a police officer and injuries to over 70 security personnel. Authorities reported that protesters, allegedly brought in from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, engaged in destructive activities, damaging public property and attacking law enforcement at various locations across the capital. In response to the unrest, law enforcement agencies arrested 795 individuals, including 106 Afghan nationals residing illegally in the country. Notably, some of the detainees were off-duty police officers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reportedly participating in the protests in civilian clothing. Authorities have accused protest organizers of misusing government resources, including ambulances and fire trucks from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to transport both protesters and supplies to Islamabad.
Source:Pakistan Today
October 06, 2024 23:30 UTC
CCTV footage of Ali Amin Gandapur fleeing KP house surfaces | Video
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has confirmed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was not apprehended by any agency and revealed that video evidence shows him fleeing from the KP House. Speaking to the media after attending the funeral of a police officer who was martyred during the PTI protest at D-Chowk, Naqvi addressed the rumors surrounding Gandapur’s whereabouts. He clarified, “Ali Amin is not in the custody of any agency or institution. He escaped from the KP House, and despite multiple raids, we have not found him. There is clear footage of him running away.”Naqvi also addressed the violence that took place during the PTI protest, mentioning that another police officer remains in critical condition.
Source:Pakistan Today
October 06, 2024 23:24 UTC
Fiorentina 2-1 AC Milan: Highlights and match report
pic.twitter.com/W8RfZY2qvZ — Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) October 6, 2024Milan was clearly a bit nervous after that incident and didn’t really come forward much. Milan kept throwing numbers forward and were rewarded when Kean booted Mattia Gabbia while trying to clear a corner. ⚽️GOAL | Fiorentina 1-1 Milan | Pulisicpic.twitter.com/WoSHcuivsr — Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) October 6, 2024The Viola responded decently, getting forward and causing some problems while still looking a bit fragile. ⚽️GOAL | Fiorentina 2-1 Milan | Albert Gudmundssonpic.twitter.com/mzEgVu9rhR — Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) October 6, 2024The intensity ratcheted up after that. Milan threw everything forward and de Gea was forced into a couple more saves that, at this point, just looked routine despite being really, really good.
Source:The Nation
October 06, 2024 21:18 UTC
Menendez case gets Murphy-fied
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is the latest addition to this trend, with Ryan Murphy once again at the helm. Now he's turned his attention to the Menendez brothers' case, and it's clear he's employing the same bag of tricks. Murphy's take on the Menendez case highlights the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator, but the show never quite nails the delicate balance needed to explore such a nuanced topic. The great divideDespite its flaws, Monsters has succeeded in reigniting public interest in the Menendez case. The case is far from closed, with new evidence regarding José's alleged sexual abuse coming to light.
Source:The Express Tribune
October 06, 2024 21:17 UTC
Ready for AI to fly your plane? World’s first AI passenger plane could make it happen
Aerospace giant Embraer has revealed its bold vision for the future of air travel with a concept for the world’s first AI-powered passenger plane,eliminating the need for a human pilot. According to Embraer, AI would control the plane’s operations, completely replacing the role of a traditional pilot. Although the company has not committed to manufacturing the AI-powered jet, the concept was presented to inspire the aviation industry to explore the boundaries of what is possible in the near future. Commercial airlines and military aviation have already begun exploring AI-driven technologies, but the introduction of fully autonomous aircraft remains a significant technical challenge. Other aerospace companies are also exploring similar concepts, and many in the industry believe this technology could eventually take off, marking a new era in aviation.
Source:The Express Tribune
October 06, 2024 20:38 UTC
Cycle of Violence Continues
A fierce standoff between law enforcement and the PTI has occurred in Islamabad over the past few days, underscoring the fragile situation of political dissent in the nation. The government’s capacity to manage internal security through civilian law enforcement is further called into doubt by the army’s call-up. As of the publishing of this article, conflicting reports regarding the KP chief minister’s potential imprisonment had raised more questions. While the PTI shouldn’t permit its protests to degenerate into violence and stir up instability, the government must make sure that its activities respect the democratic right to peaceful protest. It is imperative for all parties to acknowledge that individuals bear the brunt of life disruptions resulting from blockades and the potential for violent protests.
Source:The Patriot
October 06, 2024 19:48 UTC
The Proscription of (PTM): A Significant Development
In a significant development, the federal government has officially proscribed the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. Rather, it is the organization’s narrative that may have played a significant role in prompting the government’s action. However, a clear distinction exists between articulating demands to the state as a citizen and challenging or ridiculing the entire state narrative on various pretexts. The narrative of PTM on social media was troubling. Their attitude on social media gives the impression that they don’t consider the state as their own, but rather as a rival.
Source:The Patriot
October 06, 2024 19:48 UTC
Civil Disruption
The recent developments surrounding the PTI protests in Lahore and the government’s subsequent decision to deploy the army underscore a troubling trend in Pakistan’s political landscape. The PTI’s insistence on pushing forward with its protest plans, even as cities face unprecedented disruptions, reflects a blatant disregard for the everyday lives of citizens. The repercussions of these protests go beyond the immediate chaos; they pose long-term implications for social stability and national cohesion. A passive approach is no longer viable; the state must assert its authority and demonstrate that the well-being of its people supersedes political ambitions. As we navigate these turbulent times, it is imperative that the government acts with both strength and wisdom to safeguard the nation from descending further into chaos.
Source:The Nation
October 06, 2024 15:25 UTC
Broadway Star Gavin Creel Remembered For His Passion
Broadway Star Gavin Creel Remembered For His Passion The theater community mourns the loss of beloved actor and activist Gavin Creel, who passed away after battling cancer at age 48. Gavin Creel, the celebrated Broadway star known for his dynamic performances and philanthropic efforts, passed away on September 30, 2024, at the age of 48 after succumbing to an aggressive form of cancer. Jason Laks, the interim president of The Broadway League, reflected on Creel’s contributions, stating, "It is hard to fathom the loss of Gavin Creel. Gavin Creel's talent on stage was matched only by his warm, generous spirit off it. The Broadway community mourns the loss of one of its stars but will forever cherish the memories and performances he gifted to the world.
Source:The Express Tribune
October 06, 2024 11:26 UTC