By Momina Khan

The profound power of the natural beauty that inspired William Wordsworth to write his famous lines, “I wandered lonely as a cloud” came from a walk along the shores of Ullswater in UK. His poetry celebrated the unique characteristics of his natural environment alongside his wilderness experiences amidst the scenic landscape. A tour of Ullswater and Aira Force offers a rare blend of peace and serenity and could be one of the most delightful experiences of one’s life. The visually appealing dramatic scenery with striking mountains, un-spoilt lakes and expansive moors is a perfect place to unwind.

Ullswater, which is one of the most picturesque glacial lakes of the Lake District national park, apart from its outstanding natural beauty also offers various activities to be enjoyed by the keen visitors. Scenic walks around the lake and the charming villages of Pooley Bridge and Glenridding are one of the highlights of the trip.

Ullswater also tends to be a sailing location, facilitating boat cruises and kayak tours. At the same time canoeing enthusiasts can also enjoy affordable adventure all year round, thereby rejoicing sailing either on a gentle summer day or a frosty winter morning. Steamboats operating at the Ullswater Lake provide a perfect opportunity for travelers to appreciate the stunning mountain scenery, secluded bays and ancient woodlands.

The area of Ullswater also includes some of the most visited villages including Glenridding and Pooley Bridge. Glenridding, a rather small tourist village at the foot of Ullswater commands some of the finest views in the Lake District and is extremely popular with walkers and climbers.

The traditional Cumbrian town of Pooley Bridge, which takes its name from a bridge over the River Eamont, offers a combination of gentle and challenging hikes. Meanwhile, the simple pleasure of pony trekking through the breathtaking countryside allows travelers to immerse themselves in the beautiful natural landscape around the Ullswater Lake that surrounds Pooley Bridge.

Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District has been a popular tourist destination since the mid-18th century. This hidden gem has managed to remain relatively un-spoilt by the negative impacts of ever-growing tourism. With quaint villages, lush green pastures and woodlands on hilltops, the Ullswater valley is best known for a variety of walking trails with unbeatable scenic views, water sports and its connection to William Wordsworth.

Helvellyn, a fabulous summit and England’s third highest peak can also be climbed from the shores of Ullswater. Experiencing the valley’s wildlife is an added bonus and can spice up the exploration journey. One can easily get connected with nature amidst the display of bluebells and pink purslane alongside spotting woodpeckers, cuckoos and wild geese.

The Aira Force waterfall with its splendid views and dramatic walks lies near the shores of Ullswater. This majestic waterfall with a 65 ft drop is set in an ancient woodland. This magnet for nature lovers is surrounded by various walking trails, where one can spot the rare red squirrels too. The Duke of Norfolk initially owned the area which includes the iconic waterfall, but the land was later acquired by the National Trust. Throughout its history, apart from tourists, Aira Force has also attracted the attention of various poets and painters including Wordsworth and Coleridge.

William Wordsworth wrote three poems on the Aira Force waterfall and in his poem, the Somnambulist, he complimented the beauty of the magnificent waterfall by stating,

“Wild stream of Aira, hold thy course,

Nor fear memorial lays,

Where clouds that spread in solemn shade,

Are edged with golden rays!”

The whole area of Ullswater and Aira Force is blessed with fine views and is beautifully managed with tourists flocking here from Europe and beyond to experience their “joy of discovery.”

Read: Concept of Mercy in International Relations

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The writer is a freelance journalist focusing on politics, international relations and tourism.

The post Ullswater Valley: Where Nature Inspires first appeared on Sindh Courier.

• For countries like Pakistan, where higher education systems are still evolving, China’s model offers both lessons and challenges

By Ramesh Raja

In a development few could have fully anticipated a decade ago, Chinese universities are rapidly rising in global education and research rankings, overtaking many of the once-dominant institutions of the United States and challenging the long-established leadership of British universities. This shift is not an isolated trend but a structural transformation backed by data from multiple global university rankings, including the Leiden Rankings, the Global 2000, and others.

Chinese Universities Surge Ahead in Research Output

According to a January 15, 2026 report in The New York Times, the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) at Leiden University in the Netherlands, renowned for its meticulous measurement of academic research output saw a historic shift this year. Zhejiang University of China claimed the No. 1 position worldwide, knocking Harvard University to third place, and Chinese institutions now occupy the majority of the top ten positions on this list, which is based on scientific publications and citations.

Data from the same ranking illustrates the scale of this change:

* Zhejiang University (China) emerged as the world’s leading producer of influential research.

* Shanghai Jiao Tong University and several other Chinese institutions followed closely, collectively dominating research outputs traditionally led by Western universities.

* Harvard University, historically at the summit of global research, lagged behind two Chinese rivals in this particular measurement.

This rise in research productivity reflects China’s concentrated investment in science, interdisciplinary research centers, and a national strategy to publish in high-impact, English-language academic journals that increase global citation counts.

China Surpasses U.S. in Listing Count and Rank Improvements

Another compelling signal of China’s momentum comes from the Center for World University Rankings’ Global 2000 list, released in mid-2025:

* Chinese universities (346 institutions) outnumbered U.S. counterparts (319 institutions) on the global list for the first time.

* Nearly 98 percent of Chinese universities improved their positions, propelled by enhanced research performance and sustained state funding.

* Leading Chinese names like Tsinghua University, Peking University, and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences climbed steadily, indicating broad-based institutional progress rather than isolated success.

By contrast, although American universities such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford still feature among the elite, the majority of U.S. institutions saw declines in rank; a concerning trend for a nation long regarded as the global education powerhouse.

Beyond Quantity: Global Recognition and Broader Rankings

While Western lists such as the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings continue to place U.S. and UK institutions at the uppermost positions with Oxford, MIT, and Cambridge frequently in top five; the progress of Asian universities, especially Chinese ones, cannot be dismissed.

Moreover, in the QS World University Rankings 2026, China recorded significant gains:

* Peking University climbed into the mid-teens globally, and Tsinghua University joined the top twentieth bracket. This broad representation across ranking systems from research output to academic reputation and innovation metrics paints a picture of comprehensive advancement.

Causes of China’s Academic Rise

China’s ascent in global rankings is intentional and policy-driven:

* Sustained government funding supports long-term research agendas across science, engineering, medicine, and technology.

* Chinese universities are increasingly publishing in high-impact English journals, elevating their global citations and influence.

* Collaboration between universities and technology sectors enhances innovation outputs and commercial relevance.

What This Means for the U.S. and the UK

The shift does not imply the collapse of Western academic excellence. The United States continues to boast elite universities with formidable teaching reputations and research traditions. British institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge remain consistent high-rankers in reputation-driven lists.

However, the widening quantitative and competitive gap especially in scientific output and institutional representation, signals a rebalancing of global academic influence. China’s strategic push has allowed its universities to catch up, and in some metrics, surpass those of the U.S. and the UK.

Implications for Pakistan and the Developing World

For countries like Pakistan, where higher education systems are still evolving, China’s model offers both lessons and challenges:

* Invest in long-term research infrastructure.

* Encourage international collaboration and publications.

* Build capacity in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and materials science.

Achieving global competitiveness will require systematic policy support, funding, and academic freedom to attract talent.

Read: Karachi Looks Modern Only from Sky

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The author of this article, Engr. Ramesh Raja, is a Civil Engineer, visionary planner, PMP certified and literary enthusiast with a passion for art and recreation. He can be reached at engineer.raja@gmail.com  

The post Academic Power Shift: China Outpaces US, UK first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Ashgabat

Scientists from the Institute of Language, Literature, and National Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan brought back electronic copies of 107 valuable manuscripts related to the history of the Turkmen people.

“Our ancestors did a great deal to preserve and pass down the knowledge of the nation’s glorious history to us. The duty of the current generation is to ensure it is handed down to the next, and so on,” stated the National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, during a working meeting, as reported by Turkmenistan.gov.tm.

In this regard, meticulous work is underway in Turkmenistan to study, preserve, and promote the nation’s historical values and literary heritage on the global stage. A significant contribution to this effort is the new work by Hero-Arkadag, Hakyda Göwheri, which explores the impact of Magtymguly Pyragy’s writings on universal values, the nation’s glorious history, and the contribution of Turkmen culture to world civilization.

Scientists from the Institute of Language, Literature, and National Manuscripts of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan also play a vital role in the large-scale work of studying and preserving national cultural heritage. In the Year of “The Treasury of Wisdom of Magtymguly Pyragy,” they returned from research expeditions across several countries in Asia and Europe with hundreds of copies of historical documents and manuscripts related to Magtymguly Pyragy’s creative legacy, as well as the history, literature, art, and traditions of the Turkmen people.

Read: Turkmenistan celebrates festival to honor its native dog

Recently, Amandurdy Nuraev and Guichmyrat Changliyev, scientists of the Institute, returned from a research trip to the United Kingdom, conducted from November 2 to November 23. They explored the catalogs of book and manuscript collections in the British Library – the national library of the United Kingdom, which houses over 170 million items – and the John Rylands Research Institute and Library in Manchester, known for its unique collection of rare historical sources. The researchers examined manuscripts related to the history, culture, and art of the Turkmen people, focusing on discovering manuscripts previously unknown to Turkmen scholars and never brought to Turkmenistan before.

As a result of their efforts, the scientists brought back electronic copies of 107 valuable manuscripts, including Diwan by Magtymguly Pyragy and works related to the history of the Turkmen people by Hussein Bayqara, Mane-baba, Anwari, Alisher Navoi, Fuzuli, Abdurahman Jami, Lutfi, and other renowned authors. Additionally, they acquired electronic copies of scholarly works containing fascinating information about Turkmen history, culture, and traditions, as well as copies of works by many celebrated Eastern poets.

These newly acquired historical sources will enable scholars to conduct a more profound and comprehensive study of Magtymguly Pyragy’s creative legacy.

Read: Movie about Molla Nasreddin to be filmed in Turkmenistan

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Courtesy: Central Asian Light (Posted on November 27, 2024)

The post UK returns over 100 copies of valuable manuscripts to Turkmenistan first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Karachi, Sindh

The UK-funded Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) Pakistan kicked off its two-day Investor Roadshow in Karachi on Thursday October 17, 2024, bringing together seven innovative climate mitigation projects spanning sectors such as power, e-mobility, healthcare, food, agriculture, and technology.

The third cohort includes the following projects:

A 500MW floating solar project at Keenjhar Lake, aiming to provide clean energy, create thousands of jobs, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels; an AI-powered platform for measuring emissions and a digital carbon marketplace aimed at significantly reducing CO2 emissions; offering bio-detergents to eco-conscious consumers, reducing harmful chemicals in wastewater and promoting environmental sustainability; National Rural Support Program aimed at converting agricultural waste into biomass to enhance soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; producing zero-emission electric motorcycles to transform mobility in Pakistan, focusing on increasing production for tough road condition; creating Pakistan’s first large-scale, sustainable biomass supply chain to produce clean energy from agricultural waste, and establishing a facility to produce Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (R-PET) resin, reducing plastic waste and conserving natural resources.

The CFA, implemented by DAI Pakistan on behalf of the UK Government, has provided the projects with technical, financial, and gender inclusion expertise to help ready them for investment. The third cohort of projects marks a significant milestone in the UK’s efforts to bolster Pakistan’s environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

Designed to combat the intensifying challenges of climate change, these projects will be presented to a distinguished panel of investors from financial institutions, venture capitals, corporates, and key Government bodies during the two-day event.

The British Deputy High Commissioner, Sarah Mooney, underscored the UK’s commitment to addressing climate change in Pakistan. She said, “Pakistan is on the front lines of the climate crisis. There is an urgent need for sustainable solutions to help Pakistan adapt to climate change and mitigate against it. Finance is essential to achieve this. We are unlocking investment opportunities through innovative projects to drive long-term, positive change in Pakistan and globally.”

Secretary Ministry of Climate Change – Ms. Aisha Humera while addressing the gathering, said, “We value the UK Government’s initiative, which emphasizes the importance of private sector involvement in Pakistan’s green transition. We’re excited to engage with innovative low-carbon projects led by visionary young entrepreneurs that will go a long way in achieving a sustainable future and lead to strong public-private partnerships, unlocking climate finance, and pursuing innovative solutions to combat climate change.”

James Naughton of DAI UK and Ian Milborrow of PwC UK spoke about the genesis of the global CFA program, the activities of CFA Pakistan since its 2022 launch, and the overall environment of climate financing in Pakistan. Khurram Lalani, CFA Pakistan Team Leader, highlighted the significance of this third cohort: “This cohort exemplifies the type of transformative change that is possible when we bring together innovative ideas, expert knowledge, and the right financial instruments. The CFA has been pivotal in helping these projects move closer to investment readiness. It goes beyond funding – it’s about building lasting partnerships and creating systems that address the climate crisis while fostering economic growth.”

The CFA Investor Roadshow fosters relationships between financial experts, investors, and project developers, with the goal of accelerating Pakistan’s transition to a low-carbon economy. Should these projects secure the necessary financing, they are poised to deliver significant benefits to communities nationwide, ranging from pollution abatement and job creation to enhanced access to clean energy, effective waste management solutions, and the promotion of gender equality and social inclusion.

The event will continue on Friday October 18 with a high-level roundtable bringing together policymakers, climate finance experts, and representatives from banking, corporate, and development sectors. The discussion – “De-risking Climate Projects: Tools and Strategies” – will consider the future of climate finance and low-carbon projects in Pakistan.

The Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) is a £11.8 million four-year technical assistance program funded by International Climate Finance (ICF), through the UK Government’s Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). The CFA is implemented in ten countries (Colombia, Egypt, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, South Africa, Türkiye, Uganda and Viet Nam) and is working to develop a sustainable pipeline of bankable, low carbon projects in each country. The CFA is part of the UK’s efforts to support climate action on a global scale, facilitating access to finance and helping governments achieve climate targets under the Paris Agreement.

DAI is a leading global development company. Since 1970, DAI has worked in more than 150 countries- from stable societies and high-growth economies to challenging environments. (PR)

Read: VANISHING WATERBODIES OF SINDH

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The post Innovative Climate Projects Showcased at Investor Roadshow in Karachi first appeared on Sindh Courier.

By Gregory F. Treverton and Tom Arms

If Britain’s Labour government is looking for it, there is a gaping door back into a new relationship with Europe—defense cooperation.

And this door has the added advantage that increased defense cooperation between Britain and its European NATO allies is becoming essential to counter growing American disillusionment with Europe.

Whether it is a MAGA-fied isolationism or a pivot to Asia, it is clear that foreign policymakers in both the Democratic and Republican parties are questioning America’s commitment to Europe.

For those on both sides of the English Channel this creates an opportunity to start to repair the damage of eight years of Conservative Party Brexiteering. It could also strengthen European defences and, ironically, help to retain the American nuclear umbrella.

Europe faced the problem of American isolationism and problems with Asia before—in the run-up to the creation NATO and within a year of its founding. When the idea of linking America to the defense of post-war Europe was first mooted, Senator Arthur Vandenberg, leader of the Republican-controlled Senate, insisted on proof that the Europeans were jointly committed to their own defense.

This was proven by British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin with a 50-year Anglo-French Treaty of Alliance and Mutual Assistance in 1947 and then a year later with an extension of the mutual defense pact to include Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Vandenberg and the Republicans were impressed, and on April 4, 1949 the North Atlantic Treaty was signed.

A year later Europe panicked when North Korea invaded South Korea. What if the Soviet Union took advantage of Korea to attack Europe? Could America afford to fight on two fronts? Which was the more important to Washington—Europe or Asia? The result was the Pleven Plan (named after French Prime Minister Renee Pleven). It proposed strengthening the European arm of NATO with a European Army headed up by a European defense minister.

The Pleven Plan was killed off by the French National Assembly and Europe grew increasingly dependent on the United States, especially its nuclear umbrella.  Now—nearly 75-years later—Europe faces a similar set of circumstances. A populist Donald Trump is questioning the value of NATO and threatening to refuse to defend members who fail to spend at least two percent of their GDP on defense.  On the other side of the political aisle, the Democrats are as obsessed with the Chinese threat as the Republicans. The Asia Pivot started with Barack Obama. Meanwhile, Russia has invaded Ukraine and Europe worries that Moscow’s success there will lead to attacks elsewhere.

Britain has played a leading role in chivvying the West to defend Ukraine and the EU has more or less matched the Americans in the supply of aid to Kyiv. But the wider issue of defending European NATO remains in the balance and Britain can play a crucial role in resolving the problems.

Read: What Can the New Government’s Proposed UK–EU Security Pact Achieve?

The key is Britain’s nuclear weapons which must remain in place if Russia is to continue to be deterred. Britain has 250 nuclear warheads based on four Trident nuclear submarines. They are already committed to the defense of NATO, but they are under the operational command of the British Prime Minister. Britain should investigate ways to further commit its nuclear arsenal to Europe, perhaps in coordination with the French.

There is already a nuclear Anglo-French cornerstone which can be built upon. In 2010 David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy signed a deal which established cooperation on nuclear issues starting with a joint simulation center for the testing of nuclear warheads. It was a first, and both sides recognized it as a starting point. At the time there was even talk of joint nuclear submarine patrols.

Anglo-French cooperation would double a European nuclear deterrent. It would still only be one-sixth the size of the Russian nuclear arsenal and there would need to be a shift from the policy of MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction) to MIND (Minimum Deterrence). But then the Chinese will able to hold off the Soviets with only 300 warheads at the height of the Sino-Soviet split. To insure the success of a MIND policy A European NATO would have to agree to threaten a conventional weapons attack by Russia with immediate nuclear retaliation.

But that may not be necessary. Even a MAGA-fied America probably wouldn’t break its long alliance with Britain. In the early days of the Common Market, Europeans fretted that admitting Britain would also let in a fifth-column—the United States. This time around, they might find that column useful if it gave a European NATO continuing access to American capabilities.

Britain could be out of the EU but connected to Europe through membership of a European NATO and most likely allied to America by a separate treaty. An attack on a European country would draw in Britain and the follow-up attack on Britain would draw in America. It would not be the clear diplomatic chain of command of today’s NATO, but, at the very least, a Vladimir Putin couldn’t be confident that the US would do nothing if he attacked Europe.

And at the same time, Britain’s military links would have secured a vital link with Europe which could become the basis of a new, wider relationship.

World Review

The Kamala Harris bandwagon continues to gather momentum. Going into this week’s Democratic National Convention “The Economist” poll tracker put her three points ahead nationally. The convention dividend should add another two to three points easily.

Kamala’s rapid rise, however, has less to do with her policies and more to do with vibes. Her main attributes are that she is younger than Joe Biden, pro-abortion and anti-Trump, which, for the Democrats, is more than enough.

In her 40-minute conference speech a few foreign policy hints slipped out. On the Middle East she supports Israel while sympathizing and empathizing with the Palestinians. On NATO she is pro-Alliance. As for Ukraine, she is anti-Putin and on China Kamala Harris remains a bit of a mystery.

Ms. Harris’s recent speech in Philadelphia on Kamalanomics failed to impress the professionals. Her plans to end price gouging with federal regulations; raise child tax credits by $4,000 and hand-out $25,000 to first time home buyers, was derided by most economists as inflationary left-of-center crowd-pleasing populism. It was not, however, as Trump claimed, communism.

Former prosecutor Kamala Harris is, however, proving adept at deflecting criticism; coming up with resonating slogans and landing punches. Two placards keep popping up at her rallies: “Freedom” and “We Will Not Go Back.”

The first encompasses a broad swathe of issues to include reproductive rights, racism, misogyny, health care, for the elderly, the electoral process, the rule of law, the constitution and democracy itself. All of which either have been, or are perceived to be, threatened by Donald Trump and his Republican acolytes.

“We Will Not Go Back” refers to the belief that Republicans want to turn the social clock back to the 1950s—perhaps even further—when Jim Crow ruled in the South and a woman’s place was in the home.

Trump is the master of the personal insult. Vice President Harris has fostered a unique method for countering them. She ignores them. Then she turns the debate on her opponent’s weaknesses. Project 2025, for instance, is a major embarrassment for the ex-president. He has repeatedly disavowed it. But Kamala Harris refuses to let it go.

Finally, there is the fact that Kamala Harris ticks almost every diversity box there is. She is a female, part-Asian, part-African all-American. Yet she rarely mentions her gender or mixed-race background. Perhaps it is time for Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream. The dream that the day will come when a person will be judged not by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.

***

China appreciates Donald Trump. It is too much they say they like him. His threatened tariffs and bellicose rhetoric would undoubtedly put a strain on Sino-American relations.

But at the same time, the ex-president has shown little inclination to defend Taiwan and Trump’s transactional diplomacy could simplify relations. Most of all, Donald J. Trump is a known quantity.

Kamala Harris, on the other hand, is an unwelcome mystery.

For a start, Beijing is unhappy with the end of the battle of the geriatrics that a Trump-Biden race represented. The Chinese have their own problems with a perceived gerontocracy and Kamala Harris presents an unflattering contrast with 71-year-old Xi Jinping. Since Ms Harris emerged as the Democratic nominee, all hints of a Biden-Xi comparison have been erased from the Chinese internet.

Then there is the problem of racism and misogyny. At least America’s problem as portrayed by the Chinese Communist Party. In May Beijing published a report on human rights in America which said racism is getting worse and gender discrimination is “rampant”. Kamala Harris—in case you missed it—is female and of mixed Asian-African heritage.

It is expected that Kamala Harris’s China policy will largely be a re-run of Joe Biden’s. She will likely leave in place the tariffs imposed by her mentor and continue the commitment to defend Taiwan and attack China’s human rights record.

Read: US-China Relationship after America’s election

The choice of Tim Walz as Harris’s running-mate adds an interesting wrinkle to Sino-American relations in a possible Harris administration. He taught in China and has visited the country dozens of times. In contrast, Ms. Harris has made only the rare visit to Asia.

This indicates that Walz may break with vice-presidential tradition and have a role to play as the administration’s point man on China. Republicans are ready for it. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives have already launched an investigation into Walz’s “longstanding and cosy relationship with China”.  Unfortunately for the conservatives they are unlikely to find skeleton’s in Walz’s Chinese wardrobe. His time in and out of Congress has been marked by repeated attack on Beijing’s human rights record, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by China’s state-controlled media.

Trump, on the other hand, is more concerned with trading rights than human rights. So, all things considered, Xi Jinping is likely to prefer Trump over Harris.

***

Last month Moscow. This week Kyiv. What is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi up to?

The simple answer is that he is following India’s traditional policy of non-alignment. But the reality is more complex and reveals the growing importance of India on the world diplomatic stage and a transition from the past to the future.

The Kyiv visit was made to balance Modi’s trip to Moscow in July. That trip was a PR disaster for Modi because he wrapped himself in a bear hug with Vladimir Putin just eight hours after Russian missiles killed 37 children and injured 170 others in a Kyiv children’s hospital.

Modi tried to minimize the damage by quickly issuing a statement of sympathy for the Ukrainian families involved. But it didn’t work. Most of the Western governments criticized him and Volodomyr Zelensky declared: “It is a huge disappointment…to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day.”

Modi’s visit to Kyiv was first and foremost meant to balance the diplomatic scales and keep India on the non-aligned path. But there is more to it than that.

India has been gradually moving away from its historic close ties with Russia since the 1990s. At the height of the Cold War 70 percent of its weapons were supplied by the Soviet Union. Moscow is still the major provider, but it is down to 50 percent with the US, Israel and France supplying the other half.

Delhi is concerned about several things. At the top of the list is the bromance between Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping. India may be non-aligned but its chief nemesis is China and the relationship between the Russian and Chinese leaders makes Modi uneasy.

Then there is the fact that the US is India’s biggest trading partner– $75.8 billion in exports in 2023. This compares to a paltry $4 billion that it sold to Russia. In economic terms, Indian diplomats say that their country’s future lies with America, Europe and the Gulf States, in that order.

As India climbs up the economic order, trade balances will play an increasing role in their political decisions. But at the same time it must transition from past relationships to future. That could explain why Modi continues to defy Western sanctions to be the largest purchaser of Russia’s seaborne crude oil– $2.7 billion last month alone.

Read: Observations of an Expat – Ukraine: Shrewdness or Mistake?

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Greg Treverton was chairman of President Obama’s National Intelligence Council and a director of the Rand Corporation. Tom Arms is foreign editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and author of The Encyclopedia of the Cold War and America Made in Britain.

The post Observations of an Expat – Defense Cooperation: Back Door to Europe first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Dhaka

The Indian government has granted Sheikh Hasina an interim stay following the downfall of her government in Bangladesh on Monday, reports republicworld.com.

During this period, India will offer comprehensive logistical support as Hasina pursues asylum in the United Kingdom. Her stay in India is approved only temporarily, pending her relocation to Britain.

Hasina, who resigned on Monday following unprecedented anti-government protests, is on her way to London through India.

Hasina is currently seeking asylum in the UK, with her sister Rehana, a UK citizen, accompanying her. As of now, there has been no confirmation from the UK government regarding the grant of political asylum for Hasina.

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Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina’s First Reaction 

In her first reaction since leaving the country, Bangladesh’s ex-PM Sheikh Hasina expressed deep disappointment over the rising opposition. Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy commented on the turmoil, stating, “She is so disappointed that after all her hard work, a minority has risen up against her.” He revealed that Hasina had been considering resignation since yesterday and left the country for safety at her family’s insistence. Watch the video for full detail. (Hindustan Times) 

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Rehana, the younger daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the “Father of Bangladesh,” and Sheikh Fazilatun Necha Mujib, is also the younger sister of Sheikh Hasina. Her daughter, Tulip Siddiq, serves as a member of the British Parliament representing the Labour Party.

Meanwhile, Indian government sources said New Delhi is closely following the fast-paced developments in Dhaka.

In Dhaka, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman said Hasina has resigned and an interim government is taking over the responsibilities. “I’m taking all responsibility (of the country). Please cooperate,” he said in a televised address.

The Army chief said he had met political leaders and told them the Army would take over responsibility for law and order. More than 100 people have been killed in the protests against the Hasina government over the last two days.

Bangladesh Army Chief had worked closely with Sheikh Hasina

As per Army’s website, General Waker-uz-zaman commanded an Infantry Battalion, the only Independent Infantry Brigade of BD Army and an Infantry Division. In a career spanning three-and-a-half decades, he has also worked closely with Hasina, serving as the principal staff officer at the Armed Forces Division under the Prime Minister’s Office. Zaman has also been associated with the modernization of the army, the army website said.

Waker-uz-zaman is an alumnus of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur and Joint Services Command and Staff College, UK. He holds a Master degree in Defence Studies from National University of Bangladesh and Master of Arts in Defence Studies from King’s College, University of London.

He was directly involved with the UN Peacekeeping Affairs of Bangladesh Armed Forces. Zaman was awarded the coveted ‘Extraordinary Service Medal (OSP)’ and ‘Army Medal of Glory (SGP)’ for his remarkable contributions in the modernization of the army. (Economic Times)

Also read: Has Bangladesh students’ protest been hijacked by Jamaat-e-Islami?

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Courtesy: Daily Sun, Dhaka (Posted on August 5, 2024)

The post Sheikh Hasina to Stay in India until Britain Grant Asylum first appeared on Sindh Courier.

By Tom Arms

It’s time for the Special Relationship to be extracted from the diplomatic cupboard and dusted off.

Britain needs it. Europe needs it. And, although they are less keen to admit that they need help from any quarter, the US needs it to become the cornerstone of a new Transatlantic Alliance.

For years the UK shared the “Special Relationship” tag with France and Germany. In fact, after Brexit, Britain probably slipped into third place in Washington’s relationship arrangements.

But French President Emmanuel Macron has politically castrated himself with the recent political elections and the dull and dreary German Chancellor Olaf Scholz fails to inspire either the Germans or the wider world community

Britain may no longer be an EU power, but Sir Keir Starmer’s landslide victory gives him latitude at home and kudos abroad.

He is helped by a foreign secretary who has the potential to go down in history as one of the best in modern times. David Lammy wasted no time in stamping his image on British foreign policy. Almost before Sir Keir had finished his acceptance speech, Lammy was on the plane for Paris, Berlin, Warsaw and Kyiv. This week he was at the prime minister’s elbow for the NATO summit in Washington where Sir Keir was the only NATO leader awarded a tete a tete with President Joe Biden.

Lammy also has extensive American connections. The new foreign secretary has worked, studied and lived in the US. He has family in America and his father is buried in Texas.

But what if Donald Trump returns to the White House? A prospect which appears increasingly likely as Joe Biden ages with every passing day. Lammy is on record as labelling Trump a “woman-hating neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath” and a “profound threat to international order” as well as a racist and a fascist.

But both Sir Keir and Lammy have said that the transAtlantic relationship remains the “bedrock” of British foreign policy. And in a recent speech at the conservative US think tank the Hudson Institute, Lammy said that Trump’s comments on European security had been “misunderstood.” He has also gone out of his way recently to meet senior Trump foreign policy advisers.

Unfortunately, Trump’s negative policy towards Europe is based on good, sound politics. It is a reflection of a growing US isolationism which in turn is a reaction to series of foreign policy reversals. That feeling of being hard done by the rest of the world (especially its European allies) will continue regardless of whomever win the November election.

To allay European fears, much was made of this week’s decision to base a fresh batch of American intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Germany. But you need to read the fine print. The missiles are not being offered on a permanent basis as they were in the 1970s and 1980s. No, they are a stopgap measure until the European members of NATO can manufacture and deploy their own intermediate-range systems.

So, the 75th NATO birthday celebrations in Washington, were also the scene for the signing of a letter of intent by Germany, France, Italy and Poland to develop their own long-range missiles which will be called the European Long-Range Approach. In addition, the European members of NATO have all agreed to commit 20 percent of their growing defence budgets to manufacturing new weapons. European NATO sees the writing on the wall and is acting accordingly.

But none of these European moves will replace America’s strategic nuclear umbrella. Neither would the nuclear arsenals of France and Britain. In fact, Britain’s nuclear deterrent is totally reliant on US technology. And that reliance is part of the special relationship which may keep America committed to Europe even if Trump withdraws the US from NATO.

Americans may not feel particularly warm towards other Europeans. But with the British they share a common language, legal system, intelligence links, and alliances through two world wars, investments, educational links and a long, long history. On top of that, Donald Trump, has to protect his Scottish golf course. Britain will almost certainly continue to nestle under the American nuclear umbrella, partly because of the existing nuclear links and partly because of history.

Britain, for its part, may not want European workers or to have to share sovereignty with Brussels. But it recognizes that it is in its interest to belong to a common European defence alliance.  And that offering its nuclear weapons and other military hardware to the EU could lead to other as yet unspecified benefits.

If a Trumpian America withdrew from NATO, or reduced its commitment, then Britain could become the link that keeps Europe nestling under the American nuclear umbrella. America would have an alliance with Britain. Britain would have an alliance with America. If Europe was attacked then Britain would be treaty-bound to come to its defense. If Britain was attacked then America would be treaty-bound to come to the defense of Britain, and, by association, Europe.

It is not as good as the current North Atlantic Treaty Organization. But it is better than the nothing about which too many are talking.

World Review

Patriots for Europe is a political oxymoron designed to confuse the public about its true intentions. It stands alongside other political oxymorons such as The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, aka North Korea, which is neither democratic, a republic or run for the benefit of the North Korean people.

Patriots for Europe is a new political grouping in the European Parliament. And the political reality is that none of the national political parties that belong to this group feel the least patriotic leanings towards the European concept.

In fact, they are all Euro-skeptics whose main mission in life is to undermine the concept of a united Europe and drag their countries back to the 19th century when Europe was a patchwork of feuding nationalistic states.

The intellectual driving force behind Patriots for Europe is Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. His Fidesz Party was booted out of the center-right European People’s Party in 2022 for being too right-wing and has been politically homeless ever since.

Soon after the announcement of the results for the recent European Parliament elections—a victory for the far-right—Orban flew to Vienna to launch Patriots for Europe alongside Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis and former Austrian Interior Minister Herbert Kickl. Their stated manifesto was: weaken the EU, focus on European cultural identity, introduce stronger anti-immigration measures and oppose the EU’s climate change policy which aims to make Europe carbon neutral by 2050.

The core trio quickly attracted far-right groups from across the EU. By the end of this week it had grown to 84 seats drawn from 12 member states. This places it in third place behind the center-right European People’s Party (176 seats) and the center-left Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (139 seats). There are a total of 720 seats in the European Parliament.

Conspicuous by its absence from the new party is Germany’s AfD (Alternative for Deutschland). Recent Nazi-related scandals have put the far-right Germans beyond the pale even for the likes of Viktor Orban.

A catch was France’s National Rally (RN). It achieved a major victory in the European Parliamentary elections with 30 of France’s 79 MEPs. National Rally then went on to place a disappointing—and surprising—third in French parliamentary elections.

RN’s Jordan Bardella had expected to be French Prime Minister. He has had to settle for the job of President of Patriots for Europe. He secures the job as leader of the national party with the largest number of MEPs in the new political group.  He will be using the parliamentary building at Strasbourg as a platform from which to attack France’s left and center in preparation for the French presidential elections in 2027.

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“I am a reformist principilist”, declares Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s newly-elected president.

But what is a “reformist principilist”? According to Pezeshkian it is someone who is loyal to the principles of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, but wants to liberalize/reform the principles of that revolution.

That means, for a start, swearing allegiance to Supreme Ruler Ayatollah Khameini, which he did throughout his campaign. In fact, in his victory speech Pezeshkian praised the “guidance” of Khameini which he described as a major factor in his electoral success.

Khameini, for his part, made a rare post-election speech in which he acknowledged that some Iranians dislike his regime. He then added: “We listen to them and we know what they are saying.”

The question is: What is Khameini hearing and what will he allow Pezeshkian to do about it?

The new president campaigned on a pledge to rein in the morality police who had been arresting women who refused to wear head scarves. He also wanted to improve relations with the West and resume talks on Iran’s nuclear development.

The headscarves issue is likely to be a win for the protesters. The government is unlikely to make a song and dance about it, but they will probably inform the morality police to turn a blind eye to the absence of scarves.

An Iranian initiative to resume talks on nuclear development may also be on the cards. This is because, according to US intelligence, the Iranians have recently slowed down their race to develop nuclear weapons. Thus there is more scope for talks on time limits and associated issues.

Wider issues with the West are more problematic. Iran has locked itself into the position of third wheel in an anti-Western alliance with China and Russia. It would be difficult to extricate itself—even if it wanted to.

At a recent summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, acting president Mohammed Mokhbar delivered a “personal message” from Ayatollah Khameini to Vladimir Putin assuring him that Iran’s relations with Moscow are “deep and unchangeable” and would remain strong regardless of who won the election. He added that the Iranian-Russian axis had changed “the power equations in the world.”

Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis are another major source of friction. At the moment, US-backed Israel is fighting a shadow war with Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. But Iran’s support for Hezbollah provides Tehran with a political and military reach that spreads in an arc all the way across the Middle East and insures its position as regional super power. No Iranian leader is likely to relinquish that power willingly.

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Kazakhstan was briefly in the headlines this month. It deserves more attention.

The reason for its appearance in the spotlight was a summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the Kazakh capital of Astana.

The reason that it deserves more attention is manifold. A good starting point is its relations with Russia. It was part of the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire before that. Russia’s main space facilities are at Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome. About 15 percent of the population are ethnic Russians.

Russia controls the main pipelines through which Kazakh oil and travel to world markets. Moscow is heavily invested in Kazakhstan’s important mineral-based industries, especially the increasingly significant uranium deposits. Kazakhstan is the world’s 11th largest producer of oil and gas and is also rich in bauxite, copper, gold, iron ore and coal.

The Kazakh-Russian border is 4,500 miles long, which makes it second only to the US-Canadian border. Trade between the two countries reached $27 billion in 2023. On top of all the above, the current president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, owes his job to Russian intervention in 2022.

But the icing on the cake is that Russia’s ally “without limits”—China—is the second biggest investor in the world’s largest landlocked country and their annual trade last year topped Russia’s at $37 billion.

Besides all these links between Kazakhstan and its two giant neighbors, President Tokayev is trying to improve relations with the West. He has remained neutral on the issue of Ukraine and maintained oil production at record high levels to try and keep down world energy prices.

Tokayev’s scorecard, however, is a bit iffy on the issue of preventing the export of military equipment to Russia. Kazakhstan regularly allows dual-use equipment to make its way to the Russian forces in Ukraine. For its part, Western governments are prepared to turn a blind eye to Kazakhstan’s sanctions busting. They know that Tokayev is walking a diplomatic tightrope, and that a slip in their direction could result in Russian intervention which the West could little if anything about.

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Tom Arms is foreign editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and the author of “The Encyclopaedia of the Cold War” and “America Made in Britain.”

Read: Observations of an Expat: How Did We Get Here?

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Karachi, Sindh

The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) UK has awarded the Honorary Fellowship to Prof. Dr. Tariq Mahmood, Professor Emeritus Radiation Oncology of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) Karachi.

The Honorary Fellowship by the RCR is the most prestigious award given to a non-Fellow of the College. Only 78 individuals worldwide have been honored with this award. On Friday, 28th June 2024, it was awarded to Prof. Dr. Tariq Mahmood at Central Hall Westminster, London. The citation highlighted his work in the field of radiology and radiation oncology in Pakistan.

Award of Fellowship is the recognition of Cyberknife- Radiation Oncology services at JPMC Karachi. This recognition by the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) UK is a matter of great pride for the province of Sindh and Pakistan, as it signifies the acknowledgement of free cancer treatment facility provided through a public-private partnership between the Government of Sindh and the Patients Aid Foundation at JPMC Karachi.

The RCR was established in 1897 with the invention of X-ray radiation and the establishment of the Roentgen Society. It has the largest number of Fellows worldwide, serving as Radiologists and Radiation Oncologists.

Dr. Tariq Mahmood, Professor Emeritus, Radiation Oncology, JPMC, is the first Pakistani and first Muslim Professor in the world to receive this most prestigious award. He is also a recipient of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for public service, the honorary rank of Surgeon Commander from the Chief of Naval Staff and holds an honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Edinburgh for his services in the field of Medicine.

Prof. Mahmood extended his gratitude to the Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah and Minister of Health Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho for the donation of a new top-of-the-line Cyberknife S7 unit and to the donors of Patients Aid Foundation for another Tomotherapy X9 unit.”

Since 2012, JPMC has been the only center in the world to offer free treatment of cancer with Cyberknife and Tomotherapy, regardless of nationality, religion, or ethnicity. Up to now, patients from 15 countries and 167 cities in Pakistan have benefited from this free service. Globally, these expensive treatments cost millions of rupees.

The Radiation Oncology department at JPMC is equipped with two Cyberknife units, two Tomotherapy units, and Equinox 100, placing it among the top ten centers in the world for technology. These units provide highly precise treatments and can cure early-stage cancers of the prostate, brain, spine, lung, liver, head & neck, among others.

Read: Cancer rates set to rise 77 per cent by 2050

Furthermore, the Radiation Oncology section has been offering free PET-CT scans since 2017. To meet the growing demand, the department has launched new isotopes for prostate, brain, and cardiac scans and plans to conduct over 4000 free PET-CT scans in the next fiscal year.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah expressed his appreciation for the recognition given to Cyberknife, a Radiation Oncology service at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Karachi by the Royal College of Radiologists, United Kingdom.

He sees this award as a testament to the hard work and commitment of his government to the health sector as well as to the people of the province. (PR)

Related report: Cyberknife Treatment at JPMC: 2000 Cancer Patients on Waiting List

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Geneva

Independent UN human rights experts have expressed concern about the protection risks faced by migrant workers in the United Kingdom (UK), including “deception, exorbitant recruitment fees, debt bondage, undignified living conditions, and potential deportation.”

The experts said they have received allegations that migrants are being deceived about “working and living conditions and the nature of their agreements with employers in the agricultural or care sectors.”

“This is unlawful and highlights the need for urgent reform of the current system governing labor migration, to ensure effective protection of the rights of migrant workers,” they said.

Exploiting migrants 

The UN experts are concerned about shortcomings of the Seasonal Worker Scheme – a system implemented in response to labor shortages in the UK.

These specialists say some “scheme operators” which are licensed recruitment companies will recruit migrants to work on farms or in poultry production and some will illegally charge them upwards of £3,000 to become employed, leaving the migrants in bondage.

In other cases, migrants are promised work in the agricultural or care sector before arriving in the country, but later learn there is no job for them.

The UK Government has revoked the licenses of “non-compliant” employers in the care sector, however, experts say there is no protection for employees who lose their jobs due to these revocations.

They said many employees may later face deportation while others may become victims of trafficking and exploitation.

“Currently, too many temporary migrant workers have been in a legal limbo for too long and risk becoming destitute.”

How the government can assist

The special rapporteurs said the UK government needs to “hold scheme operators accountable through effective supervision and audits, as well as regular labor inspections on farms, protecting against human rights abuse by business enterprises domiciled in its territory, in line with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.”

They also said people exploiting laborers should be prosecuted, while justice should be guaranteed for victims.

Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on specific country situations or thematic issues worldwide.

They are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.

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Courtesy: UN News (Posted on June 3, 2024)

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Tashkent

The authorities in the United Kingdom have confiscated two apartments and a mansion that belonged to the daughter of Uzbekistan’s first president, Gulnara Karimova. The real estate is valued at over $25 million, Podrobno.uz reports.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO), responsible for combating serious fraud, stated that it had confiscated three luxury properties in the UK owned by Gulnara Karimova.

“We have uncovered a complex financial scheme involving multiple offshore accounts and companies to seize the assets. This decision is a step forward in our case and our ongoing efforts to eradicate dirty money in the UK,” noted SFO Director Lisa Osofsky.

According to British law enforcement, Gulnara Karimova and her family acquired this real estate using proceeds from corrupt activities in Uzbekistan.

The SFO also alleges that Karimova received hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes from telecommunications companies between 2004 and 2012 in exchange for assisting them in gaining access to the Uzbek market.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Uzbekistan, Gulnara Karimova’s assets abroad are estimated at more than $1 billion. She also controls 30 accounts in 7 Swiss banks and 8 safes, all located in Lombard Odier bank.

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Courtesy: Central Asian Light (Posted on Aug 9, 2023)

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