2016

On 30th November 2015, the Executive Board of the IMF announced that it had completed the regular five-yearly review of the basket of currencies making up the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) and had admitted China’s yuan or renminbi (RMB) to the elite club of currencies. As such, RMB was determined to be a freely usable currency, along with the US …

Following are some most frequently questions asked by the panellists during the CSS-2016 Interviews.  International Affairs Russian President Putin has stated that climate change is a fraud. Do you agree? Why? Describe the roles and functions of UN Security Council and General Assembly? What are Sustainable Development Goals and how they are different from the Millennium Development Goals? What decisions …

Among other characteristics of state besides territory and population is government. The supreme power of the state is exercised by some political machinery through which the will of the state is formulated, expressed and enforced and this is what we call the government. The organization of the state in terms of functionality is divided into three branches: the legislative, executive …

Despite pledges, apprehensions, acknowledgements and strong commitments, Pakistan and Afghanistan still do not have a simpatico relationship. However, Afghan president Dr Ashraf Ghani’s visit to Pakistan on December 9 to participate in the fifth ‘Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process’ Conference is being seen as a ray of hope for cordial Pak-Afghan relations. Both the neighbouring states have not yet been able …

Aside from history of how it was structured in Greece and how it spread to other countries, democracy is an outcome of deep social, economic, theoretical and cultural revolutions in recent centuries in Europe. This article discusses how culture of democracy can be shaped and how source of legitimacy can affect democratic ideas. The piece also suggests some points aimed …

NATIONAL Nov 16: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif performed the ground-breaking of 62-km long Gojra-Shorkot section of M-4. Nov 18: New US ambassador to Pakistan David Hale assumed office. Nov 19: Amjad Khan Afridi, the adviser to chief minister KP on sports, tourism, culture, archaeology, museums and culture, was ousted from the cabinet. Nov 21: An enraged mob torched a place …

Antagonism in international politics, more often than not, has potential to lead the things towards positive development. Recent Russian intervention in Syria is a prime example in this regard. Unfortunately, unipolarity has worsened the state of affairs in a vile and offensive manner. Along with scientific developments, technological advancements, economic growth and educational betterment, the menace of terrorism and extremism …

Pakistan is fast emerging as a nexus state as the progressive recalibration of foreign relations by both it and the countries that surround and border it, proceed at some speed. The tectonic of geopolitics tend to move exceedingly slowly, but are currently on the diplomatic equivalent of fast-forwards in our neighbourhood. This theme was in full play at the 5th …

Security remains precarious the world over The 14th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of Government meeting, was held in Zhengzhou, the capital city of central China’s Henan Province, from December 14 to 15, 2015. The participants of this 2-day meet included prime ministers of the six SCO member states — China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — and of …

The formation of the United Nations in 1945 is no swindle to the post-colonial world.  The UN and its forerunner the League of Nations set out in similar circumstances, yet the UN has been more subjected to unrelenting criticism. Sidesplitting is the thought that the UN, which started as an association of “all peace-loving countries,” and aimed to create a …