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Polls without change in mindset can impel bloody rivalry
Sadeq Khan
Several Western diplomats and visiting dignitaries in Dhaka, including the US principal deputy assistant secretary of state, have publicly emphasised the desirability of having general elections as soon as possible in Bangladesh, so that a representative government may take charge of the affairs of the state. By making such public statements, they have professedly served their interest in and commitment to democracy and to a globalising process under the post-Cold War matrix...[ FULL STORY ]
DISCRIMINATORY TARIFF ON RAW MATERIAL BLAMED
Soaring steel price hits construction sector
Faruque Ahmed
The country's fledging steel industry is facing severe crisis from soaring prices of imported scraps and sponge iron in one hand and discriminatory tariff structures on the other.
The local steel industry is now worth around of US$1 billion according to some estimates but the Government appears to be quite indifferent to provide it necessary support to grow and become competitive...[ FULL STORY ]
Is East Timor a liability of Australia?
Barrister Harun ur Rashid
East Timor was a Portuguese colonial territory. In 1975 it became a part of Indonesia. West Timor has been already a part of Indonesia. The population are mostly Catholic (70%) and Portugal and Australia never reconciled with its merger with Indonesia...[ FULL STORY ]
Political deadlock continues
Abdur Rahman Khan
The government's offer for a dialogue as announced by the Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in his address to the nation on January 12 is likely to face a deadlock...[ FULL STORY ]
US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Obama faces attack from Clinton, McCain
Moinuddin Naser in New York
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, moving into front-runner status following a week of eight straight wins, is facing a new rival, exchanging fire with John McCain, the presumptive Republican (GOP) nominee...[ FULL STORY ]
BLASHPHEMY OR POLITICAL EXPLOITATION?
Taslima lives somewhere in Delhi, Hussain in Dubai
Jawed Naqvi in New Delhi
Raj Thackeray doesn't like Bihari migrants in Mumbai to practise their way of worship, for example their native Chhat Puja or water worship. His mentor Bal Thackeray had similar issues with ethnic Tamil immigrants. That was way back in time, before he turned his benign gaze upon the Muslim and Christian communities of Mumbai even if they happened to be Marathi speakers...[ FULL STORY ]
Poachers killing rhinos in Assam
Nava Thakuria in Guwahati
It is vital to save the endangered rhinos in Assam's national parks, but a section of media persons in northeast, it has becomes very important to safeguard the forest minister. While the wildlife lovers around the globe have made hue and cry against the authority of Kaziranga National Park for its failure to protect the one-horned rhinos, a section of journalists in Guwahati continue to fabricate stories glorifying the initiative of the state forest minister. Those journalists, representing national and international news agencies, tried their best to project a different picture where the minister has been praised lavishly for his immediate actions against the poachers in Kaziranga. But those stories really missed the public furies, local media's concern and wildlife activities' sustained voices against the ongoing poaching in the park, which recently celebrated hundred years of success in preserving the precious inmates...[ FULL STORY ]
'PAKISTAN SCENE
Rigging feared, polls tempo on
Jonaid Iqbal in Islamabad
The only way for Pakistanis to prove Prof. Michel Chossudovsky wrong is to go in large numbers to the polling booth, and vote for the party we think would best serve Pakistan...[ FULL STORY ]
GLIMPSES OF THE GREAT
Ramanujan
K. Z. Islam
Ramanujan (1887-1920) was an Indian mathematician and one of the greatest mathematical geniuses of the 20th century with no formal training in pure mathematics; he made substantial contribution in the areas of mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series and continued fractions. Ramanujan demonstrated a natural ability at mathematics, and was given books on advanced trigonometry. He mastered this book by age 13 and even discovered theorems of his own. He sent samples of his theorems to three academics at the University of Cambridge. Only Prof. G.H. Hardy recognised his brilliant work and asked Ramanujan to study at Cambridge...[ FULL STORY ]
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