#Pakistan jobs in 2024

[job-ustad]

Muslim Children Academy Peshawar Jobs 2024 - Apply Now Muslim Children Academy Jobs

Muslim Children Academy in Peshawar has announced new job openings for various educational positions including Academic Head, Female Staff, Coordinator, Male Staff, Physics Teacher, Chemistry Teacher, and Biology Teacher. The positions are categorized under education-related government jobs, requiring candidates to have a minimum qualification of a Bachelor’s, Master’s, MS, or BS degree. The job…

[ianduncankinnie]

I often post about Palestine but I'd like to take a moment to talk about what's happening in Bangladesh.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON BANGLADESH

TL;DR Students killed for protesting the government's quota system. Students are being arrested and murdered for speaking up about their deceased friends. Everyone is being threatened by the government and many social media platforms are being banned.

All I'm asking is to spread the word. Please. International pressure really works for our nation. We're dying here. UNICEF reports 34 children dead. There might be more. All reblogs and likes and shares are appreciated. Thank you. I guess I'll see you tomorrow.

Past

A movement protesting the government's quota system put forth by the father of our nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. This was placed in the first place to help the grandchildren of those who fought in the Liberation War of our country to get government jobs. We have a terrible job market here which is why many highly educated people leave the country. On 16th July, While protesting, a Student named Abu Sayed of Begum Rokeya University was killed by the police. This only stoked the feelings of injustice between the students.

During a press conference, the PM was asked about the quota for the grandchildren of veterans. Her response? "If we don't give jobs to the grandchildren of Veterans, will we give jobs to the grandchildren of Razakars?" Razakars are the people who collaborated with the Pakistani Forces to bring down the Bangladeshi freedom fighters. They betrayed the nation for their own gain.

Traitors.

Imagine calling the youth of your nation traitors.

Imagine calling almost 14 million young people who can't find a job despite their credentials betrayers.

Imagine cursing people who are protesting for job equality under a government with the all time highest corruption in the history of this nation.

On 17th July the broadband connection centre in Mohakhali was burned down. Mobile data services and communication were shut down by the PM. After 11 days the internet was properly restored.

On 19th July, A National Military Curfew was put in place by the Prime Minister to mitigate the unrest.

But that was last month. If you need details I highly recommend sources in Bangladesh like the Daily Star or reputable like Al Jazeera. The quota has since been lifted. Lives were lost. But it was for a good cause, right?

Right?

RIGHT?

Present

Well no. There's still a curfew in the capital. Several districts like Cumilla are still under attack. The government warns of not spreading misinformation yet still lie about the severity of the issue. The police are arresting those who protest as well as those who speak up. The students are demanding for the resignation of the PM. The PM obviously refuses to apologise or even acknowledge the deaths of some 147?

or is it 200?

They're not counting how many they're killing. They're not letting anyone else count either.

It is midnight here. This morning as in 4th August 2024, the students have called for a non cooperation movement. The Ruling Party Awami League will also be holding rallies across the nation tomorrow. I do not know what is going to happen to me. I do not want to think of what will happen to my family tomorrow. I don't really care. What I'm truly scared for is the future. As these protests do not end well here.

Future

Precedence says the PM will eventually resign. Every student protest of our nation has ended in momentary success.

Momentary

What comes after is usually a military regime. A caretaker government until a next government is chosen in a supposed election. Even then if they decide to hold an election. The caretaker government is usually run as a dictatorship. It was true for the 60s. It was true for the 90s. I don't doubt it will happen again.

I'm graduating next year. My niece is still new to the academic system. I wish her the best. My grandmas and grandpas are dead. Nobody left to pray for me. My aunts and uncles are growing old. My cousins can't speak up for fear. My mom is so tired. My dad is angry. I'm unsure if I will still be able to post the next couple of days.

All I'm asking is to spread the word. Please. International pressure really works for our nation. We're dying here. UNICEF reports 34 children dead. There might be more. All reblogs and likes and shares are appreciated. Thank you. I guess I'll see you tomorrow.

[genji-khushbu]

A brief history of Bangladesh and why it is relevant to the current situation

The Indian subcontinent liberated itself from the British in 1947. Two new countries were born, India and Pakistan. The Bangladesh we know today was a part of Pakistan.

In 1952, the students of Dhaka University, along with my other, marched on the streets, protesting that "Urdu"-the national language of Pakistan- would not be the national language of East Pakistan, now known as Bangladesh.

The reason behind this was that 52% of the people in the entire Pakistan spoke Bangla. There was no logic behind declaring Urdu as the national language of Pakistan as a whole. Much like India, there was no need to have a national language.

Students marched on 21st February, ignoring the red alerts. 7 students were martyred, shot by the police. But we protected our mother tongue, we established our rights, and their bloodshed was worth it.

Now, why is it relevant now? Because the history is repeating itself. Only Bangladesh's own government is playing the role of the autocratic Pakistani government. Worse, our prime minister is the daughter of the man who was the prime force behind the liberation of our country.

Bangladesh is the only country in the world that has 256 kinds of quotas reserved for various kinds of people. Even 10% for women. All are applicable at various levels, starting from primary school admissions to government jobs. 56% are reserved for quota holders altogether. 44% are for normal people.

Now, if it had been the other way around, no one would've been that angry. Bangladesh is a country of 200 million people. let's just say 1/4th of them are students. 50 million. The population of quota holders is 200 thousand. Is it not laughable? The 200 thousand students have the right to study, and get jobs and the remaining 49+ million have to fight for 44%? What kind of joke is this?

See the similarities? Trying to give everything to the minority?

The quota most applicable is the "freedom fighter" quota. The people who fought during the liberation war in 1971. Utmost respect and love towards them. But why should their grandchildren benefit from their participation? What is the guarantee that these grandchildren won't harm the country, the same country that was liberated by their grandparents' blood?

The freedom fighters who are still alive, they are ashamed. The population during the war was 70 million. 3 million were martyred. But more than half of the population fought, and the women gave shelter, food, and help in any way they could. Not every one of them collected their certificates. Most of them were illiterate, they didn't even know what a certificate was. And those who knew but didn't collect, and are alive, are saying that they didn't fight so their grandchildren could take advantage, they fought to save the country, they didn't fight for glory.

Our Prime Minister fled the country during the war. There are no records of her brothers fighting in the war either. Her father gave speeches in his white clothes but never picked up a rock to throw.

That aside, now students from almost every university in Bangladesh are protesting against the quota system. So many students cannot be wrong. And the government cannot again be right. It's the minority vs majority all over again.

Another uncanny similarity, 7 were martyred today. 16th July 2024, 7 were given their lives again, for the right study and do jobs and serve their country. What a downfall it is when our friends, seniors, and juniors are giving their lives, just for such simple rights. Where is democracy? Where is liberation? Is this what our grandfathers fought the war for?

The situation is worsening every hour. On 25th March 1971, Pakistani military forces raided homes. Not universities, not halls, HOMES. Of the general public. This was called "Operation Searchlight". No electricity, no light, no warning. Only breaking into homes and massacring men, women, children, and old, children without discrimination or thoughts. Again, something similar is happening.

There is this group called "Student League", they are students of various universities as well, but they are basically bootlickers of the prime minister. They follow whatever she says without any sense of morals.

The minister for education paid them to attack students in halls- confessed by a member of the Student League.

They entered the halls, and hospitals, beat up injured students, locked the hall rooms, and harassed the female students. The video clips that were shared, the screams of the girls, the way they were saying "Brothers save us", it's giving me goosebumps while I am typing it.

They stabbed many students who were returning home. They beat up many many girls who were silently standing by the roads. They harassed the general public.

Both sides are students. Only their teachings are different.

What's about to happen? How many more are dying? The internet connection is off. We can only access through VPN and Wifi. There is a red alert around the areas where most universities are situated. They are cutting off electricity where the protests happened and raiding houses. Again, the similarities. They are checking the homes of the general public if they are housing student protestors. If yes, the students are being dragged out on the roads. Where is freedom?

There is much more happening, which I am not even writing about right now. Much more to come.

Is this what Liberation is? Then I do not want it. If this is what freedom is, I would rather be in a cage.

My account isn't very big, but I am still posting about it. If yours is or if your friends' is, if you come across this post, spread it. Let the world know what an autocrat that woman is. What a tyrant she is.

PS: About a month ago Bangladesh was deemed "The most Peaceful Country in Asia" which is a blatant joke.

I have never been so ashamed and proud of my country at the same time.

[warningsine]

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taxis-security-escort-help-indian-students-escape-violence-hit-bangladesh-2024-07-19/

GUWAHATI, India, July 19 (Reuters) - A fleet of taxis, a security escort, and a harrowing six-hour journey brought Asif Hussain and about 80 other Indian students back home on Friday from Bangladesh, where violence has erupted between protesters and security forces.

At least 20 people have been killed in the clashes this week - most of them in the capital Dhaka - with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets to scatter protesters who also torched vehicles and establishments. The protesters oppose a system of quotas for government jobs.

Some mobile internet services were cut off on Thursday and telecom links remained widely disrupted on Friday.

For Hussain, who studies at a private medical college in Bangladesh's Manikganj district, about 50 km (30 miles)from Dhaka, being cut off from his family in India was especially "stressful".

"Our college was not affected by the violence but we heard there was trouble in the town (about 15 minutes away)," he told Reuters.

As news came in of students being killed in Dhaka, Hussain and about 80 others from his college hired private taxis to travel to the border that Bangladesh shares with India's eastern state of West Bengal, about 170 km away.

The Indian High Commission (embassy) in Bangladesh also provided the students with a security escort after they requested for it, Hussain said.

Leaving their college at 2.30 a.m., the group reached the border six hours later but crossed it only in the afternoon after clearing immigration.

For Hussain, the journey will continue for another day as he travels to his hometown, Dhubri, in Assam state.

"It has been very scary...I have (still) not been able to speak to many of my friends in Dhaka," he said.

Around 8,500 Indians are studying in Bangladesh - many of them pursuing medicine - India's foreign ministry says, and about 15,000 Indians live in the country.

Bangladesh's history is closely intertwined with India, which intervened on the side of Bengali nationalists in their 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.

India's Meghalaya state, which too shares a border with Bangladesh, is also helping to evacuate people, with officials saying more than 350 students from India, Nepal and Bhutan have entered through this route so far.

In an advisory, India urged its citizens in Bangladesh to minimise movement outside their residences. The foreign ministry on Friday said that all Indians in Bangladesh were safe.

Nepal similarly said it was "closely monitoring" the situation in Bangladesh, where around 3,000 of its citizens study and another 50 work with the United Nations and other international organisations.

[darkmaga-retard]

Bangladesh, once celebrated as an economic success story in the Indian subcontinent, is now navigating turbulent waters following a dramatic political crisis in August 2024. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, her subsequent flight to India, and the installation of an interim government with US and Pakistan backing have sent ripples of uncertainty through the nation and beyond.

In August 2024, Bangladesh faced a major political upheaval as student protests over government job quotas escalated into widespread violence, resulting in over 130 deaths and a coup, with Hasina forced to resign and flee to India preceding protesters storming her residence and government offices.

Even before the political crisis erupted, Bangladesh grappled with several economic challenges that threatened to undermine its progress, such as declining exports and dwindling foreign exchange reserves. The country’s export-driven economy faced severe disruptions, particularly its crucial garment sector. Foreign exchange reserves had declined sharply, with gross reserves standing at $21.8 billion in June 2024, 35% lower than in June 2022, covering just over three months of current account payments.

At the same time, inflation hit a decade-high of 9.7% year-on-year in April 2024, putting immense pressure on the cost of living for average Bangladeshis. The IMF reported the debt-to-GDP ratio as 41% for 2024, raising concerns among local economists, especially given the stagnant revenue growth. Two-fifths of Bangladesh’s young population lacks reliable employment, contributing to social unrest. In the first quarter of 2024, unemployment increased by 3.51% compared to the last quarter of 2023, with the total unemployment count growing to 2.59 million. Stagnating between 8% and 9% over the past decade, the low revenue-to-GDP ratio is significantly lower than in neighbouring countries like India (20.2%), limiting the government’s fiscal capacity.

[bankingpk]

DIB Pakistan Jobs 2024: Salary, CEO, and Careers in Dubai Islamic Banking

Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) is a pioneer in Islamic banking, with a strong presence in Pakistan. This article provides an overview of job opportunities, salary structures, and the leadership at DIB Pakistan JOBS, along with insights into how you can join this leading institution.

Understanding Salary Structures at DIB

What is the Salary of Employees in Dubai Islamic Bank?

Dubai Islamic Bank offers competitive salaries that reflect its status as a leading Islamic financial institution. Salaries vary based on role and experience but are designed to align with industry standards, ensuring fair compensation for all employees.

What is the Minimum Salary in Dubai Islamic Bank?

For entry-level positions, salaries typically range from PKR 25,000 to PKR 35,000. This range helps to attract and retain talent, offering a solid starting point for new employees.

Account Opening Requirements

What is the Minimum Salary to Open a Bank Account in DIB?

Dubai Islamic Bank is committed to accessibility. There is generally no minimum salary requirement for opening a standard account, allowing individuals from diverse backgrounds to easily access banking services.

Leadership at DIB

Who is the CEO of DIB?

The CEO of Dubai Islamic Bank plays a crucial role in shaping the bank’s direction and operations. The current CEO, with a wealth of experience and a strategic vision, ensures that DIB remains a preferred choice for clients and a top employer in the banking sector.

Career Opportunities at DIB

DIB Pakistan Jobs Online Apply

Those interested in joining Dubai Islamic Bank can apply through the bank’s career portal. The application process is straightforward, allowing candidates to submit resumes for various roles, from customer service to executive positions.

Dubai Islamic Bank Walk-In Interview

DIB occasionally conducts walk-in interviews, providing a chance for candidates to interact directly with the hiring team. These interviews are an excellent opportunity for candidates to make a strong impression and advance their application.

DIB Pakistan Jobs for Freshers

Dubai Islamic Bank encourages fresh graduates to apply. The bank offers entry-level positions with comprehensive training programs designed to help new employees integrate into the world of Islamic banking effectively.

Dubai Islamic Bank Pakistan

As a key player in Pakistan’s banking sector, Dubai Islamic Bank provides a wide range of services, including personal and corporate banking solutions. The bank is dedicated to upholding Islamic banking principles while meeting the needs of contemporary consumers and businesses.

Why Choose DIB for Your Career?

A career at Dubai Islamic Bank means joining a prestigious institution known for its excellence in Islamic banking. The bank offers competitive salaries, robust benefits, and a supportive work environment that fosters both personal and professional development. DIB emphasizes ethical banking practices and customer satisfaction, making it an attractive choice for anyone looking to build a rewarding career in the banking industry.

Joining Dubai Islamic Bank isn’t just about securing a job; it’s about embarking on a career path where your growth is supported and your contributions are valued. Explore career opportunities at DIB Pakistan and become part of a dynamic and forward-thinking team.

[ilmibuzz]

AWC Air Weapon Complex Jobs 2024

Download the AWC Air Weapon Complex Jobs 2024 Application Form & Advertisements here. The Air Weapon Complex (AWC) is a vital part of the Wah Cantonment Ordnance Complex, known for its support to the PAF. Many applicants seek AWC jobs to serve their country and contribute to national security. The AWC job 2024 Last date to apply online is 30th April 2024.  The latest career opportunities at AWC are advertised in top Pakistani newspapers and online platforms. You can apply online here on this page of Ilmibuzz.com before the AWC Jobs 2024 deadline. 

Air Weapon Complex Jobs 2024 Last Date to Apply Online

The Air Weapons Complex (AWC) is a branch of the Pakistan Air Force established on February 18, 1992. It houses several science and research labs focused on developing airborne systems, especially in rocket science and explosives. Now, Air Weapon Complex is looking for qualified male and female applicants in 2024. If you are interested, simply click on the provided apply online button. Or visit the official website of AWC (Air Weapon Complex).

How to Apply for Air Weapon Complex Jobs 2024 Online?

The organization may withdraw or cancel vacancies at any time or reject applications without giving a reason.

If there are many applications, only the most eligible candidates with relevant experience will be shortlisted for the test/interview.

For eligibility, if the last degree is First Division, only one Second Division from Matric onward is acceptable; Third Division candidates are not eligible.

First Class/1st Division requires a CGPA of 2.5/4.00 for the semester system or a minimum of 60% marks for the annual system.

The maximum age limit is 35 years, with relaxation for government employees as per rules.

Candidates from government organizations must bring an NOC and attested academic documents for tests/interviews.

Degrees/Certificates must be from recognized universities/institutions by HEC and PEC.

Provide a valid postal address/contact number for test/interview information.

Only Pakistani nationals are eligible to apply; dual nationality holders are not eligible.

Selection will be provisional, pending Security Clearance and Medical Fitness.

Academic Certificates will be verified from issuing authorities before joining.

No TA/DA will be provided.

AWC Jobs Benefits & Salary

ایئر ویپنز کمپلیکس کی انتظامیہ اپنے ملازمین کی مدد کرنے میں بہت زیادہ سرمایہ کاری کرتی ہے، کیریئر کی ترقی اور مالی تحفظ کے مواقع فراہم کرتی ہے۔ ایئر ویپنز کمپلیکس اپنے ملازمین کو فراہم کرتا ہے کچھ فوائد یہ ہیں۔

Good Salary Package

Job Security & Advancement

Retirement Plan

Pension

Medical Care

Cooperative Management

Paid Time Off

Free Meal

Check Also: Defence Housing Authority Bahawalpur Jobs 2024 Application Form 

Air Weapon Complex AWC Jobs Advertisement 2024 Download

[jack-corbin123]

Which Degree to Pursue After Intermediate in 2024? A Guide for Students in Karachi

Choosing a degree after completing your intermediate education is a critical decision that can shape your career and future. With numerous options available, it’s essential to consider your interests, career goals, and the evolving job market. If you're in Karachi, you have access to several prestigious universities that offer a wide range of programs. This guide will help you navigate through your options and highlight some of the best universities in Karachi, including DHA Suffa University.

1. Engineering

Engineering remains a popular choice for many students due to its diverse specializations and promising career prospects. Common fields include Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Software Engineering.

Top Universities in Karachi for Engineering:

DHA Suffa University: Its top university in Karachi and Known for its modern campus and industry-focused programs.

NED University of Engineering and Technology: One of the oldest and most reputable engineering universities in Pakistan.

Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology: Offers a wide range of engineering disciplines.

2. Business Administration

A degree in Business Administration (BBA) opens doors to various industries, from finance to marketing to human resources.

Top Universities in Karachi for Business Administration:

Institute of Business Administration (IBA): Renowned for its rigorous curriculum and strong alumni network.

LUMS: Though not in Karachi, it’s worth considering for its exceptional business programs.

DHA Suffa University: Offers a comprehensive BBA program with strong industry linkages.

3. Computer Science and IT

With the digital revolution, degrees in Computer Science and Information Technology are in high demand. These fields offer careers in software development, data science, cybersecurity, and more.

Top Universities in Karachi for Computer Science:

FAST-NUCES: Known for its strong emphasis on computer science and technology.

Karachi Institute of Economics and Technology (KIET): Offers specialized programs in IT and software engineering.

DHA Suffa University: Provides a state-of-the-art computer science program with hands-on learning opportunities.

4. Medicine and Health Sciences

For those inclined towards the medical field, degrees in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Allied Health Sciences are excellent choices.

Top Universities in Karachi for Medicine and Health Sciences:

Aga Khan University: Offers world-class medical education and research facilities.

Dow University of Health Sciences: A leading institution for medical and health sciences education.

DHA Suffa University: While primarily known for engineering and business, it is expanding its health sciences programs.

5. Social Sciences and Humanities

Degrees in Social Sciences and Humanities, including Psychology, Sociology, and International Relations, are ideal for students interested in understanding human behavior and societal issues.

Top Universities in Karachi for Social Sciences and Humanities:

University of Karachi: Offers a broad range of programs in social sciences and humanities.

Habib University: Known for its liberal arts education and interdisciplinary approach.

DHA Suffa University: Offers programs in social sciences that are integrated with modern teaching methodologies.

[freezegirl]

THE BIG CANON MASTERPOST* [note: if you write any of the characters mentioned, i just want to reiterate that you do not have to comply with anything written below, this is just for fun and because i love world building*]

(originally written: 17-01-2022 / version 1: 16-02-2022 / version 2: 17-12-2023 / version 3: 21-7-2024 / @theskyuniverse)

khione hima goossens (iman vellani) has lived in maxville her entire life. as have her parents. though her paternal grandparents and their ancestors came from europe and her maternal grandparents and their ancestors came from surinam, india and pakistan, respectively. khione grew up in the richer part of town, in the same neighborhood as gwen grayson, and spends her time at the maxville ice arena and ice slash snow sculpting.

her dad, leander (neil jackson) is a cryokinetic. he used to be known as the superhero permafrost but has since gone inactive - or so he clains - to focus on his acting career. he's been tapped for the 'darkstar' franchise, playing the titular character. in reality, an altercation with barron battle forced leander to hang up his cape for good.

her mom, saraswati, who's more commonly known as sara as per her insistence (jameela jamil) has hydrokinesis abilities and is a retired superhero - in solidarity with her husband - turned tv personality, being known for the fabulous lives of superhero wives. and, yes, khione has been on the show too. multiple times, in fact. it's all over tiktok and youtube and it's in the top 10 on netflix, much to her despair.

khione has inherited both her dad's cryokinesis and her mom's hydrokinesis, which means she's got a big family legacy to live up to. much like will stronghold, khione is a she's a third gen.

leander and saraswati never should have been allowed to name their only daughter. aside from huge expectations for their daughter, a tendency to manage her life, a huge dose of haughtiness, as well as loftiness and a remarkable hatred for pyrokinetics, whom they deem "beneath them" as well as "dangerous" and "destructive", leander and saraswati are a normal couple.

well, as normal as two retired supers can be.

especially if one of them has a secret.

khione may be an only child, but saraswati has another child out there: zach braun-springer (noah lalonde) who possesses photokinesis and an immunity towards the cold that people thought was just sheer dumb luck on his part.

this secret comes to light during zach's freshman year and khione’s sophomore year at sky high, a few months after royal pain’s rampages have largely been forgotten. the super community can change like the wind, at the drop of a hat, or a coin. it goes from loving to vicious. from soft to sharp and back again. it ruptures the marriage of khione’s parents (though they stay together instead of divorcing), and does the same to the marriage of zach’s parents as well. khione tries to keep her head above water by focusing on her classes and her friends.

sometime during her senior year at sky high, nurse spex passes away, rendering her grandson valerian - laser eyes kid - effectively an orphan. his parents died on the job and nurse spex, his grandmother, took him in. in her opinion, she’s raised the finest boy in maxville. no one had the heart to tell her that her grandson was behaving terribly. after nurse spex’s funeral, laser eyes kid takes out his grief on everyone around him, khione included. but he finds a home with mr and mrs timmerman, who end up fostering him alongside jolene hamilton (and they adopt both of them down the line).

khione manages to make it to graduation. her parents don’t show up as she walks the stage because they’re both in europe for their jobs. shortly afterwards, khione gets accepted into sky u.

in the transitional period between high school and college, the superhero world is shaken to the core when josie stronghold (nee demarco) dies. khione attends the funeral with her parents - who fly back from europe for this - and does her best to be there for will in the aftermath when his paternal grandparents fly into town.

during her first year at sky u, disaster strikes again: warren’s father, barron battle, escapes the maximum security prison. people speculate it’s an inside job. the downtown area of maxville gets turned into a disaster zone made of smoke plumes, flames and screams. khione, warren, will, layla, zach, magenta (brianne tju) and ethan are deployed to put a stop to barron's battle against the citizens of maxville.

things turn from bad to worse, however, when barron gets away and kidnaps ethan banks (jonathan daviss) who is, by far, the smartest member of khione’s friend group and it takes far longer to get ethan back than khione would have liked.

enter katherine "katie" baxter shortly after khione's second year of uni has started. she and her twin michael “mike” baxter have sound based powers. while barron has escaped prison, mike is still locked up and katie is hurt and enraged about it. she and mike have gone through some shit and now they don’t quite know how to exist without each other. katie kidnaps khione, thinking that if she presses the right buttons, the stronghold seven (or six, in this case) will pull some strings to get mike released. khione is gone for about a week and the squad gets video updates. khione's parents are informed as well and they fly back from europe immediately (though whether they are truly concerned for their daughter's wellbeing or for everything they've invested in her so far is truly anyone's guess).

while she has her, katie excessively uses her sound powers on khione who tries her hardest to fight back until she’s exhausted. when it becomes clear that khione has received training when it comes to dealing with sound based powers to the best of her ability (because of course khione’s parents would do so, even though it hurts like hell), katie realizes that she needs to press harder. so she does, promising to wean khione off of all her friends when it becomes clear that they're not going to help her get her brother back.

the stronghold seven (or six, in this case) find khione locked up inside maxwellness, a wellness and beauty centre ("for maximum wellness!”) located somewhere in maxville. katie left khione in a sauna booth with the settings way up high. after she gets out of there, she faints and it's a race against the clock to try to get her core temperature back down before she dies. this whole experience exerbates khione's existing case of claustrophobia too.

ethan and khione hang out more afterwards. they bond over their respective experiences. ethan comes out as queer. khione tells him she’s pansexual. they bond over that, too, and magenta organically adds herself into the mix when she comes out to them as bi.

both of them spend the majority of their time catching up on the stuff they missed in regards to schoolwork as well. ethan and khione also end up training together (and seperately) so that neither of them get taken against their will ever again.

khione's third year is filled with pro and anti super sentiment across the board. after supers are forced to go public when mr medulla's particle accelerator explodes, the general public has a lot to say. turns out, he hadn't really "gotten rid of that horrible weapon, forever" like he said so many years ago and kept tinkering with the reversed pacifier behind the scenes. he just couldn't help himself. medulla was certain that he was doing a good thing here: he was going to bring about advancements in (mad) science, physics and advancements in medicine. still, the consequences are long-lasting. and never before had the debate on whether supers need to hang up the cape or not, on whether "their secret identity needs to become their only identity" been fiercer.

after graduation, khione officially takes up the mantle 'skadi' amid the pro and anti super discussions and enters the field alongside the others and officially becomes part of the stronghold seven.

[anarcha-androgyny]

Jul 15, 2024

« Violent clashes between people loyal to Bangladesh’s ruling party and demonstrators protesting against job quotas for coveted government jobs have wounded at least 100 people, police say.

The quota system reserves more than half of well-paid civil service posts, totalling hundreds of thousands of government jobs, for specific groups, including children of fighters in the country’s 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.

Critics say the system benefits children of pro-government groups who back Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who won her fourth consecutive term in a general election in January that was boycotted by the opposition.

Bangladesh’s top court last week temporarily suspended the quotas, but protesters have promised to continue their rallies until the parts of the scheme they oppose are scrapped completely.

Police and witnesses said hundreds of antiquota protesters and students backing the ruling Awami League party battled for hours on Monday on the Dhaka University campus, hurling rocks, fighting with sticks and beating each other with iron rods.

Some carried machetes while others threw petrol bombs, witnesses said in a report by the AFP news agency. “They clashed with sticks and threw rocks at each other,” police official Mostajirur Rahman told AFP.

Nahid Islam, national coordinator of the antiquota protests, said their “peaceful procession” was attacked by people carrying rods, sticks and rocks. “They beat our female protesters. At least 150 students were injured, including 30 women, and conditions of 20 students are serious,” he said.

Injured student Shahinur Shumi, 26, said the protesters were taken by surprise.

“We were holding our procession peacefully,” she said from her hospital bed at Dhaka Medical Hospital. “Suddenly, the Chhatra League [ruling party’s student wing] attacked us with sticks, machetes, iron rods and bricks.”

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said an “attempt is being made to transform the anti-quota movement into an anti-state one using the emotions of young students”. »

[job-ustad]

SWMC Jobs 2024 - Online Apply Sialkot Waste Management Company Jobs - Pakistan Jobs in 2024

Sialkot Waste Management Company (SWMC) has announced job vacancies for various management positions. These positions include roles such as Chief Internal Auditor, Chief Financial Officer, Manager, and Assistant Managers across different departments like MIS, GIS, Finance, Operations, HR, and Internal Audit. The jobs are government positions located in Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan. Candidates with…

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 7.13

Holidays

Ann Hutchinson Memorial Day

Atomic Bomb Test Day

Barbershop Music Appreciation Day

Bastille Eve (France)

Be A Geek For A Day

Blame Someone Else Day

Bottled Beer Day

Childhood Memories Day

Embrace Your Geekness Day

Festival of Inner Worlds

Festival of the Three Cows (Border of France & Basque Spain)

Fool's Paradise Day

GIST Awareness Day

Go Wakeboarding Day

Go West Day

Gruntled Workers Day

Guinea Fowl Day (French Republic)

International Day of ADHD Awareness

International Day of Sarcoma

International Day of the Conductor

International Growth Hacking Day

International Puzzle Day

International Rock Day

International Rock ’N’ Roll Day

Job Satisfaction Day

Kashmir Martyrs’ Day (Pakistan)

La Retraite Aux Flambeaux (Night Watch; France)

Martyrs’’ Day (Kashmir)

Montenegrin Peoples Uprising Day (Yugoslavia)

Naadam, Day 3 (Mongolia)

Nathan Bedford Forrest Day (Tennessee)

National Day (French West Indies; Tahiti)

National Delaware Day

National Geekness Day

National Paul Day

National Sam Day

National Security Committee Day (Kazakhstan)

Puzzle Day

Sandra Bland Day (Texas)

713 Day

Swiftie Day

Uniwaine Day (Elderly Men Day; Kiribati)

World Aquatics Day

World Cup Day

World Naked Photography Day

World Rock Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Beans 'n' Franks Day

Krispy Kreme Doughnut Day

National Beef Tallow Day

National French Fries Day (a.k.a. National French Fry Day)

National Nitrogen Ice Cream Day

Independence & Related Days

Alabama (Readmitted to the Union; 1868)

Statehood Day (Montenegro)

Usi (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]

Wilkland (Declared; 2009) [unrecognized]

2nd Saturday in July

Bald In / Bald Out Day [2nd Saturday]

Blissfest begins (Michigan) [2nd Saturday]

Bon Odori (Festival of the Lanterns; Japan) [2nd Saturday]

Carver Day (Missouri) [2nd Saturday]

Grange Day [2nd Saturday]

International Brick & Rolling Pin Throwing Contest (Stroud; Australia, Canada, UK, US) [2nd Saturday]

International Skinny Dip Day [2nd Saturday]

Lindenfest begins (Rhineland, Germany) [2nd Saturday]

The Mooning of the Amtrak (Laguna Niguel, California) [2nd Saturday]

Stone House Day (New York) [2nd Saturday]

World Rum Day [2nd Saturday]

World Skydiving Day [2nd Saturday]

Weekly Holidays beginning July 13 (2nd Week of July)

Bohemian Club Rites (California) [2nd Saturday]

Jūras Svētki Sākas (Sea Festival; Riga, Latvia) [Every 5 Years]

Festivals Beginning July 13, 2024

Aarhus Jazz Festival (Aarhus, Denmark) [thru 7.20]

Arts & Wine Festival (Los Altos, California) [thru 7.14]

Bierbörse Festival (Rapid City, South Dakota)

Blueberry Festival (Media, Pennsylvania)

Blueberry Festival & Market To Go (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) [thru 7.14]

Blues & Brews (Mount Hope Estate & Winery, Pennsylvania)

Breckenridge Summer Beer Festival (Breckenridge, Colorado)

Castle Rock WineFest (Castle Rock, Colorado)

Food Truck Festival (St. Paul, Minnesota) [thru 7.14]

Frankfort Bluegrass Festival (Frankfort, Illinois) [thru 7.14]

Horse & Hound Wine Festival (Bedford, Virginia)

Keep NH Brewing Festival (Concord, New Hampshire)

Keystone Wine & Jazz Festival (Keystone, Colorado) [thru 7.14]

Laramie Brewfest (Laramie, Wyoming)

Maine Potato Blossom Festival (Fort Fairfield, Maine) [thru 7.21]

Mango Festival (Coral Gables, Florida) [thru 7.14]

MangoMania (Bokeelia, Florida)

McDade Watermelon Festival (McDade, Texas)

Middle Eastern Festival (West St. Paul, Minnesota) [thru 7.14]

North Atlantic Blues Festival (Rockland, Maine) [thru 7.14]

Parker County Peach Festival (Weatherford, Texas)

Pendleton Whisky Music Fest (Pendleton, Oregon)

Raspberries & Wine Festival (Chisago City, Minnesota) [thru 7.14]

Ridgeway Cantalope Festival (Ridgeway, North Carolina)

Saint Benedict Festival (St. Benedict, Oregon)

Slice of Chico (Chico, California)

Solo Batik Carnival (Surakarta, Indonesia)

Strawberry Festival (Billings, Montana)

St. Vladimir Ukrainian Festival (Parma, Ohio)

Sweet Corn Extravaganza (Willcox, Arizona) [thru 8.11]

Taste of Buffalo (Buffalo, New York) [thru 7.14]

Tequila & Taco Festival (Ventura, California) [thru 7.14]

Feast Days

Abd-al-Masih (Christian; Saint & Martyr)

Abel of Tacla Haimonot (Coptic Church)

Anacletus (Christian; Martyr)

Asarnha Bucha Day (Theravada Buddhism)

Bhanu Jayanti (Sikkim, India)

Blanche of Castile (Positivist; Saint)

Boun Khao Phansa begins (Buddhist Lent)

Clelia Barbieri (Christian; Saint)

Conrad Weiser (Episcopal Church (USA))

Day of Osiris (Everyday Wicca)

Eugenius of Carthage (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Kalimát (Words; Baha’i)

Francis Solano (Christian; Saint)

Geek Appreciation Day (Pastafarian)

Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor (a.k.a. Henry the Emperor; Christian; Saint)

Jane Hamilton (Writerism)

Joel the Prophet (Christian; Saint)

Macarena Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Marcia Brown (Artology)

Maura and Brigid (Christian; Saints)

Millennial Fairy Olympics, Day 8 (Shamanism)

Mordecai Ardon (Artology)

Mildred (Christian; Saint & Virgin)

Mildrith of Thanet (Christian; Saint)

Mr. Screech (Muppetism)

Obon (a.k.a. Ulanbana, Festival of the Lanterns; Buddhist, Shinto)

Ronald Bladen (Artology)

Rosa Mystica (Christian; Saint)

Silas (Catholic Church; Saint)

Solstitium IX (Pagan)

Spot the Loony Day (Pastafarian)

Svein Ellingsen (Artology)

Teresa of the Andes (Christian; Saint)

Thomas Rowlandson (Artology)

Turiaf (a.k.a. Turiave or Thivisiau; Christian; Saint)

Wenceslaus Hollar (Artology)

Wole Soyinka (Writerism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Dismal Day (Unlucky or Evil Day; Medieval Europe; 13 of 24)

Egyptian Day (Unlucky Day; Middle Ages Europe) [13 of 24]

Fatal Day (Pagan) [14 of 24]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Breaking Away (Film; 1979)

Bully Beef (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1930)

Californy’er Bust (Disney Cartoon; 1945)

Country Mouse (WB MM Cartoon; 1935)

Dedicated To the One I Love, by The Shirelles (Song; 1959)

Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog, by Elvis Presley (Song; 1956)

Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series, by Eliot Asinof (Sports Book; 1963)

Eighth Grade (Film; 2018)

The Frisco Kid (Film; 1979)

Generation Kill (TV Series; 2008)

Ghost (Film; 1990)

A Hard Day’s Night, by The Beatles (US Album; 1964)

Hollywoodland sign (Dedicated; 1923)

Ice Age: Continental Drift (Animated Film; 2012)

Inception (Film; 2010)

In My Gondola (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1936)

The Last Starfighter (Film; 1984)

Legally Blonde (Film; 2001)

Live Aid (Live Charity Concert, Wembley Stadium, London, UK; 1985)

Microbe Hunters, by Paul de Kruif (Science Book; 1926)

Midaq Alley, by Naguib Mahfouz (Novel; 1947)

The Muppets Take Manhattan (Film; 1984)

My Lady’s Garden (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1934)

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, by Ambrose Bierce (Short Story; 1890)

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, by Bob Dylan (Soundtrack Album; 1973)

Pedro and Lorenzo (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1956)

Pilgrim Popeye (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1951)

Queen, by Queen (Album; 1973)

Rock Odyssey (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Film; 1987)

Skyscraper (Film; 2018)

The Spy Who Loved Me (James Bond Film; 1977) [#10]

The Stone Age (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1931)

Tehanu, by Ursula Le Guin (Novel; 1990) [Earthsea #4]

Where the Money Goes (Money Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rocks; 1995)

Yukon Have It (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1959)

Today’s Name Days

Anno, Heinrich, Kunigunde (Austria)

Emanuel, Ferdinand, Henrik (Croatia)

Markéta (Czech Republic)

Margrethe (Denmark)

Greta, Grete, Kreet, Kreeta, Mare, Maret, Mareta, Margareeta, Marge, Margit, Marit, Marita, Meeta, Reeda, Reet (Estonia)

Ilari, Joel, Lari (Finland)

Enzo, Eugène, Henri, Joël (France)

Heinrich, Kunigunde (Germany)

Iliofotos, Sarah (Greece)

Jenő (Hungary)

Enrico (Italy)

Alda, Margarita, Margrieta, Mariska, Pērle (Latvia)

Anakletas, Arvilas, Arvilė, Henrikas (Lithuania)

Melissa, Mia, Mildrid (Norway)

Ernest, Ernestyn, Eugeniusz, Irwin, Jakub, Justyna, Małgorzata, Radomiła (Poland)

Margita (Slovakia)

Enrique, Joel (Spain)

Joel, Judit (Sweden)

Ezra, Joel, Joelle, Mildred, Natalia, Natalie, Natasha, Nathalie, Nathan, Nathanael, Nathania, Nathaniel, Tasha (USA)

Henri, Nathalie, Nathaly (Universal)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 195 of 2024; 171 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of Week 28 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 7 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Xin-Wei), Day 8 (Wu-Yin)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 7 Tammuz 5784

Islamic: 6 Muharram 1446

J Cal: 15 Red; Oneday [15 of 30]

Julian: 30 June 2024

Moon: 50%: 1st Quarter

Positivist: 26 Charlemagne (7th Month) [Blanche of Castile]

Runic Half Month: Ur (Primal Strength) [Day 5 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 24 of 94)

Week: 3rd Week of July

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 23 of 31)

[bu1410]

Good afternoon TUMBLR - June 4th - 2024

“Mr. Plant has owed me a shoe since July 5, 1971.”

IRAQ – RUMAILAH - Sept 2014 – Mar 2016.

Part 2

The worst period was the month of Muharram - Ashura which marks the culmination of the Remembrance of Muharram, the annual commemoration of the death of Profet Husayn and his family and supporters in the Battle of Karbala on the 10th Muharram of the year 61 AH (in the Gregorian calendar the 10 October 680 AD). Popular elegies were written by poets to commemorate the Battle of Karbala during the Umayyad and Abbasid eras, and the first public mourning rituals occurred in 963 AD. during the Buyid dynasty. In Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain, Pakistan, India, Ashoora has become a national holiday and many ethnic and religious communities participate in it. Ashoora also known as Yawm Ashura is the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. For most Muslims - except Shia Muslims - Ashura marks the day when Moses and the Israelites were saved from Pharaoh by God creating a path in the sea. The World Sunni Movement celebrates this day as National Martyrs' Day of the Muslim nation. For Shiite and Sufi Muslims it marks the day when Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of the first Islamic Prophet Muhammad, was martyred in the Battle of Karbala. Ashura is an important holy day and occasion of pilgrimage in Shia Islam, as well as a recommended but not obligatory day of fasting in Sunni Islam.

Well, we Westerners were warned by our Security Service about the particular behaviors to adopt in this particular month. During this period, numerous temporary tents are set up by various communities along the roads leading to the Holy Places, to allow pilgrims to refresh themselves during their journeys towards the two holy cities of Kerbala and Najaf. We were instructed never to stop at the exhortations of individuals along the streets. And above all, accept and thank any offer of symbols, portraits, flags, stickers that the Iraqis ask to be placed on our vehicles, cars, offices. The Shiites, unlike the Sunnis who are forbidden to do so, have developed a series of symbolic images of the Profet Husain ibn Ali, and sometimes depict him astride a white steed, looking towards the future, in an iconography that sometimes recalls images of Jesus Christ. Failure to accept these manifestations of faith sometimes gives rise to retaliation that can take on the character of violence. As we learned with the episode that happened to an English ''Security Officer'' who worked in the Schlumberger compound, not far from ours. One Muharram morning, some Shiite flags installed on the Land Cruiser owned by this British guy for several days showed signs of tearing under the action of the wind and sun. The Officer thought it was time to change them, so he removed them from the roof and sides of the SUV. From afar a local guard watched him, and immediately shouted to draw the attention of other Iraqis to the fact that ''the infidel was removing the sacred Shiite signs from the vehicle'' without first asking permission. The British guy was soon surrounded, first pushed to the ground, insulted, a hail of kicks and punches hit him, without giving him time to explain his gesture. Someone brought sticks, and the poor Officer was beaten until all that remained of him were bloody remains. As we were told, everything happened in the early hours of dawn, so quickly in the parking lot of the vehicles, and there was no way for Security to intervene to prevent this massacre.

THE PROJECT. M091 Gathering Lines was a project aimed at connecting 4 oil production areas to the oil/gas separation units. Once completed, it guaranteed an increase in production by as much as 100,000 barrels/day. In essence, new 24-inch lines were installed, for a total of 90 km. In another context, outside of Iraq, a fairly simple job. In Iraq everything was much more complicated. Objective reasons caused wasted time and delays that affected daily progress. Furthermore, the advance of ISIS towards the South in that period made everything more difficult from a security point of view.

Colleagues As had been anticipated to me by Mrs. Pizzolitto (who at the time was in charge of the management of the On Shore SAIPEM shipyards) in Rumailah, from a human point of view, I found the best thing I have ever had the opportunity to experience in many years of SAIPEM. I don't know to what extent the place in which we found ourselves operating (with its great limitations in terms of individual freedom) influenced people's behavior in a positive way. This undoubtedly combined with the human and professional qualities of all the staff present on the base and on the various ongoing projects.

Zacchei Marco

He held the position of Iraq Country Manager, resided in Dubai but spent at least 3 days a week at the Rumailah base. Young and of great elegance and professionalism, he left SAIPEM following the example of many other talented managers in recent years.

Michele Petracca Projects Director, Apulian transplanted to Milan for years. He is also young but already has great international experience. Hired in SNAMPROGETTI after he had presented his thesis at the Polytechnic of Milan, he then moved to SAIPEM at the time of the merger by incorporation of the two companies. Great professionalism and great human energy, the best Project Director I have met. He didn't just give orders and advice, but he liked to ''get his hands dirty'' in the field, alongside those who worked. Tireless, Michele also left SAIPEM at a certain point in his career to join another competing Oil & Gas company.

Gianni Garbati Base Leader and great friend. A person with great communication skills. Organizer of ''big dinners'' in the kitchen container that we used for food gatherings at least once a week.

It was a real shame that, despite his efforts, we were unable to get together to work together again, both on the project in Thailand and on the one in Oman.

Mariotti Andrea. My predecessor on the M092 project. Young and capable, he perhaps paid for the wrong approach of the Iraqi Sub Contractor and his relative lack of experience as a Project Manager. The fact is that when I arrived, almost a year after the start of the project, the progress was only 17%. Andrea behaved in a truly professional manner (with SAIPEM elements this is never a given…) introducing me to the project in an impeccable manner during the 3 months we spent together. One day he risked a lot at an Iraqi military checkpoint. He arrived at the checkpoint while the soldiers were eating lunch, lying on the ground as usual. In this case we had to be patient and wait until some of them had finished eating. Andrea, impatient, placed his phone against the tinted glass of the Toyota Land Cruiser, thinking that from the outside they wouldn't see him taking photos. Unfortunately this wasn't the case: one of the soldiers saw that Andrea was using his mobile phone! All hell happened: at first they wanted to arrest him, then after an endless discussion they settled for confiscating the cell phone.

Victor Gomez. Deputy Construction Manager, Venezuelan. The need to have two Construction Managers (the other was Nicola Di Genova known as ''Il Muto'') arose from the fact that the rotation in Iraq was 45/15. So one of the two had to always be present on the construction site. I confess that at the beginning I was cautious with Victor: he had given me - mistakenly - the impression of a ''shrewd'' South American to watch over my shoulder. And instead Victor turned out to be, in addition to being technically valid, a great and reliable engineer. And also very polite, which doesn't hurt.

TCO staff. For TCO we intend all expatriate personnel working with us, except Italian. There were several of them, mostly from India and Pakistan. Some valid Egyptian too, and few good Algerians engineers. All of the demonstrate their capability during the project, giving all their effort to make the success of the project possible.

EXXON Staff.

Concerning EXXON people I need to make a preamble. EXXON has in place an agreement with FLUOR, the Houston based Company, to employ their staff on temporary basis. Some - but not all - of this staff is represented by retired service men (it seems US Government facilitate their reintegration in the society). Therefore those guys, most of the time, are not familiar with Oil&Gas project and Spec's. That's made sometime ''difficult'' for us to say ''understand eachother''. Luckily there were few permanent EXXON engineers with whoum we used to address the major problems. One of them, a young engineer from Houston but of Lebanon origin (he was speaking fluenty Arab) was the Project Director from Client side. I had a strong profitable relation with this guy.

Temporary absence of the Americans.

There have been a time in which ISIS threat was even closer than usual. Therefore EXXON Top Management decided to evacuate all their personnel to Dubai. It has been a difficult period for the project, since everything had to be discussed/assessed via daily video conference.

Final Departure I left Iraq in April 2016, after successfully completing the project. Particular satisfaction for me was given by the fact that the Project Manager of the EXXON Client - wanted to spend the entire last day in Iraq with me. A great sign of esteem, also considering that in Iraq the movement of all personnel, but especially of Americans, was subject to severe restrictions.

Of course there was the farewell cake, as per the unwritten rule for all colleagues who left Iraq permanently, prepared by the Italian chef Alessandro Loi: It was one of the most disgustingly sweet things I have ever tasted.

[warningsine]

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/communications-disrupted-bangladesh-amid-student-protests-2024-07-19/

DHAKA, July 19 (Reuters) - The Bangladesh government has decided to impose a curfew across the country and deploy the army, BBC Bangla reported on Friday, citing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's press secretary, amid widening student-led protests against government job quotas.

An official decision regarding the curfew would be issued soon, the prime minister's press secretary, Nayeemul Islam Khan, told BBC Bangla.

Three people were killed in the country on Friday as police cracked down on unrelenting student-led protests against government job quotas despite a ban on public gatherings, local media said.

Police fired tear gas to scatter protesters in some areas, Reuters journalists said. One said he could see many fires across the capital Dhaka from a rooftop and smoke rising into the sky in several places.

Telecommunications were also disrupted and television news channels went off the air. Authorities had cut some mobile telephone services the previous day to try to quell the unrest.

Bengali newspaper Prothom Alo reported train services had been suspended nationwide as protesters blocked roads and threw bricks at security officials.

Violence on Thursday in 47 of Bangladesh's 64 districts killed 27 and injured 1,500.

The total number of those dead from the protests reached 105 on Friday night, AFP separately reported, citing hospitals. Reuters could not immediately verify the reports and police have not issued a casualty toll.

The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka said that reports indicated more than 40 deaths and "hundreds to possibly thousands" injured across Bangladesh.

In a security alert, it said protests were spreading, with violent clashes being reported across Dhaka. The situation was "extremely volatile", it said.

The protests initially broke out over student anger against quotas that set aside 30% of government jobs for the families of those who fought for independence from Pakistan.

The nationwide unrest - the biggest since Hasina was re-elected this year - has also been fuelled by high unemployment among young people, who make up nearly a fifth of a population of 170 million.

Some analysts say the violence is now also being driven by wider economic woes, such as high inflation and shrinking reserves of foreign exchange.

The protests have opened old and sensitive political fault lines between those who fought for Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971 and those accused of collaborating with Islamabad.

The former include the Awami League party of Hasina, who branded the protesters "razakar" - making use of a term that described independence-era collaborators.

International rights groups criticised the suspension of services and the action of security forces. The European Union said it is deeply concerned by the violence and loss of life.

"It is vital that further violence is averted and that a peaceful resolution to the situation is found as swiftly as possible, underpinned by the rule of law and democratic freedoms," it said in a statement.

Neighbour India said the unrest was an internal matter of Bangladesh and that all 15,000 Indians in that country were safe. Indians studying in Bangladesh were returning by road.

Violence linked to the protests also broke out in distant London, which is home to a large Bangladeshi population, and police had to quell clashes between large groups of men in the east of the British capital.

TELECOMS DISRUPTED, WEBSITES HACKED

Friday began with the internet and overseas telephone calls being crippled, while the websites of several Bangladesh newspapers did not update and were also inactive on social media.

A few voice calls went through, but there was no mobile data or broadband, a Reuters journalist said. Even text messages were not being transmitted.

News television channels and state broadcaster BTV went off the air, although entertainment channels were normal, he said.

Some news channels displayed a message blaming technical problems, and promising to resume programming soon.

The official websites of the central bank, the prime minister's office and police appeared to have been hacked by a group calling itself "THE R3SISTANC3".

"Operation HuntDown, Stop Killing Students," read identical messages splashed on the sites, adding in crimson letters: "It's not a protest anymore, it's a war now."

Another message on the page read, "The government has shut down the internet to silence us and hide their actions."

The government had no comment on the communications issues.

On Thursday, it had said it was willing to hold talks with the protesters but they refused.

Many opposition party leaders, activists, and student protesters had been arrested, said Tarique Rahman, the exiled acting chairman of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Reuters could not confirm the arrests.

[mariacallous]

"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights," according to Article 1 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The job of the UN Human Rights Council is to monitor countries' compliance with this fundamental tenet, ensuring that people can live free from persecution, torture and discrimination. 

Several of the countries currently serving as the guardians of global human rights, however, have a poor track record at home — chief among them China, the United Arab Emirates and Eritrea.

In recent years, human rights violations such as reeducation camps, torture and arbitrary arrests, as well as forced labor and suppression of the opposition, have been documented in these countries.

As the number of authoritarian regimes has grown globally, their presence on the Human Rights Council has increased. China, in particular, has exploited this by leaning on allies to vote — or abstain from voting — in favor of its national interests.

Council members becoming less democratic 

In 2023, only 30% of the countries on the Human Rights Council were classified as "free" by the US think tank Freedom House. For its annual Freedom in the World report, the organization examines whether governments provide free elections and meet certain minimum standards for political rights and civil liberties, such as freedom of assembly. A total of 70% of the current council members were classified as "partly free" (such as India) and "not free" (Sudan and other countries). 

Each year, the Human Rights Council elects one-third of its 47 members to three-year terms according to fixed geographic quotas based on the number of UN countries per region: The Asia-Pacific and Africa groups have 13 members each, the Western Europe and North America group has seven, Eastern Europe has six, and the Latin America and Caribbean group has eight. 

Elections for terms running from 2024 through 2026 are anticipated in October. The candidates include Cuba, Kuwait and Russia, which was removed from the council in 2022 following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Researchers from organizations such as Freedom House, V-Dem and Democracy Matrix attempt to quantify members' adherence to minimum international humanitarian standards such as guarantees for civil liberties and compliance with prohibitions on torture. 

The human rights score of the countries that have been sent to the council since its inception in 2006 has declined considerably. In 2023, it is only just above the historic low of 2022.

"This unwelcome development is not only evident in the council but worldwide," said Silke Voss-Kyeck, a research fellow at the German Institute for Human Rights. "Many members are governed in an authoritarian and dictatorial manner." Compliance with human rights obligations seldom plays a role in the election of council members, she said.

'China has Africa in its pocket'

One consequence of the rise of autocratic regimes is that Human Rights Council votes often pit blocs against each other, said Yaqiu Wang, senior researcher on China at Human Rights Watch. Unlike the Cold War, however, the driving factor here is not a shared ideology, she said. 

"It's more interest-based," said Wang. Pakistan, for example, often votes with China because economic ties are strong and Pakistan sees China as an ally against an adversarial India. "It's like a trade: 'If you vote with me, I will go with you.'" 

In addition to Asian countries, Wang said, China has especially relied on African governments for support on the Human Rights Council. "I don't think any particular country has stood up to China — except Somalia, which recently rejected demands," Wang said, referring to the Horn of Africa country's vote for a 2022 resolution that addressed human rights abuses in reeducation camps in Xinjiang. "China has Africa in its pocket."

A unifying element, Wang said, is a rejection of Western dominance. "There's a history of Chinese-African solidarity," Wang said, "an alliance against the Western imperialism." China is building on that — and on economic interdependencies. 

Cultivating unlikely alliances 

China has had less success bringing Latin American governments under its sway. Countries such as Costa Rica are economically more self-sufficient than many African nations. Moreover, South American governments are more democratic, according to the Freedom House Global Freedom Score, and therefore less susceptible to China's influence.

Unlike in many African countries with authoritarian governments, for example, it's not enough to "ensnare" the elites, Wang said. That's because in democracies elites are often replaced through elections.

Unlike the UN Security Council, which is unable to act on the war in Ukraine because Russia has exercised its veto power on votes to address the conflict, the Human Rights Council is not blocked.

Resolutions reprimanding specific countries for human rights violations have increased since the council's founding in 2006. Country-specific resolutions are intended to pressure the respective governments to address the issues or face additional loss of reputation, sparking heated debates among members of the Human Rights Council.

The countries most often mentioned in resolutions brought before the Human Rights Council are Syria, Congo, Israel, Mali, Myanmar, Sudan and Yemen. Despite its own well-documented human rights abuses, China has not been on the losing end of a country-specific resolution. So far, there has only been one such effort: A resolution to condemn the UN-documented reeducation camps for Uyghur Muslims in China's western Xinjiang region failed in 2022, with 17 votes for, 11 abstentions and 19 votes against — including by Indonesia, Pakistan, Namibia and China itself.

'China goes ballistic after the vote'

Wang said China used not-so-subtle coercion to maintain support in the Human Rights Council. "It is intimidating," she said. "It threatens veiled. Before a vote, it's like a Chinese diplomat in another country, let's say Chile, just to give an example, he tells Chile: 'You know, you have to vote this way. Otherwise, you don't want to undermine the economic ties between Chile and China, right?'" Should a country not comply with such demands, Wang said, "China goes ballistic after the vote."

Voss-Kyeck confirmed that China's government uses pressure to get what it wants. "High Commission staff and diplomats are being threatened — personally, but also politically," she said. "It's all well-documented. People are getting evening phone calls to private numbers." No country, she said, is as aggressive as China in attempting to avoid criticism.

The efforts of China and its allies to prevent critical resolutions are evidence of their desire to avoid censure by the council. Only Russia has given up on trying to evade condemnation. "They've become such an outsider," Voss-Kyeck said. "They don't care about the council."

Though countries such as China are able to use alliances to diminish the Human Rights Council's oversight efforts, the work of the UN body is important, Voss-Kyeck said, and its "impact is great." One example is its importance to domestic civil society movements and Indigenous groups.

"That doesn't exist in any UN body: that Indigenous people are allowed in the room, that they have the right to speak, to make statements," said Voss-Kyeck. "That's a thorn in the side of many states."

Limited options for reforming Human Rights Council

Despite the stated purpose of the council, the body's current structure prevents it from being effective in the fight against human rights violations. Too often, countries are both the defendants and judges in the cases of their own violations — and they have little interest in judging themselves.

Though critics of the council agree that changes are needed to restore the body to its intended purpose, many have long been skeptical about specific proposals— such as limiting membership to countries that have ratified certain human rights treaties. "Of course, you can make a court only by the good guys, who then judge the bad guys," said Voss-Kyeck. "But the question is: What effect does that then still have on the 'bad guys'? And who decides who are the bad guys, who are the good guys?" 

Wang also worries that making changes to the structure of the Human Rights Council could ultimately weaken the body. "Reforming the HRC can be risky," she said, "given we do not know the outcome of putting it all back on the negotiation table."