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Indian State of Manipur Announced Independence From India

Indian State of Manipur announced independence from India

The representatives of State of Manipur’s King Leishemba Sanajaoba have announced separation from India, forming the Manipur State Council.

At a press conference here, Chief Minister of Manipur State Council Yamben Biren and Minister of External Affairs and Defence of Manipur State Council Narengbam Samarjit announced before media that they were speaking on behalf of the Maharaja of Manipur High Highness the Leishemba Sanajaoba to formally launch the exiled government – the Manipur State Council.

The exiled government will be based in Central London.

Indian State of Manipur announced independence from India

They produced a document showing that His Highness the Maharaja of Manipur had authorised them by the Order No. 12 of 2013 dated the March 15, 2013 to solve the political problems of the State of Manipur.

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Articles FPSC News Pakistani Newspapers

Government is Planning to Introduce Screening Test for CSS Examination

Government is Planning to Introduce Screening Test for CSS Examination

Government is Planning to Introduce Screening Test for CSS Examination
(The CSS Enigma | Express Tribune Editorial October 25, 2019)

The government is currently in the process of introducing a pre-screening test before participants can appear for the actual CSS examination. Following the PM’s approval, the proposal is now all set to come before parliament. The PM’s Special Adviser on Establishment says these changes are synonymous with the PM’s vision of transparency, integrity and efficiency-based governance. According to the adviser, the screening process will also split candidates into three groups: the Pakistan Administrative Service, Inland Revenue Service, and the International Relations group. Even though federal officials claim these reforms aim to eradicate the “superiority complex and lingering colonial mindset”, they seem to forget that the Civil Service itself is a derivation of the colonial legacy.

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Articles Pakistani Newspapers

Alarming trend: Dismal CSS Outcome Points to Systemic Crisis

By Waqas Ahmed

By Waqas Ahmed

The alarming outcome of this year’s Central Superior Services (CSS) exam sent shockwaves through the country’s community of young professionals and left many wondering what went wrong. Less than three per cent of those who appeared for the competitive exam was able to clear it, according to results put up by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) more than a week ago.

But this year’s outcome is far from an anomaly when taking into account previous years’ results. Data obtained from the FPSC by The Express Tribune reveals past years’ CSS success rates have been more or less within the same range, raising questions regarding the efficacy of both the assessment process and the country’s education standards.

Of the 43,097 candidates who have appeared for the competitive exam over the past four years, only 1,444 or a meager 3.35 per cent managed to pass it, according to the FPSC data. In contrast, this year’s CSS success rate was only slightly less at 2.56 per cent.

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Articles Pakistani Newspapers

Dismal Performance of CSS-2019 Candidates (By Anwar Ali)

Dismal Performance of CSS-2019 Candidates (By Anwar Ali)

By Anwar Ali

The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) recently declared the result of the written portion of the examination of the Central Superior Services (CSS) conducted in February 2019 across the country.

The statistics given by the FPSC for CSS-2019 are dispiriting. The number of candidates who appeared was 14, 521 and out of them only 372 could pass the written examination making the pass percentage stand at 2.56. In contrast, in CSS-2018, more candidates had passed the written examination. In 2018, the number of candidates appeared was 11, 887 and out of them 569 passed the written examination making 4.79 the pass percentage. Now the question is this: what are the reasons for the dismal performance of CSS candidates?

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Articles Pakistani Newspapers

The CSS Sisters (Laila, Shireen, Sassi, Marvi and Zoha) By: Waqar Azeem Jappa

The CSS Sisters (Laila, Shireen, Sassi, Marvi and Zoha) By: Waqar Azeem Jappa

By: Waqar Azeem Jappa

Media’s portrayal of this unique success story has been a bit patriarchal, ironically, this is what the super sisters claim to have fought against

Laila, Shireen, Sassi, Marvi and Zoha are the five names that have become known to almost every social media user since the written part of the CSS result was declared by Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) on 10th of October, 2019. Thanks to social media, these magical young ladies are probably now more popular than many of our parliamentarians. Both, national and provincial assemblies, male and female. Molana Fazalur Rehaman, the leader of the holy lads is an exception though. His popularity and demand has grown manifold in media since he announced to launch an Azaadi March to topple the change regime of the Prime Minister Khan and his allies.

During these best of the times as well as worst of the times in the local politics, the nation should seriously thank FPSC for announcing the result. People now have something as inspiring to talk about as The CSS Girls who made their parents proud in the time of Molana. Otherwise, we were left with nasty memes on TV show Mere Pass Tum Ho, love and hate soaked reviews on Coke Studio’s new offering Wohi Khuda Hai by Atif Aslam and all the praise for Umera Ahmed’s Aalif whose Qalb-e-Momin has dropped another tweet bomb by indicating to leave entertainment industry soon. If this happens, Umera Ahmed should be ready to take the blame for snatching one of the industry’s heartthrobs from millions of young girls.

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Articles Pakistani Newspapers

China’s 70 Years of Progress | China’s 70th anniversary

China’s 70 Years of Progress | China's 70th anniversary

The celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1 will be an exuberant affair, involving glitzy cultural events, an extravagant state dinner attended by Chinese and foreign luminaries, and a grand military parade in Tiananmen Square. And, at a time of high tensions with US President Donald Trump’s administration, it will be imbued with an extra dose of patriotic enthusiasm. But while China has much to celebrate, it also has much work to do.

The first 30 years of rule by the Communist Party of China (CPC) are judged harshly, owing to the disastrous Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. But these were not lost decades. On the contrary, major strides were made in modernizing China: local and national power grids were established, industrial capacity was strengthened, and human capital rapidly improved.

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Articles Current Affairs Pakistani Newspapers

Munir Akram to replace Maleeha Lodhi as Pakistan’s Envoy to UN

Munir Akram to replace Maleeha Lodhi as Pakistan's Envoy to UN

In a major reshuffle in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved the appointment of ambassador Munir Akram as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, the Foreign Office announced on September 30, 2019.

Akram will replace Dr Maleeha Lodhi, who has held the office of Pakistan’s envoy to the UN since February 2015.

Akram has served as Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN previously as well, holding the office for six years between 2002 and 2008.

The sudden announcement comes a day after Prime Minister Imran and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi returned to Pakistan after wrapping up their visit to the United States to attend the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.

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Articles Current Affairs Event Pakistan Affairs

Prime Minister Imran Khan Complete Speech in the United Nations General Assembly 2019

Prime Minister Imran Khan Complete Speech in the United Nations General Assembly 2019
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 27: Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan addresses the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters on September 27, 2019 in New York City. World leaders from across the globe are gathered at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, amid crises ranging from climate change to possible conflict between Iran and the United States. Drew Angerer/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday addressed the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The highlight of his more than 45-minute-long speech was intense criticism of India for its annexation of occupied Kashmir and the continued restrictions imposed in the region.

The premier began his wide-ranging, at times apparently extemporaneous speech by saying he feels honoured to represent Pakistan at the world forum.

He said he would not have come to the UN if he did not feel that some “urgent issues” needed to be addressed.

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Event

ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION 2019-20 (Govt of Pakistan)

ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION 2019-20

Government of Pakistan
Establishment Division Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance Funds

ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION 2019-20

For the Children of Federal Government of Employees

Federal Employees Benevolent & Group Insurance Funds invites applications on the prescribed from (available on website (www.febgif.gov.pk) for essay writing competition (both in Urdu and English) from the children of the Federal Government employees and employees of those autonomous bodies who are covered under section 2(4) of the FEBF & GI Act, 1969 in the following categories:

i. Matriculate of equivalent
ii. Undergraduate or equivalent

The Topics for the year 2019-20 are as follows:-

a) MATRICULATE OR EQUIVALENT

English: National Unity and Strength is the need of the day
Urdu:

b) UNDERGRADUATE OR EQUIVALENT

English: Existing economics crises in Pakistan: Root Caused and Remedial Measures
Urdu:

Silent features of the Scheme

The following cash awards would be given to the first three position holders in each category:

Matriculate or Equivalent

Cat-1 (English)

1st Position: 35,000
2nd Position: 25,000
3rd Position: 15,000

Cat-I (Urdu)

1st Position: 35,000
2nd Position: 25,000
3rd Position: 15,000

Undergraduate or equivalent

Cat-II (English)

1st Position: 40,000
2nd Position: 30,000
3rd Position: 20,000

Cat-II (Urdu)

1st Position: 40,000
2nd Position: 30,000
3rd Position: 20,000

The Script of essays in each category shall reach the undersigned on the following address upto 08th November, 2019

Nazeed Ahmed (Director (Coord)
Benevolent Fund Building Shahrah-e-Suhrawardy Zero Point, Islamabad Ph: 051-9252202

ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION 2019-20 (Govt of Pakistan)

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Articles Foreign Articles

The Afghanistan War Is Over, and Pakistan Has Won (by Michael Rubin)

The Afghanistan War Is Over, and Pakistan Has Won (by Michael Rubin)

The open secret—even among those towing Trump’s line—is that the Taliban deal will bring an American exit but not peace.

by Michael Rubin

The U.S. war in Afghanistan is winding down, and Pakistan has won. The basic outline of the agreement negotiated by U.S. Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is nothing new: The United States withdraws its forces in exchange for a Taliban pledge not to associate with terrorism or allow Afghanistan to be used as a safe-haven for terror groups.

There problems with the agreement are many. Proponents of diplomacy with the Taliban often say that wars can only end through diplomacy. “You don’t make peace with your friends. You have to be willing to engage with your enemies if you expect to create a situation that ends an insurgency,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton explained. But the agreement outlined by Khalilzad is little different from that which Clinton administration officials struck with the Taliban in the years prior to 9/11: At the time, the Taliban promised to foreswear terrorism and quarantine Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. The subsequent terrorist attacks in New York and Washington underscored their insincerity. Perhaps the Taliban have changed, but not necessarily for the better, as the uptick in attacks throughout Khalilzad’s negotiations show. In many ways, President Donald Trump and Khalilzad seem to have embraced the John Kerry school of diplomacy, in which desperation for a deal substitutes for bringing leverage to bear and credibly convincing adversaries that failure to bargain will mean for them a far worse fate.

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