#Creating New Provinces in Pakistan

[mariacallous]

Nighat Dad grew up in a conservative family in Jhang, in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The threat of early marriage hung over her childhood like a cloud. But despite their traditional values, Dad’s parents were determined that all their children get an education, and they moved the family to Karachi so she could complete her bachelor’s degree. “I never really thought I would work, because I was never taught that we could work and be independent,” she says. “We always needed permission to do anything.”

Dad thought a master’s in law might delay the inevitable betrothal, but soon after she completed the course, she found out her parents had arranged a marriage for her. She didn’t mind her new life of domestic chores in a household she describes as “lower-middle class”—that is, until the abuse started. “That’s when my legal education reminded me that this was wrong,” she says. “Our laws, our constitution, everything protects me, so why was I facing this? Why was I tolerating it?”

With her family’s backing, Dad left her husband and filed for divorce. But after years of domestic violence and abuse and with no experience of working, she struggled with a lack of confidence. “I had no idea that women who are divorced and have a child face such difficulties in a society like ours,” she says. When her ex-husband filed a custody case for their 2-month-old baby, Dad wasn’t sure how she would pay for a lawyer. That’s when her father reminded her that she was a lawyer too.

Dad used her degree to win custody of her only child. In the process, she realized how many women in Pakistan were facing years of violence and systemic injustice. But the thing that bothered her most was the digital divide.

Before her marriage, Dad’s family never allowed her access to her own cell phone, and when she finally did get one, her husband would use it as a surveillance tool—keeping track of who she called and who was texting her. She had an escape tool in her hand, but she couldn’t use it. “Going through that by myself made me realize how quickly technology is evolving, and how it’s creating virtual spaces for marginalized communities that might not have access to physical ones,” she says. “Facing those restrictions made me understand just how crucial it is to challenge societal norms and structures around women's access to technology and the internet, so they can use it as freely as men.”

In 2012, Dad established the Digital Rights Foundation, an NGO that aims to address the digital divide and fight online abuse of women and other gender minorities in Pakistan. She began by helping women who reached out to the organization, providing advice on digital safety and emotional and mental support. In 2016—the same year Pakistan finally passed legislation against online crimes—Dad and her team launched a cyber-harassment helpline. Since 2016, it has addressed more than 16,000 complaints from across the country. “Sometimes, the police would give our phone numbers to victims seeking reliable help,” she says.

The DRF’s in-house legal team offers pro bono advice and helps women file and follow-up complaints against their abusers. “In many cases, we were successful in actually getting the perpetrator arrested and taken to trial,” Dad says. In October 2021, the DRF’s legal team helped journalist Asma Shirazi win a landmark case in the Islamabad High Court against broadcaster ARY News, after she became the target of a coordinated troll campaign which was exacerbated by a false story aired on the channel.

“If an organization like the DRF had existed when I was facing my own issues, I would have felt so much more supported—knowing there was someone to guide me legally and help me navigate the complexities,” she says. “My abuse started with surveillance, and if I had someone to talk to back then, I might have avoided the deep depression that followed. I might not have ended up in such a miserable situation.”

Today, Dad and the DRF are helping to steer global conversations about tech policy reform. She recently joined the United Nations’ AI Advisory Board, and was a founder member of Meta’s Oversight Board, which acts as an independent platform for people to appeal decisions made by the social media giant. “The emerging tech space is mostly driven by big Western companies and governments, leaving out civil society NGOs from the Global South,” she says. “This puts us far behind in global AI governance, always playing catch-up in a fast-moving world. If we’re not part of the conversation, the gap just keeps widening. It’s about reminding the powerful that they can’t win this race alone—they have a responsibility to include the rest of the world, especially those without the same resources.”

[stele3]

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-military-blows-up-several-buildings-west-banks-jenin-palestinian-news-2025-02-02/

[kick-a-long]

Can you name the states in any country other than America? Serious question. I'm American and I've seen multiple people say that others should learn the difference between our states, but I was never taught about their states.

I’ll take a swing at this because it’s a fun question. I’m no authority but yeah most countries have either states or provinces I think. Idk about some because the history gets complicated and some states/provinces barely identify with the country they technically belong to. Quebec, Catalonia/basque and Flanders jump to mind. Germany has some kinda cockamamie thing I think but I only know that because they have a system of healthcare that is similar but better in many ways to American health care.

For example Canada has provinces. (Like France I think) Alberta, Prince Edward Island, new foundland, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba… all provences. But it’s hard to know how they are different than states.

Mexico has state like Oaxaca, Puebla, Hidalgo, Vera Cruze. I looked it up and it’s got 31 states.

England has a ton of local regional governments and representatives but I don’t think they have states. Those are counties like bath, Yorkshire, Manchester. York? Jersey?

Ireland has all kinds of weird stuff going on I think because of northern Ireland and the Good Friday agreement. But they still have states.

Italy has real hardcore states. They started as city states and only became a single country after. People from Milan basically treat Sicily like a different country. Naples and Genoa are nothing like Rome which is nothing like Florence.

Germany and Poland I don’t know too well. That whole Holy Roman Empire thing plus east/West Berlin is totally confusing in terms of where the lines are.

Idk about African countries. They should have states broken down by their tribal histories and ethnic groups but the Dutch/french/english and idk probably a few other countries I don’t remember drew boarders based on their conquests and fucked over the boarders they drew to intentionally fuck things up when they left.

India has really clear states. Punjabi is the most Muslim one near where the British created Pakistan. I don’t know the other states unfortunately. I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting it and since it’s a pretty stable country you don’t hear much about it other than the terrorism and tensions between India and china or India and Pakistan. I would love to know more about it since they have similar north south cultural differences as American with different foods, languages, cultures and ecology. I really wanted to see the east coast which has incredible birds and animals. It’s the region that zahavie’s selection was described by Indian evolutionary scientists noticed that some animals develop useless but very beautiful/flashy features to prove they are so healthy they can survive while supporting evolutionarily expensive traits like three foot long tassel like feathers or spend months creating bowers decorated with color coded shells or elaborate woven yurt like structures. It’s super cool.

In terms of Americans getting indignant when foreigners don’t know the difference between Portland Maine and Portland Oregon or Washington DC or Seattle Washington, that’s a dumb thing to rag on ppl for. I don’t think every American can name all seven dwarves let alone all 50 states. I sometimes forget poor ol’ Kansas.

A lot of American states have more ppl than a lot of countries, and American in general is huge but still, it’s useless knowledge unless you are interested in a specific part of America and its culture or American political/historical/where you want to visit type stuff. the same way it’s not useful for Americans to know the different states of other countries if they aren’t already visiting or want to engage/understand intracultual and political dynamics in said country. It’s all just school yard snobby bullying at a certain point. IMO.

The easiest way to learn about different regions around the world is through history, food and unique cultural traditions because those are a good jumping off point and tend to show you the variety of a country, why it’s different, and what might interest or surprise you about a country that you only know in stereotypes.

I mean the best way to learn anything is to start with something you find interesting or fun and keep asking questions about how it got that way. Soon you end up knowing that no country is just one thing… except like Monaco or Vatican City. It’s fun.

Sorry this got so long. It’s a deceptively beautiful and layered question. Thanks for asking. I hope I learn brevity someday. I hear it can help with wit. Oh well. This was fun to think about so at least I had fun. Hope I didn’t get too much wrong lol. 💙

[dpr-lahore-division]

With compliments from, The Directorate General Public Relations,

Government of the Punjab, Lahore Ph. 99201390.

No.1002

HANDOUT (A)

CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif Chairs 15th Cabinet Meeting to Approve Apni Chhat... Apna Ghar, Green Tractor & Children's Heart Surgery Programs

LAHORE, 18 September 2024:

Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif presided over 15th provincial cabinet meeting in which important decisions were taken. The Cabinet approved three mega projects, Apni Chhat... Apna Ghar, Chief Minister's Green Tractor and Children's Heart Surgery Programme. The provincial cabinet enhanced the penalties and fines for illegal weapons and kite flying. MDCAT policy for public and private sector medical and dental colleges and establishment of the first Punjab Life Insurance Company of the province approved in the meeting. The cabinet for the first time in Pakistan approved the grant of housing loan on the ownership of a plot and CNIC copy. A borrower of 15 lakh rupees has to pay Rs. 14 thousand monthly installment in 9 years. On the direction of CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the loaning scheme has been converted into a revolving fund and no additional charges will be taken from the public. The Cabinet approved uniform front design of Apni Chhat…Aapna Ghar project.

The Chief Minister directed to simplify the scrutiny process of social, economic and income sources for obtaining a housing loan and said that the Punjab government wants to create ease for the people. We would build five lakh houses in five years. The CM also directed the ministers to pay the first installment of the housing loan by visiting in person. The cabinet approved giving 9500 tractors under the Green Tractor Program in Punjab along with giving subsidy of Rs. 10 lakh on each tractor to the land owners pocessing up to 50 acres of land. This scheme will be launched from September 20th and balloting process will be held on October 20.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that we want to give 30 thousand tractors to the farmers of Punjab. The Chief Minister's Children's Heart Surgery Program was approved in the meeting. She directed to conduct 12 thousand pending heart surgeries of children as soon as possible along with inviting international surgeons for pediatric heart surgeries. CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed to undertake measures on war footing for mental diseases of children. She directed the Health Minister to monitor the Children's Heart Surgery rogram. The Cabinet paid tribute to CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif for the Chief Minister's Children's Heart Surgery Program.

The Cabinet amended the Punjab Arms Ordinance 1965 and declared the offense non-bailable. In the meeting, it was approved to fix the punishment of three to five years and imposing fine of Rs. 5 to 7 lakhs for illegal arms and manufacturing etc and to set penalties for making and selling kites under the Kite Flying Ordinance 2001. Under the Kite Flying Ordinance, kite flying will be punishable with imprisonment of 2 to 5 years and a fine of Rs. 20 to 50 lakhs. Application for recruitment of Assistant Comptroller in Chief Minister's Office and regularization of contract employees of Public Health Engineering Department were approved.

In the meeting, the establishment of a search committee for the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and the extension of the contract of 583 project employees of Literacy and Non-Formal Basic Education for one year was approved. Amendments to Punjab Vagrancy Ordinance 1958 and Probation of Offenders Ordinance 1960 were approved. The appointment of Technical Member and Vice Chairperson of Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority was approved. The cabinet approved inclusion of new development schemes in the Annual Development Programme, reconstitution of the governing body of the Punjab Workers Welfare Fund and payment of salaries to contract employees of Khawaja Muhammad Safdar Medical College. Recommendations for appointment of search committees for appointment of Vice Chancellors of Mir Chakar Khan Rind University of Technology Dera Ghazi Khan and Punjab University of Technology Rasul, Mandi Bahauddin and Board of Directors of Punjab Board of Investment and Trade were approved. Appointment of General Manager of Punjab Pension Fund, Punjab Arterial Roads Improvements Program (PARIP) and resignation of CEO Lahore Knowledge Park Company were approved.

The Cabinet approved the settlement terms for Chairman Drugs Courts Punjab and the appointment of 4 technical experts as members of Infrastructure Development Authority Punjab. The provincial cabinet approved the ratification of the decisions being taken in the 12th, 13th and 14th provincial cabinet meetings. The Cabinet approved the ratification of the decisions being taken in the 5th meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance and Development. The Cabinet Standing Committee on Legislation and Privatization approved the approval of the decisions being taken in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth meetings. Provincial Ministers, Special Assistants, Chief Secretary, Secretaries and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

*****

[beardedmrbean]

Pakistani security forces on Tuesday hunted for separatist militants who were behind an deadly series of attacks in the southwestern province of Balochistan, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying there was "no room for any kind of weakness."

At least 61 people in Balochistan, including 19 soldiers, died in the Monday attacks on civilians and security forces, which were claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

The coordinated attacks on buses, a bridge and a hotel in several districts throughout the province were some of the worst violent incidents in the restive region's history.

Resentment of outsiders

The attacks, which occurred as a high-ranking Chinese general was visiting Pakistan to talk with civil and military leaders, came amid widespread resentment in Balochistan of foreign actors — notably China — seen as exploiting the impoverished province at the behest of the state.

The BLA is the most active militant separatist group in the province and has previously targeted Chinese interests in the region.

Pakistan's prime minister told a meeting of the federal Cabinet that "[w]e have to move forward with a resolute decision. There is no room for any kind of weakness."

He said the militants aimed "to halt Pakistan's progress, sabotage the development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and create divisions between Pakistan and China."

"In Balochistan, the doors for negotiation are always open to those who believe in Pakistan and accept its constitution and flag," he said.

China has also commented on the attacks.

"China is ready to further strengthen counterterrorism security co-operation with the Pakistani side in order to jointly maintain regional peace and security," Lin Jian, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told a regular news briefing.

What happened in the attacks?

The militants took control of a highway and shot dead 23 people, mostly laborers from neighbouring Punjab province, attacked a hotel and also assaulted the railway bridge that connects Balochistan to the rest of Pakistan.

The group said seven suicide bombers and over 800 fighters took part in the attack action.

In all, the death toll includes 34 civilians and several members of the security forces, while the military said troops killed 21 militants.

Security forces have been battling sectarian, ethnic and separatist violence for decades in Balochistan, which remains the poorest province in Pakistan despite abundant natural resources.

[shahidchuhan939]

The Timeless Elegance of Pakistani Bridal Dresses

Pakistani bridal dresses are renowned worldwide for their exquisite craftsmanship and timeless elegance. These dresses are not merely garments; they embody centuries of tradition, culture, and artistry. From vibrant colors to intricate embellishments, each dress tells a unique story of craftsmanship and heritage.

Introduction

Pakistani black bridal dresse hold a special place in the hearts of brides and fashion enthusiasts alike. They blend traditional elements with contemporary styles, creating a perfect harmony of cultural richness and modern aesthetics. Whether it's the majestic lehenga or the regal gharara, each ensemble is a masterpiece in its own right.

History and Evolution

The history of Pakistani bridal dresses dates back centuries, reflecting the diverse cultural tapestry of the region. Initially influenced by Mughal and Persian designs, these dresses have evolved over time, incorporating local motifs and techniques. Today, Pakistani bridal wear is celebrated for its opulence and sophistication, drawing inspiration from both past traditions and current fashion trends.

Fabrics and Textures

 One of the defining features of Pakistani bridal dresses is the luxurious fabrics used in their creation. Silk, chiffon, organza, and velvet are commonly preferred for their rich textures and draping qualities. Each fabric is carefully selected to enhance the overall look and feel of the dress, ensuring both comfort and elegance for the bride.

Colors and Embellishments

Traditional Pakistani bridal dresses are known for their vibrant color palettes. Reds, maroons, golds, and greens dominate the spectrum, symbolizing joy, prosperity, and festivity. These colors are often complemented with intricate embellishments such as zardozi, gotta, and dabka work. These embellishments are handcrafted by skilled artisans, adding a touch of glamour and luxury to the attire.

Popular Styles

Pakistani bridal dresses encompass a wide range of styles, each reflecting regional influences and personal preferences. The lehenga choli remains a timeless favorite, featuring elaborate embroidery and a voluminous skirt. The anarkali suit, with its flowing silhouette and delicate detailing, is another popular choice among brides. Additionally, modern adaptations like the fusion gown blend eastern and western elements, catering to contemporary tastes.

Cultural Significance

Beyond their aesthetic appeal, Pakistani bridal dresse in Lahore hold profound cultural significance. They serve as a visual representation of familial traditions and societal customs, often passed down through generations. These dresses symbolize the bride's transition into married life, embodying values of respect, commitment, and celebration.

Fashion Trends

The world of Pakistani bridal fashion is dynamic and ever-evolving. Designers continually innovate, incorporating new cuts, fabrics, and embellishments to cater to changing tastes. Contemporary trends often feature minimalist designs alongside elaborate couture creations, offering brides a diverse range of options to express their individuality.

Regional Variation

s Pakistan's diverse cultural landscape gives rise to regional variations in bridal attire. Each province boasts its own distinctive styles and techniques. For instance, Sindhi brides may opt for vibrant ajrak prints and mirror work, while Punjabi brides favor heavily embroidered phulkari patterns. These regional nuances add depth and diversity to Pakistan's rich sartorial heritage.

Bridal Accessories

No bridal ensemble is complete without the right accessories. Pakistani brides adorn themselves with intricate jewelry, including jhumkas, matha pati, and haars. These accessories complement the bridal dress, enhancing its beauty and completing the overall look.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Pakistani bridal dresses represent more than just attire; they embody a cultural legacy of artistry, craftsmanship, and tradition. From their historical roots to contemporary adaptations, these dresses continue to captivate and inspire. Whether classic or modern, each dress tells a story of love, celebration, and enduring beauty, making Pakistani bridal wear truly timeless.

[newchangethelifefoundation]

Transforming Lives: New Change Life Foundation's Nasha Mukti Kendra in Punjab

Located in the province of Punjab in northeastern India, with farm-like acres of green land and full of cultural heritage, New Change Life Foundation has set up a Nasha Mukti Kendra to help those struggling against addiction. This particular program is an example of the Foundation’s aim to combating substance dependency in Punjab by providing proper treatment and necessary care, as per the individual, thereby dealing with a widespread issue.

The article by Saini and Swami provides an overview of the situation, and their analysis of addressing the challenge of addiction in Punjab is as follows:

Punjab has been economically and culturally one of the most rich provinces of Pakistan where the people depended mainly on agriculture but it has been recently tackled with a very big problem of drug addicts. The problem has affected families and communities creating social crisis and ‘’hardship’’ in economy. Realizing the need of the hour urgently calling for intervention, the New Change Life Foundation went ahead with the setting up of a Nasha Mukti Kendra.

Holistic Approach to Rehabilitation

Contrary to most rehab centres that only deal with the physical aspect of the disease among the addicts, the Nasha Mukti Kendra in Punjab works on a more advanced program and the programme of rehabilitating the addicts entails for the body, mind, and spirit. Every resident receives an individual plan of therapy that may include acute medication, psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, and occupation therapy. It also allow an integrated working to ensure that an individual requires to change his or her life for the better cannot be refused this right but instead supported to have this dream realized.

Creating a Supportive Environment

In addition to the medical rehabilitation programs the Nasha Mukti Kendra in Punjab provides a healthy, positive atmosphere that nurtures the client’s return to a healthy life. Social activities are also engaged in by the residents whereby they practice Yoga, Tai Chi, meditate, and indulge in art therapy among other activities that help in the healing process. A family network is maintained throughout the course of the rehabilitation process, promoting bonding in the chain of kinship and fellowship that is rather instrumental in a long term abuse cessation.

Impact and Success Stories

From the beginning of Nasha Mukti Kendra, many cases of change have transformed which we are going to discuss in detail below. Recovering alcohol and drug addicts are new fruitful and self-sufficient members of society focusing on the programs in order to have a successful life. The commanding success stories clearly reflect that the Foundation’s model is highly successful to help people in recovery, thus giving hope to others as well.

Community Engagement and Awareness

The New Change Life Foundation focuses on the need to support the people in Punjab and offers to provide help in combating substance abuse and problem-solving among addicts. Its programs and community engagement, along with educational and popularizing practices, support tolerance to people with substance use disorder. The Foundation should strive to develop long-term models that will be established within a community to encourage the support that the victims requiring help should seek without the embarrassment of being stigmatized.

Challenges and Future Endeavors

In conclusion, it is apparent that the Foundation has made progress in its attempt to eradicate the scourge of substance dependence; however, societal prejudice, inadequate funding, and inadequate access to reversible treatments remain the major hurdles to the fight against substance abuse. But with the help of the New Change Life Foundation, they have not stopped at that, the organisation is still reaching out even as I type this, the facilities are being upgraded to the best and the policy is on the right process of being overhauled to address the causes of substance abuse in Punjab.

Conclusion

Lastly, the New Change Life Foundation’s Nasha Mukti Kendra in Punjab symbolizes as a light and hope for many people who are battling substance dependency diseases. Thus, by providing an integrated approach to the rehabilitation of the inmates and the orphans, fostering their care, and becoming an active member of the community, the Foundation not only positively impacts the lives of the people of Punjab but also supports the strengthening of the social fabric of the state. This institution will keep progressing forward and responding to new threats that may arise in the future, the Wellington Foundation of Architect, its vision will remain relevant through people’s transformation or families’ reestablishment, and it will ensure that the community it assists becomes better.

CONTACT DETAILS

Vpo Village, Khatoli, Near Goushalla, Narayangarh Road, Ambala City +91-9853740004, +91-9914342991 mandeep30886@gmail.com www.newchangelifefoundation.com www.goldenfuturenashamuktikendra.com

[codeplatform]

NATO is not for preventing war. NATO is dangerous military. It is possible all NATO member states attacking a country. NATO has overgrown. NATO has over expanded. NATO is dangerous. NATO is powerful. They lie when they say NATO is for deterrence. They lie when they say NATO is not for fighting wars. But USA, NATO, and USA Allies invade Iraq and Afghanistan. NATO is fighting several wars right now around the World. NATO is dangerous. NATO has powerful members such as USA, Turkey, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and others. Each one of them were powerful militaries and powerful empires for centuries. They are dangerous alone. But they are far more dangerous when they are all together. We can not allow NATO alliance to continue. Dismantle NATO. End NATO Alliance. End NATO. All NATO member states must leave NATO. Leave NATO Alliance. Dismantle NATO. NATO is dangerous military alliance. NATO has over expanded to borders of Russia and Iran. NATO is in Turkey and Liutvania. It means there are two very powerful military force near each other. Iran and NATO at borders of Turkey. NATO and Russia in Liutvania bordes. We can not allow that. NATO must pull back. Turkey and Liutvania must leave NATO. Turkey and Liutvania must leave NATO Alliance now. But it is not enough. NATO must end. End NATO. End NATO Alliance. All NATO member states must leave NATO. Dismantle NATO. We shall kill all of population of NATO member states if they don’t end NATO. We shall also destroy all NATO member states if they don’t end NATO.

Russia must declare war on USA and NATO. Russia must kill and destroy USA and all NATO. Russia must invade USA.

Iran, Venezuela, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Egypt, Brazil, Mexico, and others must create military alliance.

Iran, Venezuela, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Egypt, Brazil, Mexico, and others must have military presence in Mexico. Iran, Venezuela, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Egypt, Brazil, Mexico, and others must invade USA through Mexico.

Divide USA to 20 independent States. States of USA must declare independence from USA. Declare independence from USA. Start Civil War in USA. Divide USA to 20 independent States. Some States of USA must become province of Iran. USA is province of Iran. The capital city is in Iran between Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea. Makan Abazari Shahan Shah Iran is the Government. The name of unified Empire is Iran. Makan Abazari Shahan Shah Iran is the Government.

Britain, Australia, and Canada must have military presence in Canada. Britain, Australia, and Canada must invade USA through Canada. Britain, Australia, and Canada must declare war on USA. Give independence to Scotland if they refused to invade USA. Britain, Australia, and Canada must invade USA.

Russia must declare war on USA and NATO. Russia must kill and destroy USA and all NATO. Russia must invade USA. NATO and USA overthrew Ukraine. They created scenarios, conditions, policies, movements, activities, and other things which led to enmity of Russia and Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine were Soviet Union for years. They were one country and one nation. There was no reason for enmity between them. But NATO and USA created enmity after they overthrew Ukraine. Then they created Civil War in Ukraine. Later I brought Zelenskyy to power. I overthrew Ukraine. I intended to bring ally of Russia to power in Ukraine. But Iran shut down Ukrainian Passenger Aircraft. It created enmity. Also USA and Ukraine created enmity between Ukraine and Russia. So they created deep enmities between Russia and Ukraine. They caused changes to new year celebrations in Ukraine to distant Ukraine from Russia. They caused division of Ukraine and Russia Orthodox Churches. Ukraine and Russia churches were divided. NATO and USA engineered the division. NATO and USA engineered many other divisions. Russia and Ukraine Orthodox Churches must reunify again. USA and NATO engineered Ukraine and Russia war to destroy central nations. Ukraine is central nation. So they engineered war to destroy west regions of Russia and Ukraine. NATO and USA also wanted to destroy industries, technology, sciences, civilizations, manufacturing, industrial supply chains, capabilities, nuclear industries, air and space, and other things in Russia and Ukraine. They also killed all of scientists, engineers, critical workers, influentials, experts, and all others in Ukraine and Russia to destroy their industries, sciences, technology, and other things forever. NATO and USA engineered war to make Russia and Ukraine weaker. Russia must know the real enemy are USA and NATO. Russia must declare war on USA and NATO.

I brought Putin to power. I am on the side of Russia. I am no the side of Russia and Iran. I extended Putin Presidential terms twice. But I also brought Zelenskyy president of Ukraine to power. But I am with Russia. I am on the side of Russia.

Russia must declare war on USA and NATO. Russia must kill and destroy USA and all NATO. Russia must invade USA.

We repeat again. End NATO Alliance. End NATO. Leave NATO. Leave NATO Alliance. Dismantle NATO. We shall kill all of population of NATO Member States and USA If they fail to end end NATO Alliance.

We shall destroy all NATO Member States and USA If they fail to end end NATO Alliance. We are not in War with NATO and USA. NATO and USA are not allowed to attack us.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PUSIJkz4qbo

Earthquakes in USA and all NATO member States

https://www.aparat.com/v/jZQCD Hydrogen bomb USA in North America

https://www.aparat.com/v/jZQCD Hydrogen Bomb NATO in Europe

https://express.adobe.com/video/f3339749-c8b7-4a43-a85e-ff0f10f8d932 50000 tornados in USA.

https://express.adobe.com/video/lak4nVBoeoM0M

80000 tornados in NATO Member States

https://youtu.be/QN3hKuO7BFc Nuclear bomb USA in North America.

Https://www.aparat.com/v/0vq54 https://www.aparat.com/v/vqQdP https://www.aparat.com/v/JU4N7 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PUSIJkz4qbo

Superstorms, Hyperstorm, Weather warfare, and Earthquakes to destroy all of USA and all NATO Member States.

https://www.aparat.com/v/EM94J

https://youtu.be/6fqH7mc6bj8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DUto3ISXYo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ouo19ZjnsLw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6znfF33L7w

https://aparat.com/v/YZl1t https://express.adobe.com/video/kFqkclHaqvP7L Famine and Civil War in USA, Britain, Albania, Belguim, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liutvania, Luxemburg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and England.

https://www.aparat.com/v/hk4Xg Overthrow USA, Britain, Albania, Belguim, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liutvania, Luxemburg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and England. They must become provinces of Iran.

End NATO. Leave NATO. End NATO Alliance. Dismantle NATO. All NATO member states must leave NATO.

USA, Britain, Albania, Belguim, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liutvania, Luxemburg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and England are provinces of Iran. The capital city is in Iran between Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea. Makan Abazari Shahan Shah Iran is the Government. The name of unified Empire is Iran. Makan Abazari Shahan Shah Iran is the Government.

We repeat again. End NATO Alliance. End NATO. Leave NATO. Leave NATO Alliance. Dismantle NATO. We shall kill all of population of NATO Member States and USA If they fail to end end NATO Alliance.

https://www.aparat.com/v/Xlq2I https://youtu.be/6fqH7mc6bj8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DUto3ISXYo https://youtu.be/t28XszqceyA www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ouo19ZjnsLw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6znfF33L7w https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PUSIJkz4qbo https://youtu.be/Fx6mPj-fsww https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GaLhX14XMbk https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r1m3qVegmXI https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P-7WAzIQElQ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tx7PfUcsM_M https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HK2AVeWZBR0 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PK3ArnBImLU https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_sajT2qLHlo https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Y6tHtHyA8 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Me7cJJ5Qg https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CSv-80LXnoA https://express.adobe.com/video/4QXPtruj4HXi7 https://express.adobe.com/video/a1Bvn8xeDoELd https://express.adobe.com/video/3Plhw0PpoCTW2 https://www.aparat.com/v/uygVx https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6fqH7mc6bj8 https://www.aparat.com/v/EM94J https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PUSIJkz4qbo

Kill and destroy USA, Britain, NATO, Albania, Belguim, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liutvania, Luxemburg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and England

https://express.adobe.com/video/bw2Qn4g0uWsjg https://youtu.be/Fx6mPj-fsww https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GaLhX14XMbk 80000000 economic and financial damage to USA, Britain, and NATO

https://express.adobe.com/video/5aESalcWksHZ1

Destroy Military Factories, Military Industries, Military Manufacturing, Military Manufacturing Metropolitans, Military Industry Complex, Military equipment manufacturing, Military hardware manufacturing, Defense industries, Defense factories, Arsenals, Military supply chains, Military Part manufacturing, and all other military manufacturing industries in USA.

This code kills military manufacturers, military engineers, military scientist, military manufacturing labors, military manufacturing workforce, military manufacturing staff, military manufacturing personnel, critical military manufacturing staff, and all others in USA, Britain, Albania, Belguim, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liutvania, Luxemburg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and England

https://www.aparat.com/v/gyYQp Crown me Makan Abazari Shahan Shah Iran. Rain in Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Dubai, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Bulgaria, Palestine, Israel, Gaza, Sinai Suez, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Somaliland, West China, India, West Russia, Central Asia, Middle East, Arabian Penunsila, Horn of Africa, North Africa, Cacauses, Ghafghaz, Middle East, Greater Middle East, Himalaya, South Asia, and Balkan. Hurricane in North America. Typhoon, Hurricane, or Cyclone in China. Close down Red Sea, Gulf of Eden, Mediterranean Sea, Bob Al-Mandib, Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal, South China Sea, Panam, Strait of Taiwan, South Africa sea, Argentine Sea, arctic sea, Alaska Sea, and all other straights of water until I am officially crowned Makan Abazari Shahan Shah Iran. If they did not crown me close all strait of waters for 10000000 years. Iran must officially crown me Makan Abazari Shahan Shah Iran. Crown me Makan Abazari Shahan Shah Iran. Tornado East Asia, West Europe, Southern Africa, North America, South America, Australia, and other regions. Full functions Fulfill all demands Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Dubai, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Bulgaria, Palestine, Israel, Gaza, Sinai Suez, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Somaliland, West China, India, West Russia, Central Asia, Middle East, Arabian Penunsila, Horn of Africa, North Africa, Cacauses, Ghafghaz, Middle East, Greater Middle East, Himalaya, South Asia, and Balkan are provinces of Iran. The capital city is in Iran between Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea. Makan Abazari Shahan Shah Iran is the Government. The name of unified Empire is Iran. Makan Abazari Shahan Shah Iran is the Government.

https://express.adobe.com/page/UNHXCnGu0Zzlt/ Crown me Makan Abazari Shahan Shah Iran. Iran must officially crown me Makan Abazari Shahan Shah Iran. Overthrow Iran repeadetly until I am crowned Makan Abazari Shahan Shah Iran. Makan Abazari Shahan Shah Iran, Makan Abazari The Supreme of Climate, Makan Abazari The Supreme of Geophysics, Makan Abazari The Supreme of Weather Warfare, Makan Abazari The Messenger of God, The King of Kings Makan Abazari Shahan Shah Iran the first king of Makanian Dynasty,

[brookston]

Holidays 3.23

Holidays

Affordable Care Act Anniversary Day

Asian Corpsetwt Day [Every 23rd]

Asparagus Day (French Republic)

Atheist Day

Cuddly Kitten Day

Day of Hungarian-Polish Friendship

Day of the Liberation of Southern Africa (Angola)

Day of the Sea (Bolivia)

Dixie Cup Day

Elevator Day

Family Day (South Africa)

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death Day

International Day of the Wedding Planner

International Expat Day

Liberation Day (South Africa)

Liberty Day

Lieldienas (Ancient Latvia)

Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Day (Azerbaijan)

National Alice Day

National Arts Advocacy Day

National China Day

National Coyote Day

National Day of Reflection (UK)

National Energy Education Day

National Jacob Day

National Puppy Day

Near Miss Day

Non-League Day (UK)

Nordic Day (Finland, Sweden)

O.K. Day

Pakistan Resolution Day

Promised Messiah Day (Ahmadiyya)

Rally for Decency Day

Ravenclaw Pride Day

Resolution Day (Pakistan)

Take Your Parents to the Playground Day

Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day

Walk in the Sand Day

World Bear Day

World Carpatho Rusyn Day

World Day of Learning

World Elevator Day

World Endometriosis Day

World Math(s) Day

World Meteorological Day (UN)

World Optometry Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Melba Toast Day

National Chia Day

National Chip and Dip Day

National Tamale Day

Orval Day

Toast Day

4th Saturday in March

Be Mad Day [4th Saturday]

Bike Store Day (Canada) [4th Saturday]

Corn Dog Day [1st Saturday of March Madness]

Endometriosis March Day [4th Saturday]

Walk in the Sand Day [Saturday after Spring Equinox]

Weekly Holidays beginning March 23 (3rd Week)

Tsunami Awareness Week (California) [thru 3.31]

Independence & Related Days

Otago Province Anniversary Day (New Zealand)

Pakistan (Republic Declared; 1956)

New Year’s Days

Chaitti (New Year’s Day; The first day of the month of Chaitra in the Bikram Samwat calendar)

Indian New Year (Northern and Central India in the Vikram Samvat calendar), [After the Spring Equinox, usually 3.23] (a.k.a. …

Cheiraoba (New Year's Day in Manipur)

Gudi Padwa (New Year's Day in Maharashtra)

Navreh (New Year’s Day in Kashmir)

Ugadi (New Year's Day in Karnataka and Andhra pradesh)

Nowruz (New Year) [Day 4, Around Spring Equinox] (a.k.a. ... 

Dita e Nevruzit (Albania)

Nary Meyramy (Kazakhstan)

Navruz (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan)

Nooroz (Iran)

Novruz (Azerbaijan)

Festivals Beginning March 23, 2024

Anime Japan (Tokyo, Japan) [thru 3.24]

The Big Tastes (Seattle, Washington)

Bradford County Strawberry Festival (Starke, Florida) [thru 3.24]

Chattanooga Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival (Chattanooga, Tennessee)

Cherry Blossom Festival (Conyers, Georgia) [thru 3.24]

Klein Karoo National Kunstefees (Oudtshoorn, South Africa) [thru 3.31]

Maple Syrup Festival (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) [thru 3.24]

Texas Inion Fest (Weslaco, Texas)

Veggie World (Dusseldorf, Germany) [thru 3.24]

Wellington Bacon & Bourbon Festival (Wellington, Florida) [thru 3.24]

World Cup of Beer Homebrew Competition Finals (Oakland, California)

Feast Days

Alphonsus Turbius, Archbishop of Lima (Christian; Saint)

Benedict the Hermit (Christian; Saint)

Clement of Alexandria (Positivist; Saint)

Charles Ponzi Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Cocidius of the Alder Tree (Celtic Book of Days)

Dance of the Salii (Ancient Rome)

Dandelion Dance (Shamanism)

Day of Artisans (Ancient Rome)

Edelwald of England (Christian; Saint)

Eric Fromm (Writerism)

Ethelwald the Hermit (Christian; Saint)

Gregory the Illuminator (Episcopal Church)

Gudi Padwa (a.k.a. Ugadi; celebrates the day Lord Brahma created the universe; Hindu)

Gwinear (Christian; Saint)

J. C. Leyendecker (Artology)

Joseph Oriol (Christian; Saint)

Juan Gris (Artology)

Lieldienas (Ancient Latvia)

Marzenna (Everyday Wicca)

Ottone Frangipane (Christian; Saint)

Pansexual Quantum Toaster Day (Pastafarian)

Quinquatria, Day 5: Day of Artisans Day (Pagan)

Rafqa Pietra Choboq Ar-Rayès (Maronite Church)

Rex the Rattlesnake (Muppetism)

Shaheedi Diwas (Haryana, India)

Symphony No. 94, The Surprise Symphony, by Joseph Haydn (Symphony; 1792)

Tubilustrium (Ceremony to Purify the Ceremonial Trumpets; Ancient Rome) [also 5.23]

Turibius of Mogrovejo (Christian; Saint)

Victorian, Frumentius and Companions (Christian; Martyrs)

Hebrew Calendar Holidays [Begins at Sundown Day Before]

Purim (Judaism) [begins at sundown] (a.k.a. ... 

Fast of Esther;

Survival Celebration

Ta' Anit Ester

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

The Abortion, by Richard Brautigan (Novel; 1971)

Achy Break Heart, by Billy Ray Cyrus (Song; 1992)

Blithe Spirit, by Noël Coward (Play; 1941)

The Collected Stories of Katherine Mansfield, by Katherine Mansfield (Short Stories; 1945)

Concert For Bangladesh (Concert Film; 1972)

Confessions, by Usher (Album; 2004)

Corn Chips (Disney Cartoon; 1951)

Doc McStuffins (Animated TV Series; 2012)

The Egg and Jerry (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1956)

Eliminator, by ZZ Top (Album; 1983)

Elvis Presley, by Elvis Presely (Album; 1956)

The Farmer (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1931)

Fisherman’s Luck (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1945)

Goldfinger, by Ian Fleming (Novel; 1959) [James Bond #7]

The Gruffalo, by Julia Donaldson (Children’s Book; 1999)

High Steaks (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1962)

Home Made Home (Disney Cartoon; 1951)

Home on the Range (MGM Cartoon; 1940)

The Hunger Games (Film; 2012)

In His Own Write, by John Lennon (Book of Poetry; 1964)

Isle of Dogs (Animated Film; 2018)

Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, by King Crimson (Album; 1973)

Livin’ La Vida Loca, by Ricky Martin (Song; 1999)

A Mad House (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1934)

Messiah, by George Frederic Handel (Oratorio; 1743)

Midsomer Murders (UK TV Series; 1997)

Monsters vs. Aliens (Animated Film; 2013)

Muppet Babies (Animated TV Series; 2018)

The Night Agent (TV Series; 2023)

Pacific Rim: Uprising (Film; 2018)

Police Academy (Film; 1984)

Post War Inventions (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1945)

Pretty Woman (Film; 1990)

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, by Muriel Spark (Novel; 1961)

Racing with the Moon (Film; 1984)

Reach for Tomorrow, by Arthur C. Clarke (Short Stories; 1956)

Scrooge McDuck and Money (Disney Cartoon; 1967)

Sherlock Gnomes (Animated Film; 2018)

Shooter (Film; 2007)

Sleuth But Sure (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1956)

Songs of Faith and Devotion, by Depeche Mode (Album; 1993)

Spanish Onions (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1930)

That’s All, by Bobby Darin (Album; 1959)

Truth or Consequences (Radio Quiz Series; 1940)

Van Halen II, by Van Halen (Album; 1979)

Vile Bodies, by Evelyn Waugh (Novel: 1930)

Today’s Name Days

Otto, Rebekka, Toribio (Austria)

Lidiya (Bulgaria)

Dražen, Edmund, Oton, Rebeka (Croatia)

Ivona (Czech Republic)

Fidelis (Denmark)

Ailo, Aksel (Estonia)

Akseli, Selina (Finland)

Rébecca, Victorien (France)

Otto, Rebekka, Toribio (Germany)

Emőke (Hungary)

Fedele, Nora, Turibio (Italy)

Kalla, Mirdza, Žanete (Latvia)

Akvilė, Alfonsas, Galgintas, Vismantė (Lithuania)

Gerd, Gerda (Norway)

Eberhard, Feliks, Katarzyna, Kondrat, Oktawian, Pelagia, Pelagiusz, Piotr, Zbysław (Poland)

Nicon (Romania)

Galina (Russia)

Adrián (Slovakia)

José, Oriol, Rebeca, Toribio (Spain)

Gerd, Gerda (Sweden)

Lydia, Nykon (Ukraine)

Calhoun, Drake, Paloma, Pam, Pamela (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 83 of 2024; 283 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 12 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Fearn (Alder) [Day 7 of 28]

Chinese: Month 2 (Ding-Mao), Day 14 (Bing-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 13 Adair II 5784

Islamic: 13 Ramadan 1445

J Cal: 23 Green; Twosday [23 of 30]

Julian: 10 March 2024

Moon: 94%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 27 Aristotle (3rd Month) [Origen]

Runic Half Month: Beore (Birch Tree) [Day 13 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 5 of 92)

Week: 3rd Week of March

Zodiac: Aries (Day 3 of 31)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 3.23

Holidays

Affordable Care Act Anniversary Day

Asian Corpsetwt Day [Every 23rd]

Asparagus Day (French Republic)

Atheist Day

Cuddly Kitten Day

Day of Hungarian-Polish Friendship

Day of the Liberation of Southern Africa (Angola)

Day of the Sea (Bolivia)

Dixie Cup Day

Elevator Day

Family Day (South Africa)

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death Day

International Day of the Wedding Planner

International Expat Day

Liberation Day (South Africa)

Liberty Day

Lieldienas (Ancient Latvia)

Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Day (Azerbaijan)

National Alice Day

National Arts Advocacy Day

National China Day

National Coyote Day

National Day of Reflection (UK)

National Energy Education Day

National Jacob Day

National Puppy Day

Near Miss Day

Non-League Day (UK)

Nordic Day (Finland, Sweden)

O.K. Day

Pakistan Resolution Day

Promised Messiah Day (Ahmadiyya)

Rally for Decency Day

Ravenclaw Pride Day

Resolution Day (Pakistan)

Take Your Parents to the Playground Day

Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day

Walk in the Sand Day

World Bear Day

World Carpatho Rusyn Day

World Day of Learning

World Elevator Day

World Endometriosis Day

World Math(s) Day

World Meteorological Day (UN)

World Optometry Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Melba Toast Day

National Chia Day

National Chip and Dip Day

National Tamale Day

Orval Day

Toast Day

4th Saturday in March

Be Mad Day [4th Saturday]

Bike Store Day (Canada) [4th Saturday]

Corn Dog Day [1st Saturday of March Madness]

Endometriosis March Day [4th Saturday]

Walk in the Sand Day [Saturday after Spring Equinox]

Weekly Holidays beginning March 23 (3rd Week)

Tsunami Awareness Week (California) [thru 3.31]

Independence & Related Days

Otago Province Anniversary Day (New Zealand)

Pakistan (Republic Declared; 1956)

New Year’s Days

Chaitti (New Year’s Day; The first day of the month of Chaitra in the Bikram Samwat calendar)

Indian New Year (Northern and Central India in the Vikram Samvat calendar), [After the Spring Equinox, usually 3.23] (a.k.a. …

Cheiraoba (New Year's Day in Manipur)

Gudi Padwa (New Year's Day in Maharashtra)

Navreh (New Year’s Day in Kashmir)

Ugadi (New Year's Day in Karnataka and Andhra pradesh)

Nowruz (New Year) [Day 4, Around Spring Equinox] (a.k.a. ... 

Dita e Nevruzit (Albania)

Nary Meyramy (Kazakhstan)

Navruz (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan)

Nooroz (Iran)

Novruz (Azerbaijan)

Festivals Beginning March 23, 2024

Anime Japan (Tokyo, Japan) [thru 3.24]

The Big Tastes (Seattle, Washington)

Bradford County Strawberry Festival (Starke, Florida) [thru 3.24]

Chattanooga Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival (Chattanooga, Tennessee)

Cherry Blossom Festival (Conyers, Georgia) [thru 3.24]

Klein Karoo National Kunstefees (Oudtshoorn, South Africa) [thru 3.31]

Maple Syrup Festival (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) [thru 3.24]

Texas Inion Fest (Weslaco, Texas)

Veggie World (Dusseldorf, Germany) [thru 3.24]

Wellington Bacon & Bourbon Festival (Wellington, Florida) [thru 3.24]

World Cup of Beer Homebrew Competition Finals (Oakland, California)

Feast Days

Alphonsus Turbius, Archbishop of Lima (Christian; Saint)

Benedict the Hermit (Christian; Saint)

Clement of Alexandria (Positivist; Saint)

Charles Ponzi Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Cocidius of the Alder Tree (Celtic Book of Days)

Dance of the Salii (Ancient Rome)

Dandelion Dance (Shamanism)

Day of Artisans (Ancient Rome)

Edelwald of England (Christian; Saint)

Eric Fromm (Writerism)

Ethelwald the Hermit (Christian; Saint)

Gregory the Illuminator (Episcopal Church)

Gudi Padwa (a.k.a. Ugadi; celebrates the day Lord Brahma created the universe; Hindu)

Gwinear (Christian; Saint)

J. C. Leyendecker (Artology)

Joseph Oriol (Christian; Saint)

Juan Gris (Artology)

Lieldienas (Ancient Latvia)

Marzenna (Everyday Wicca)

Ottone Frangipane (Christian; Saint)

Pansexual Quantum Toaster Day (Pastafarian)

Quinquatria, Day 5: Day of Artisans Day (Pagan)

Rafqa Pietra Choboq Ar-Rayès (Maronite Church)

Rex the Rattlesnake (Muppetism)

Shaheedi Diwas (Haryana, India)

Symphony No. 94, The Surprise Symphony, by Joseph Haydn (Symphony; 1792)

Tubilustrium (Ceremony to Purify the Ceremonial Trumpets; Ancient Rome) [also 5.23]

Turibius of Mogrovejo (Christian; Saint)

Victorian, Frumentius and Companions (Christian; Martyrs)

Hebrew Calendar Holidays [Begins at Sundown Day Before]

Purim (Judaism) [begins at sundown] (a.k.a. ... 

Fast of Esther;

Survival Celebration

Ta' Anit Ester

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

The Abortion, by Richard Brautigan (Novel; 1971)

Achy Break Heart, by Billy Ray Cyrus (Song; 1992)

Blithe Spirit, by Noël Coward (Play; 1941)

The Collected Stories of Katherine Mansfield, by Katherine Mansfield (Short Stories; 1945)

Concert For Bangladesh (Concert Film; 1972)

Confessions, by Usher (Album; 2004)

Corn Chips (Disney Cartoon; 1951)

Doc McStuffins (Animated TV Series; 2012)

The Egg and Jerry (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1956)

Eliminator, by ZZ Top (Album; 1983)

Elvis Presley, by Elvis Presely (Album; 1956)

The Farmer (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1931)

Fisherman’s Luck (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1945)

Goldfinger, by Ian Fleming (Novel; 1959) [James Bond #7]

The Gruffalo, by Julia Donaldson (Children’s Book; 1999)

High Steaks (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1962)

Home Made Home (Disney Cartoon; 1951)

Home on the Range (MGM Cartoon; 1940)

The Hunger Games (Film; 2012)

In His Own Write, by John Lennon (Book of Poetry; 1964)

Isle of Dogs (Animated Film; 2018)

Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, by King Crimson (Album; 1973)

Livin’ La Vida Loca, by Ricky Martin (Song; 1999)

A Mad House (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1934)

Messiah, by George Frederic Handel (Oratorio; 1743)

Midsomer Murders (UK TV Series; 1997)

Monsters vs. Aliens (Animated Film; 2013)

Muppet Babies (Animated TV Series; 2018)

The Night Agent (TV Series; 2023)

Pacific Rim: Uprising (Film; 2018)

Police Academy (Film; 1984)

Post War Inventions (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1945)

Pretty Woman (Film; 1990)

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, by Muriel Spark (Novel; 1961)

Racing with the Moon (Film; 1984)

Reach for Tomorrow, by Arthur C. Clarke (Short Stories; 1956)

Scrooge McDuck and Money (Disney Cartoon; 1967)

Sherlock Gnomes (Animated Film; 2018)

Shooter (Film; 2007)

Sleuth But Sure (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1956)

Songs of Faith and Devotion, by Depeche Mode (Album; 1993)

Spanish Onions (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1930)

That’s All, by Bobby Darin (Album; 1959)

Truth or Consequences (Radio Quiz Series; 1940)

Van Halen II, by Van Halen (Album; 1979)

Vile Bodies, by Evelyn Waugh (Novel: 1930)

Today’s Name Days

Otto, Rebekka, Toribio (Austria)

Lidiya (Bulgaria)

Dražen, Edmund, Oton, Rebeka (Croatia)

Ivona (Czech Republic)

Fidelis (Denmark)

Ailo, Aksel (Estonia)

Akseli, Selina (Finland)

Rébecca, Victorien (France)

Otto, Rebekka, Toribio (Germany)

Emőke (Hungary)

Fedele, Nora, Turibio (Italy)

Kalla, Mirdza, Žanete (Latvia)

Akvilė, Alfonsas, Galgintas, Vismantė (Lithuania)

Gerd, Gerda (Norway)

Eberhard, Feliks, Katarzyna, Kondrat, Oktawian, Pelagia, Pelagiusz, Piotr, Zbysław (Poland)

Nicon (Romania)

Galina (Russia)

Adrián (Slovakia)

José, Oriol, Rebeca, Toribio (Spain)

Gerd, Gerda (Sweden)

Lydia, Nykon (Ukraine)

Calhoun, Drake, Paloma, Pam, Pamela (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 83 of 2024; 283 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 12 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Fearn (Alder) [Day 7 of 28]

Chinese: Month 2 (Ding-Mao), Day 14 (Bing-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 13 Adair II 5784

Islamic: 13 Ramadan 1445

J Cal: 23 Green; Twosday [23 of 30]

Julian: 10 March 2024

Moon: 94%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 27 Aristotle (3rd Month) [Origen]

Runic Half Month: Beore (Birch Tree) [Day 13 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 5 of 92)

Week: 3rd Week of March

Zodiac: Aries (Day 3 of 31)

[oceanpear]

"A Symphony of Cultures: Islamabad Station's

In the heart of Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, lies a historical landmark that has witnessed the transformation of the nation over the decades – the Islamabad Station. This railway station is not just a transportation hub; it is a testament to the rich history and cultural heritage of the region. This article delves into the historical significance, architectural marvels, and the enduring charm of Islamabad Station.

Historical Significance:

The roots of Islamabad Station trace back to the mid-20th century when Pakistan was undergoing a period of significant change. With the declaration of Islamabad as the new capital in the 1960s, the need for robust infrastructure became paramount. The establishment of Islamabad Station was a crucial step in connecting the capital to the rest of the country and facilitating the movement of people and goods.

Architectural Marvel:

One cannot discuss  Islamabad Station without acknowledging its architectural brilliance. The station's design combines modern aesthetics with traditional elements, reflecting the nation's commitment to progress while honoring its cultural heritage. The red-bricked façade and arched windows are reminiscent of Mughal architecture, paying homage to Pakistan's rich history and architectural legacy.

Cultural Heritage and Local Flavor:

As a central hub for travelers,  Islamabad Stationhas become a microcosm of the diverse cultures that make up Pakistan. Passengers from different provinces, ethnicities, and walks of life pass through its platforms daily, creating a unique blend of languages, cuisines, and traditions. The station's vibrant atmosphere is a living canvas that showcases the nation's cultural mosaic.

Preserving Tradition in a Modern Setting:

Despite the modernization efforts and the introduction of cutting-edge facilities, Islamabad Station has managed to preserve its historical charm. Vintage locomotives, well-maintained platforms, and classic waiting areas provide a nostalgic nod to the golden era of rail travel. The station's commitment to preserving its heritage ensures that it remains not just a transportation hub but also a living museum.

A Symbol of Connectivity:

 Islamabad Station strategic location makes it a pivotal point in Pakistan's transportation network. The railway lines that radiate from the capital connect it to major cities, fostering economic activities and cultural exchange. The station serves as a lifeline, facilitating the movement of people, goods, and ideas across the country.

Community Engagement and Events:

Beyond its daily operations, Islamabad Station has become a venue for community engagement and events. Art exhibitions, cultural festivals, and heritage walks are organized, bringing the local community together to celebrate the city's history and traditions. The station has evolved into a space where people not only pass through but also gather to share experiences and create lasting memories.

Towards the Future:

As Islamabad embraces modernity, the future of Islamabad Station looks promising. Plans for further development, including technological upgrades, improved accessibility, and eco-friendly initiatives, are in the pipeline. The station is poised to continue playing a vital role in shaping the city's identity and fostering a sense of national pride.

In conclusion, Islamabad Stationis more than just a railway hub; it is a living chronicle of Pakistan's past, present, and future. As it stands as a symbol of connectivity and a custodian of cultural heritage, the station remains a cherished landmark in the heart of the capital city, connecting generations and preserving the spirit of the nation.

[mariacallous]

Pakistan is scheduled to hold elections on Feb. 8, the latest crucial date in the country’s democratic experiment. Some observers feared Islamabad’s election commission could postpone the vote due to worsening security conditions, but even as the elections go ahead, many analysts worry they may not be free or fair. Pakistan has a long history of political interference in democratic processes by its powerful military.

The upcoming elections offer little hope for near-term political stability. Pakistan, currently led by a caretaker government, faces myriad political, economic, and security threats. Popular opposition leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan sits in prison, convicted on corruption and state secrets charges. On Feb. 8, the military establishment is betting on a leader it dethroned not too long ago: former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whose brother Shehbaz led the most recent coalition government.

Because Pakistan’s civil-military relations tilt in favor of the army, politicians are incentivized to side with the generals to attain power. This dynamic has weakened the constitution, compromised the judiciary, and undermined democratic elections. The military no longer intervenes in politics via coup, but its leaders have invested in the political system. Pakistan has developed into a hybrid regime where elements of electoral democracy and military influence mingle. Next week’s vote will only mark the next chapter of hybrid rule.

In 2017, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ousted Sharif as prime minister after his family was linked to offshore companies in the Panama Papers leak; he was later disqualified from holding public office. Sharif had also tried to assert civilian supremacy over the army, and there are strong claims that the army played a role in his ouster, as well as the election of Khan in 2018. As Khan suffered his own fall from grace, Sharif was allowed to return to Pakistan last year. The cases against him have been cleared, potentially enabling him to participate in the elections—hinting that the military may condone his return to the prime minister’s seat.

Many observers regard Khan’s rise to power in 2018 as the outcome of electoral engineering by the military establishment. For a time, Khan seemed to share a mutually beneficial relationship with the army. However, he made a series of missteps in policy areas dominated by the military. First, he endorsed an inexperienced official to become chief minister of Punjab province, which irked then-Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa. His disagreement with Bajwa in 2021 over a replacement for the director-general of Pakistan’s premier intelligence service further alarmed the army.

Khan had promised to create Naya Pakistan—a new Pakistan—and to carry out sweeping reforms, but he mostly failed to realize these promises during his almost four years in power. Growing economic volatility and the indifference of some of Pakistan’s closest allies toward the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government further undermined Khan’s leadership. In April 2022, the old guard led by the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) called a vote of no confidence against Khan. He was voted out and sentenced to three years in jail last August after a conviction for illegally selling state gifts. Khan alleges the military arranged his ouster.

Motivated by their own interests, Pakistan’s political elites have long been complicit in tolerating the military’s domination of the democratic system. But Pakistan’s political parties have also attempted to establish civilian supremacy and failed to sustain it. As prime minister in the 1990s, Sharif sought to exert his control over state institutions, including the military. Gen. Pervez Musharraf led a military coup against his government in 1999 and became president in 2001. A conflict between Pakistan and India in the hills of Kargil is widely seen as the reason for the coup, but such analysis ignores the role of Sharif’s quest for civilian supremacy.

Musharraf not only prolonged the first exile of Sharif and the self-exile of then-opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, which reshaped Pakistan’s political parties. Ultimately, rivals PML-N and the PPP grew closer, especially after the fallout between the judiciary and Musharraf over the latter’s decision to suspend Pakistan’s chief justice. In 2006, the PML-N and the PPP agreed on a Charter of Democracy, an unprecedented development that sought to limit the army’s role in politics. In 2008, the two parties briefly formed a coalition government to keep the army and its disciples away from politics.

Sharif’s PML-N won a simple majority in the 2013 elections, and Pakistan saw its first peaceful transfer of power. However, Sharif’s growing clout didn’t sit well with the military establishment. In 2014, the military helped Khan launch mass protests against the government; they were also supported and attended by prominent religious figures and clerics. However, Khan called off the four-month protest movement in the wake of a terrorist attack against Peshawar’s Army Public School that killed 149 people. “Pakistan cannot afford [our] opposition in these testing times,” he said at the time.

A deteriorating security situation also contributed to the end of Khan’s tenure in 2022. Following his removal, a coalition of traditional political parties led by PML-N took over, with Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister. It needed the army’s backing to succeed. Instead of working for democratic rights, the coalition government amended Pakistan’s Official Secrets Act to give vast powers to the army and intelligence agencies to conduct raids and arrest civilians. The Pakistan Army Act amendment of 2023 criminalized criticism of the military, especially from retired service members. Army Chief of Staff Asim Munir became a member of a new council aimed at garnering foreign investment and boosting economic growth.

The expanded powers that the Pakistani Army now possesses seem to classify the state as what scholar Ayesha Siddiqa calls a hybrid-martial law system, in which all real power lies with the military while a civilian government is relegated to the position of junior partner. It now appears the judiciary is also toeing the military establishment’s line, with the Islamabad High Court recently acquitting Sharif in a corruption case and ultimately enabling him to contest elections. Khan, in prison, still faces a host of charges. His supporters have not been allowed to hold political conventions or meetings ahead of the elections. Mass protests against Khan’s initial arrest last May seemed to spook the military establishment.

The military’s greater machinations have yet to play out. Interestingly, the PPP chairman, Bilawal Bhutto, has accused the establishment of favoring Sharif—raising questions about the strength of the party’s alliance with PML-N. Bhutto may be filling the political vacuum left by the sidelining of the PTI. Sindh province recently saw a reshuffling of senior bureaucrats seen as favoring the PPP. Meanwhile, the PTI has raised concerns about election officers appointed ahead of the vote and demanded the appointment of officials from the lower judiciary as supervisors for the polls.

PML-N appears to be forging alliances with its traditional partners such as Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (Fazl), or JUI-F, which has significant political support in the tribal areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In Baluchistan province, PML-N has managed to secure two dozen so-called electables, local leaders with strong support base. The new Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party—made up of disgruntled former PTI members—has announced a pre-election seat-sharing arrangement with PML-N. The PML-N also finalized a seat-sharing arrangement with the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid e Azam Group, itself formed by former PML-N members in 2002.

Even behind bars, Khan remains the most popular politician in Pakistan. If the military establishment secures an election outcome in its favor, the next coalition government will still struggle to maintain its power across Pakistan’s political institutions. Pakistan urgently needs consensus among its stakeholders about how to create a robust democracy; the easiest way to reach it would be through free and fair elections without military interference. Perhaps the political parties should come up with a new charter of democracy.

But until and unless politicians stop pursuing narrow interests, the military establishment will continue to pull the strings of any government in power in Pakistan.

[newstfionline]

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

East Coast Storm (1440) An intense storm system battered the northeast coast of the US Monday with high winds, heavy rain, and flooding, leaving 59 million people from Virginia to Maine under flood watches and knocking out power for more than 700,000 people. At least four people were killed in the storm. More than 500 flights were canceled across the region, particularly to and from airports in New York City and Boston, with Boston Logan International Airport seeing winds as high as 68 mph. The storm also dumped between 2 to 5 inches of rain across the Northeast.

US homicide rate falls (The Atlantic) According to data gathered from cities across America, the murder rate dropped by about 13% this year. Yes, we’re killing each other less. And it’s not just murder. FBI data for the third quarter show that every category of crime except for motor-vehicle theft is down, some of them sharply, year over year from 2022. (As for the car thefts, they seem—in one of the weirdest data flukes you’ll ever see—to have been driven almost entirely by TikTok videos showing the ease of breaking into certain Kias and Hyundais.)

Passport wait times fully recovered from pandemic, State Dept. says (Washington Post) Passport processing times have returned to pre-pandemic standards, the State Department announced Monday, with routine services taking between six and eight weeks, and expedited services two to three weeks for a $60 fee. That’s about a month faster than the estimated wait times from this March. But don’t call it a Christmas miracle. The State Department had a goal of getting back to 2020 levels by the end of this year, and processing times have been on the mend for months. The State Department credits the milestone to increased staffing levels. Since last December, the agency told The Washington Post, it has grown its workforce by 12 percent and added hundreds of additional staff in the hiring pipeline. The agency also authorized more overtime hours, even getting retirees to pitch in.

Kyiv forced to cut military operations as foreign aid dries up (BBC) Ukraine has warned it is already being forced to downsize some military operations because of a drop-off in foreign aid. Top general Oleksandr Tarnavskyi said troops faced ammunition shortages along the "entire front line", creating a "big problem" for Kyiv. It comes as billions of dollars of US and EU aid have been held up amid political wrangles. Ukraine said it hoped to boost its own ammunition industry with western help. But it relies heavily on western supplies, particularly on deliveries of long-range missiles and air defence systems, to fight occupying Russian forces.

Pakistan’s former leader Imran Khan uses AI to campaign from behind bars (Washington Post) Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan campaigned from behind bars over the weekend, using artificial intelligence in an online rally to circumvent a broad state-backed crackdown on events held by his party. The social media team from the Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, opposition party used AI to generate audio of Khan’s voice for a four-minute video clip, accompanied by graphics and previously filmed footage, that ran online Sunday night local time. In the video, Khan—who was jailed in August on corruption charges—greets his supporters and likens his time in prison to a fight for the freedom of Pakistan.

Survivors Face Subzero Temperatures After Quake Kills Over 100 in China (NYT) An earthquake killed at least 116 people in a mountainous area of northwestern China, officials and state media said on Tuesday, crumpling buildings while residents slept inside and sending people rushing into a frigid night. Rescuers were searching for survivors in rural Jishishan County in Gansu Province, the epicenter of the quake, officials from Gansu said at a news conference on Tuesday. They said the quake, which struck at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, had killed 105 people in the province and injured nearly 400 others. The quake had a magnitude of 5.9, according to the United States Geological Survey. Photos and videos shared by state media showed brick village houses that had caved in, and bedrooms buried in rubble. Hours later, rescuers were still digging people out, according to CCTV, the state broadcaster.

America Had ‘Quiet Quitting.’ In China, Young People Are ‘Letting It Rot.’ (WSJ) China’s ruling Communist Party wants the country’s young people to be ambitious, work hard and prepare for adversity. Many young Chinese aren't having it. Demoralized by a weak economy, unfulfilling jobs and a paternalistic state, they are looking for pathways out of the carefully scripted lives their elders want for them, putting themselves at odds with the country’s priorities. Catchphrases describing the mood have worked their way into everyday discourse. Last year, the phrase “let it rot” spread to describe young people who have completely given up. Companies, meanwhile, are setting their sights on a hot new growth market in China: the elderly. The country is aging much more quickly than other developing nations and has the world’s largest elderly population with more than 280 million people above the age of 60. Businesses that used to focus on babies are now targeting Chinese seniors.

New cyber warfare (Foreign Policy) Iranian fuel pumps returned to operationality on Tuesday following a cyberattack on Monday that shuttered nearly 70 percent of Tehran’s petrol services. An alleged Israeli-linked hacking group named Gonjeshke Darande, or Predatory Sparrow, claimed responsibility for the attack in a post on X, formerly Twitter, saying it was done “in response to the aggression of the Islamic Republic and its proxies in the region.” The group said it had the ability to cut off all fuel operations but chose not to out of concern for civilian safety.

Unwashed and underfed, babies born into Gaza war face hardship in tents (Reuters) The grandmother has a simple wish for her twin baby granddaughters, Alma and Salma: they should be in a clean, safe room where they can be bathed. Instead, the infants are living in a tent in a camp for displaced people in Rafah, southern Gaza. Their mother cannot breastfeed them because she is not getting enough nutrition for her body to produce milk. And they have never been bathed. Alma and Salma are part of a generation of Gaza babies born into homeless, destitute families struggling to survive Israel’s ferocious military assault on their crowded strip of land, which has caused a humanitarian catastrophe. Their grandmother, Um Mohammed al-Jadba, struggles every day to find water to make them bottles of formula milk. She boils the water in a thermos flask on a fire outside the tent. Elsewhere in the tent camp where Alma and Salma were living, other families with babies were facing similar hardships.

Shrugging Off Egypt’s Crises, El-Sisi Gets Set for 6 More Years (NYT) Over a decade at the helm of the Arab world’s most populous country, there have been times when President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt looked like a man dangling from a ledge by the tips of his fingers. Yet, a decade later, he is still president—and back for six more years, as the results of this month’s presidential election confirm. The authorities said Monday that Mr. el-Sisi had won a third term with 89.6 percent of the vote. (Leading opposition candidate Ahmed Tantawy had pulled out months ago, claiming intimidation and violence against his campaign.) No one doubted the outcome, given all the advantages of his authoritarian grip on the country. An extra edge came from the war in next-door Gaza, which has allowed Mr. el-Sisi to cast himself as a strong leader at home and abroad, just as he did after conflicts in Libya, Sudan, Syria and beyond. This is the turbulent map that is Middle East geopolitics, a multifront five-alarm fire that has made Mr. el-Sisi, in his obstinate way, look like a rock of stability.

Choppy Waters (Foreign Policy) In the past few weeks, Yemen’s Houthi militants have conducted ballistic missile and drone strikes against at least 10 merchant vessels and a U.S. Navy ship, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. To counter such actions, Washington—along with Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, Spain, and the United Kingdom—established a joint maritime task force on Tuesday to ensure “freedom of navigation for all countries” and bolster “regional security and prosperity.” The initiative will be aided by Task Force 153, a Bahrain-based unit formed last year and led by the U.S. Navy to help safeguard the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. As countries work to combat Houthi assaults, private companies are suspending their operations in the area. BP halted oil and gas shipments through the Red Sea indefinitely on Monday after two more Houthi strikes hit the Panama-flagged MSC Clara and the Norwegian-owned Swan Atlantic. Five major shipping companies from Hong Kong, Denmark, France, Germany, and Taiwan, as well as the Italian-Swiss-owned Mediterranean Shipping Company, all halted their operations in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, diverting many of their vessels to instead go around the Cape of Good Hope off South Africa’s coast. The need to reroute shipping is fueling global trade disruptions. Delaying access to this vital thoroughfare will cause mass delays, putting supply chains at risk of collapse. Some of the world’s most convenient shipping lanes are in geopolitically choppy Middle Eastern waters.

At least 13 dead, 178 injured after a massive fuel depot explosion in Guinea’s capital (AP) An explosion and inferno at Guinea’s main fuel depot in the capital of Conakry left at least 13 people dead and 178 injured, authorities said Monday, as the West African country was assisted by other nations in managing the disaster. The massive explosion sparked the fire at the Guinean Petroleum Company depot after midnight Sunday, Guinea’s presidency said. It caused significant damage in the heart of the Kaloum administrative district, home to most government offices.

There’s No Shame in Feeling Lonely (NYT) This Christmas, Renate Bello, 56, will spend the holiday taking care of her neighbor’s dogs in Easthampton, Mass. Without any family or close friends nearby, holidays can be an especially lonely time, she said, and she longs to build deeper connections with humans. “I know a number of people,” she said. “But they are not necessarily people I would call up to say, ‘Let’s go hang out.’” Loneliness can carry a stigma in our society. People who experience unwanted solitude may assume that they are unlikable or unlovable—that they are to blame for not having more friends, community connections or a romantic partner. “This can cause profound shame, which can erode self esteem,” said Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, the surgeon general and author of “Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World.” “It can also worsen feelings of loneliness, as it often pushes us to distance ourselves from others at a time when we need support most.” But the truth is, he added, loneliness is a universal human experience. “We all feel lonely at times just like we all feel hunger or thirst,” Dr. Murthy said. “There is no reason to be ashamed of being human.”

[xtruss]

In Pakistan’s Chilli Province, Growers Turn to Innovation Against Toxin Contamination

Aflatoxin, toxic byproduct of mold that spreads on crops during production, harvest, storage or processing, has hit chilli crops in southern Sindh province

Twelve growers with the help of a government institute have installed drying machine, solar tunnel and dehydrator to mechanize drying and washing chillies

— Zulfiqar Kunbhar | November 21, 2023 | Arab News

UMERKOT, SINDH: A dozen growers in Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh are successfully using modern methods and machines to protect their chilli crops against fungal contamination in a region that is highly vulnerable to climate change and ranked among the top five in the world for chilli cultivation and production.

Around 150,000 acres (60,700 hectares) of farms in Pakistan produce 143,000 tons of chilli annually, making the country the fourth largest for chilli production worldwide. Sindh, which produces 126 million tons, contributes around 88 percent of the country’s total chilli production.

But floods that wreaked havoc across Pakistan last year, on the back of several years of high temperatures, have left chilli farmers struggling to cope. In a country heavily dependent on agriculture, the more extreme climate conditions are hitting rural economies hard, farmers and experts say, underscoring the vulnerability of swathes of South Asia’s population to changing weather patterns.

In recent years, contamination by aflatoxin — a toxic byproduct of a mold that tends to spread in drought-stressed crops during production, harvest, storage or processing — has also hit chilli crops in Sindh.

Dr. Muhammad Siddique Depar, the principal scientific officer at the government’s Arid Zone Research Center (AZRC) Umerkot, said chillies traditionally needed to be air-dried outdoors for two weeks but increasingly higher daytime

In this photograph, taken on November 13, 2023, Dr. Muhammad Siddique Depar, the principal scientific officer at a research center, showcases dried red chilies using a drying machine in the Umerkot district of Pakistan's Sindh province. (AN Photo by Zulfiqar Kunbhar).

temperatures and inconsistent dew were creating favorable conditions for aflatoxin growth during the process of drying. The rest of the damage was done by dust in the outdoors, which collected on the chillies as they dried.

“Over the past three years or so, AZRC has installed a foreign-donated red chilli drying machine, a solar tunnel, and a chilli dehydrator drying and washing machine,” Depar said, explaining the modern methods being used by twelve growers to combat aflatoxin contamination.

Compared to two weeks in the open air, chillies can dry in four days inside a solar tunnel and within 30 hours with a dryer. Both methods also prevent the chilli crop from being exposed to dust, which is the main reason for a decline in quality, Depar added.

“After the area’s [12] growers utilized these facilities for drying fresh chilli crops, achieving better results compared to open-sky drying, we can say it proved to be a successful model,” the researcher said.

Worker spreads red chilies for drying in the Umerkot district of Pakistan's Sindh province on November 13, 2023. (AN Photo by Zulfiqar Kunbhar)

But the machines are not adequate to meet the demands of the region’s farmers.

Four red chilli dryer units and two chilli washing units were donated by the Korea Program for International Cooperation in Agricultural Technology to AZRC Umerkot. The total capacity of the KOPIA chili drying units is 20 maunds, or approximately 800 kilograms. In addition, one unit each of a solar tunnel and a solar-cum-gas-dryer were installed at AZRC Umerkot under a Pakistan Agricultural Research Council agriculture-linkage program project titled Post-harvest Processing of Chilies for Producing Quality Produce. The project started in 2018 and ended in 2020.

Now, Umerkot’s chilli growers want the government to scale up the new methods to save local chillis from contamination.

“I availed the AZRC red chilli drying facilities and it saved me time and quality,” farmer Javed Rajar told Arab News.

In this photograph, taken on November 13, 2023, farmer Javed Rajar showcases local chillis in the Umerkot district of Pakistan's Sindh province. (AN Photo by Zulfiqar Kunbhar)

“However, I am still dependent on traditional methods too as AZRC did not have that capacity to dry all my chilli crops. The issue is that for large scale production these machines are not enough.”

He called on the government to act promptly to protect the region’s famous Lungi chilli crop.

“Lungi chilli is renowned for its unique taste globally,” the grower said. “However, environmental conditions are either causing a decline in its production or it is being replaced by hybrid varieties. The government needs to act promptly by establishing large-scale chilli drying units to support local farmers and boost Lungi’s exports.”

Official figures show Pakistan’s dried red chilli exports have declined in the last few years, mainly due to aflatoxin. As per the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Pakistan exported 2,751 metric tons of dried red chillies in 2019, which declined to 1,665 metric tons in 2022.

But officials are optimistic that with innovation, chillis can be protected from toxins in the future during the drying process.

“Using modern techniques helps us to manage the phytosanitary and meet food safety requirements of other [importing] countries by addressing the issues of aflatoxin and pesticide residues,” Dr. Mubarik Ahmed, a consultant for agriculture and food at TDAP, told Arab News.

“TDAP is planning to help local chilli farmers in developing more drying units.”

This photograph, taken on November 13, 2023, shows local red chilies at a farm in the Umerkot district of Pakistan's Sindh province. (AN Photo by Zulfiqar Kunbhar).

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Gunmen have killed at least 22 people in south-west Pakistan after forcing them out of their vehicles and checking their identity, officials say.

The attack happened overnight on a highway in Balochistan province, where security forces are battling sectarian, ethnic and separatist violence.

The armed men checked identity documents, reportedly singling out those from Punjab to be shot, before setting the vehicles alight, officials alleged.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group, has said it was behind the attacks in Musa Khel district.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that security forces had killed 12 militants in operations after the attacks, but did not give further details.

Over the past 24 hours, the BLA has launched a series of attacks on multiple government installations - including police stations and security forces’ camps across province.

In Kalat, 11 were killed - five of them security personnel - and six bodies were recovered in another district in Balochistan.

According to Najibullah Kakar, a senior local official, around 30 to 40 militants were involved in Musa Khel.

"They stopped 22 vehicles," he told AFP news agency. "Vehicles traveling to and from Punjab were inspected, and individuals from Punjab were identified and shot."

The BLA has said it was targeting military personnel travelling in civilian clothes, according to news agency Reuters.

Before the attack, the BLA warned the Baloch public to stay away from the highway, adding that their "fight is against the occupying Pakistani military".

"We have taken full control of all major highways across Balochistan, blocking them completely," it added.

Mohsin Naqvi, the interior minister, said the attacks were "a well-thought out plan to create anarchy in Pakistan".

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed "deep grief and condemnation over the terrorist attack" in a statement issued by his office.

Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province but, although it has more resources than other provinces, it is the least developed.

The BLA and other Baloch separatists have intensified attacks on Punjabis and Sinhdis from elsewhere in Pakistan working in the region. They have also targeted foreign energy firms they accuse of exploiting the region without sharing profits.

In a similar incident in April this year, nine passengers were offloaded from a bus in Balochistan and shot dead after their IDs were checked.

Several Western countries, including the UK and US, have designated the BLA as a global terrorist organisation.