The 10th expert working group meeting for the preservation of the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley World Heritage property, will be held in Tokyo from 6 to 8 December 2011, followed by two public symposiums concerning Bamiyan on 9 and 11 December, in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan.
The UNESCO World Heritage Centre is organizing the forthcoming 10th expert working group meeting for the preservation of the safeguarding of the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley World Heritage property (Afghanistan), which will be held in Tokyo, Japan from 6 to 8 December 2011, in collaboration with the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo, and the Afghanistan authorities. Two public symposiums regarding Bamiyan will follow on 9 and 11 December, in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan.
Remembering the 10th anniversary of the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues, the meeting will be an excellent opportunity to review the ongoing conservation work in Bamyian and determine the future needs for the preservation of the site.
The meeting will gather a panel of officials from the Afghan Government, led by his Excellency Minister of Culture and Information, international experts and implementing partners, whose productive efforts have been paramount in regard to safeguarding activities in the Bamiyan Valley. Despite the remarkable results achieved, a lot of work still lies ahead, hence the utmost importance of organizing this meeting.
Since its implementation in 2003 with the funding from the UNESCO-Japan Funds in Trust for preservation of the World Cultural Heritage, the Bamiyan safeguarding project has produced fruitful outcomes thanks to the close cooperation between the Afghan Ministry of Culture and Information, the Ministry of Urban Development, the Provincial authorities of Bamiyan, and several specialized international institutions, particularly with the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo, and ICOMOS Germany.
The aim of the meeting is to advise UNESCO and the Afghanistan authorities on issues related to the conservation of the Bamiyan World Heritage property by reviewing and assessing ongoing activities in Bamiyan, as well as identifying needs and opportunities for future initiatives. The meeting will also provide an opportunity for the coordination of international efforts. In addition, this meeting will launch Phase IV of the above-mentioned project to safeguard the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological remains of the Bamiyan valley.
The following public symposiums in Tokyo and in Kyoto will provide an opportunity to raise awareness and to promote the importance of this safeguarding programme.
Contacts:
Dr. Roland Lin, WHC/APA, UNESCO
Mr. Kazuya Yamauchi, National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo
UNESCO
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Metal stocks lead the rally
(Thu, 1 Dec 11:30 am)
Indian stock markets indices traded strong over the last two hours of trade on the back of sustained buying activity witnessed across index heavyweights. Metal and Banking stocks witnessed maximum buying interest.
The BSE-Sensex is up by 437 points, while the NSE-Nifty is up 127 points. BSE Mid Cap index and the BSE Small Cap index are up by 1.8% and 1.3% respectively. The rupee is trading at 51.71 to the US dollar.
Steel stocks are trading in the green led by Steel Authority of India Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and Tata Steel. According to a leading financial daily, Steel Authority of India (SAIL) led consortium which has won the bid for Hajigak iron ore mines in Afghanistan, may have to invest a total of about US$ 11 bn in developing the project over the next 8 to 10 years. The consortium proposes to set up a 6 million tonne per annum (mtpa) steel plant in two phases of 3 mpta each with an investment of US$ 7 to 7.5 bn. It will also set up a 1,000 Mega Watt (MW) power plant and a road-rail link of about 200 km for transporting the mineral from the mines to the plant site. The company is planning to invest US$ 75 m in conducting geological studies of the deposit over a 3 year period by a team of experts. SAIL is planning to employ a 48,000 strong workforce and establish a corporate office near Bamiyan to oversee the project work.
Mining stocks are trading strong led by National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and Manganese Ore India Limited (MOIL Limited). According to a leading financial daily, Coal India, which has won a five year licence for exploration and development of two coal blocks in Mozambique, has shortlisted 3 companies for exploration of the block. The 3 companies are Mining Associates, Indu-CBS Joint Venture and Kartikeyan Private Limited. Coal India has asked these 3 companies to justify the price bids following which they will finalise the lowest bidder. Coal India hopes to start the first phase of production by 2013-14. With an initial estimated reserve of 1 bn tonnes, the coal will be imported to cater to domestic demand from customers in Western India.
equity master
Indian stock markets indices traded strong over the last two hours of trade on the back of sustained buying activity witnessed across index heavyweights. Metal and Banking stocks witnessed maximum buying interest.
The BSE-Sensex is up by 437 points, while the NSE-Nifty is up 127 points. BSE Mid Cap index and the BSE Small Cap index are up by 1.8% and 1.3% respectively. The rupee is trading at 51.71 to the US dollar.
Steel stocks are trading in the green led by Steel Authority of India Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and Tata Steel. According to a leading financial daily, Steel Authority of India (SAIL) led consortium which has won the bid for Hajigak iron ore mines in Afghanistan, may have to invest a total of about US$ 11 bn in developing the project over the next 8 to 10 years. The consortium proposes to set up a 6 million tonne per annum (mtpa) steel plant in two phases of 3 mpta each with an investment of US$ 7 to 7.5 bn. It will also set up a 1,000 Mega Watt (MW) power plant and a road-rail link of about 200 km for transporting the mineral from the mines to the plant site. The company is planning to invest US$ 75 m in conducting geological studies of the deposit over a 3 year period by a team of experts. SAIL is planning to employ a 48,000 strong workforce and establish a corporate office near Bamiyan to oversee the project work.
Mining stocks are trading strong led by National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and Manganese Ore India Limited (MOIL Limited). According to a leading financial daily, Coal India, which has won a five year licence for exploration and development of two coal blocks in Mozambique, has shortlisted 3 companies for exploration of the block. The 3 companies are Mining Associates, Indu-CBS Joint Venture and Kartikeyan Private Limited. Coal India has asked these 3 companies to justify the price bids following which they will finalise the lowest bidder. Coal India hopes to start the first phase of production by 2013-14. With an initial estimated reserve of 1 bn tonnes, the coal will be imported to cater to domestic demand from customers in Western India.
equity master
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Balochistan varsity remains closed over teacher’s murder
Staff Report
QUETTA: Balochistan University remained closed on Wednesday to mourn the killing of lecturer Muhammad Danish, who was shot dead by unknown assailants the other day.
Balochistan Academic Staff Association announced a three-day mourning period to condemn the killing. “The association off and on asked for the protection of teachers in Balochistan, but the government turned a deaf ear to this demand. We lost five university teachers. All the murders should be investigated,” said Kalimullah Barech, president of the association.
According to the university’s public relations department’s statement, academic activities in Balochistan University would be restored today (Thursday). A senior police official termed the killing as sectarian targeted killing. However, no group has so far claimed responsibility for the murder. Danish was a lecturer in Science and Informational Technology Department of the University of Balochistan.
Daily Times
QUETTA: Balochistan University remained closed on Wednesday to mourn the killing of lecturer Muhammad Danish, who was shot dead by unknown assailants the other day.
Balochistan Academic Staff Association announced a three-day mourning period to condemn the killing. “The association off and on asked for the protection of teachers in Balochistan, but the government turned a deaf ear to this demand. We lost five university teachers. All the murders should be investigated,” said Kalimullah Barech, president of the association.
According to the university’s public relations department’s statement, academic activities in Balochistan University would be restored today (Thursday). A senior police official termed the killing as sectarian targeted killing. However, no group has so far claimed responsibility for the murder. Danish was a lecturer in Science and Informational Technology Department of the University of Balochistan.
Daily Times
Not all deaths are mourned the same
BY MURTAZA HAIDER ON NOVEMBER 30TH, 2011
Pakistanis of all political and religious persuasions are equally enraged by the tragic death of their soldiers caused by an indiscriminate air attack by the Nato forces. Pakistani soldiers, stationed at a border post in Mohmand region, were attacked by Nato planes and helicopters killing 24 and injuring several more.
Several politicians and citizens in general are enraged over the violation of their sovereignty. While this outburst of grief is understandable and very much justified, one wonders why other acts of violence against ethnic and sectarian minorities in Pakistan have not stirred the same outpour of grief and anger that we witness today. Could it be true that we are enraged only when others stand accused of violence against us, but when its Muslim-on-Muslim violence, we are much complacent.
The purpose here is not to undermine the ultimate sacrifice offered by Pakistani soldiers, who continue to lay their lives in hundreds while defending Pakistan against the militant fundamentalists. The motive here is to point out the lack of or, at best, muted response to the senseless violence committed against Ahmadis, Balochis, Christians, Shias and other minorities in Pakistan.
It was only in September 2011 when 29 Shias from Quetta’s Hazara community were killed in a premeditated attack. They were travelling to Iran in a bus that was intercepted near Mustang by armed militants who killed 29 while gravely injured several others. Compared to the anger and grief over the death of 24 soldiers, the reaction to Hazara murders has been mute at best. The list of political and community leaders from Punjab and Sindh who visited Quetta to condole with the Hazaras is very short and did not include any mainstream politician. Not even 50 students from a Punjab-based University marched in solidarity with the Shias of Quetta even when Shia academics were being killed by the unknown assailants (Professor Danish Alam was murdered earlier today). However, thousands marched in Lahore today for the slain soldiers while being led by their professors.
The State’s indifference to the plight of Hazaras drove Syed Nasir Ali Shah, a legislator belonging to the ruling Peoples Party, to stage a month-long sit-in in front of the Parliament. It took Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani a month to react to the protest staged by a member of his own party. On the other hand, the Gilani government reacted with a sharp rebuke to Nato within hours of the attack on troops in Mohmand region.
Hundreds of Shia Hazaras have fallen victim to the terrorist violence perpetrated by the extremist elements belonging to hardline sects of Islam. While many have been killed in dark alleys (who jo tareek raahon main maray gaey), the Hazara community is striving to ensure that the victims of sectarian violence are not forgotten. The community has prepared a list of 435 victims who have been killed since 1999 in sectarian violence. The bulk of killings took place in the past few years. More than 90 Shias from Hazara community have been killed since July 2011 alone.
The list of victims deserves a considerate read and reflection. Hazara community’s sacrifices are indeed supreme. The list includes children as young as five, as well as the elderly. The very unfortunate victims include father and son pairs who met violent death on the same day. A mother and daughter pair met the same fate. Hundreds of dead are young students.
The targeted attacks including bomb blasts have caused havoc in the Hazara community. What to say of a city where places of worship are the most hazardous sites. The July 2003 attack at the old Imam Bargah in Quetta killed 51, including 5-year old Ali Akbar. A year later in March, an attack on the 10th of Muharram killed 36 members of the Hazara community. In September 2010, when Shias marched in Quetta in solidarity with the displaced Arabs, they were rewarded with an attack that left 62 Shia Hazaras dead.
The Hazara community is not safe even in the cemeteries. In May 2011, militants attacked visitors at the Bahisht-e-Zahra cemetery in Hazara Town and killed seven Shias. Even hospitals fail to offer refuge to the community. An attack in April 2010 in Quetta’s Civil Hospital left six Shia Hazaras dead. Earlieri n July 2008, when the community sought legal redress, their lawyer, Ghulam Mustafa Qureshi, was assassinated. Several Hazara police officers, including 13 young cadets, have also become victims of targeted sectarian killings.
If Pakistan’s civil and military leaders are serious about addressing the grievances of the Hazara community, they could take the first step by visiting the two cemeteries in Quetta, Bahisht-e-Zahra in Hazara Town and Bahisht-e-Zainab on Alamdar Road, where the Hazaras have buried over 350 victims of sectarian violence. These cemeteries are a testament to the courage and resilience of a community whose right to live in peace has been violated in the presence of a democratically elected government.
Many in Pakistan believe that the Nato’s attack in Mohmand is an attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty. If sovereignty implies “having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area” then Pakistan has lost sovereignty in most of Balochistan, including Quetta. Hundreds of Shia victims are proof that the State has lost control of Quetta.
The State restores law and order in Quetta. It has to reestablish its writ neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood, street-by-street. It can start with Saryab Road where more than 50 members of Hazara community have been killed in several attacks over the past few years.
Meanwhile Pakistanis have to learn to embrace all victims of violence as equals. While we grieve for our fallen soldiers, we should do the same for the civilian victims of sectarian violence. If our anger and grief is determined not by the innocence of the victims but by their ethnicity and sectarian affiliations, we will continue to drift towards even a more violent future.
Murtaza Haider, Ph.D. is the Associate Dean of research and graduate programs at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University in Toronto. He can be reached by email at murtaza.haider@ryerson.ca
Several politicians and citizens in general are enraged over the violation of their sovereignty. While this outburst of grief is understandable and very much justified, one wonders why other acts of violence against ethnic and sectarian minorities in Pakistan have not stirred the same outpour of grief and anger that we witness today. Could it be true that we are enraged only when others stand accused of violence against us, but when its Muslim-on-Muslim violence, we are much complacent.
The purpose here is not to undermine the ultimate sacrifice offered by Pakistani soldiers, who continue to lay their lives in hundreds while defending Pakistan against the militant fundamentalists. The motive here is to point out the lack of or, at best, muted response to the senseless violence committed against Ahmadis, Balochis, Christians, Shias and other minorities in Pakistan.
It was only in September 2011 when 29 Shias from Quetta’s Hazara community were killed in a premeditated attack. They were travelling to Iran in a bus that was intercepted near Mustang by armed militants who killed 29 while gravely injured several others. Compared to the anger and grief over the death of 24 soldiers, the reaction to Hazara murders has been mute at best. The list of political and community leaders from Punjab and Sindh who visited Quetta to condole with the Hazaras is very short and did not include any mainstream politician. Not even 50 students from a Punjab-based University marched in solidarity with the Shias of Quetta even when Shia academics were being killed by the unknown assailants (Professor Danish Alam was murdered earlier today). However, thousands marched in Lahore today for the slain soldiers while being led by their professors.
The State’s indifference to the plight of Hazaras drove Syed Nasir Ali Shah, a legislator belonging to the ruling Peoples Party, to stage a month-long sit-in in front of the Parliament. It took Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani a month to react to the protest staged by a member of his own party. On the other hand, the Gilani government reacted with a sharp rebuke to Nato within hours of the attack on troops in Mohmand region.
Hundreds of Shia Hazaras have fallen victim to the terrorist violence perpetrated by the extremist elements belonging to hardline sects of Islam. While many have been killed in dark alleys (who jo tareek raahon main maray gaey), the Hazara community is striving to ensure that the victims of sectarian violence are not forgotten. The community has prepared a list of 435 victims who have been killed since 1999 in sectarian violence. The bulk of killings took place in the past few years. More than 90 Shias from Hazara community have been killed since July 2011 alone.
The list of victims deserves a considerate read and reflection. Hazara community’s sacrifices are indeed supreme. The list includes children as young as five, as well as the elderly. The very unfortunate victims include father and son pairs who met violent death on the same day. A mother and daughter pair met the same fate. Hundreds of dead are young students.
The targeted attacks including bomb blasts have caused havoc in the Hazara community. What to say of a city where places of worship are the most hazardous sites. The July 2003 attack at the old Imam Bargah in Quetta killed 51, including 5-year old Ali Akbar. A year later in March, an attack on the 10th of Muharram killed 36 members of the Hazara community. In September 2010, when Shias marched in Quetta in solidarity with the displaced Arabs, they were rewarded with an attack that left 62 Shia Hazaras dead.
The Hazara community is not safe even in the cemeteries. In May 2011, militants attacked visitors at the Bahisht-e-Zahra cemetery in Hazara Town and killed seven Shias. Even hospitals fail to offer refuge to the community. An attack in April 2010 in Quetta’s Civil Hospital left six Shia Hazaras dead. Earlieri n July 2008, when the community sought legal redress, their lawyer, Ghulam Mustafa Qureshi, was assassinated. Several Hazara police officers, including 13 young cadets, have also become victims of targeted sectarian killings.
If Pakistan’s civil and military leaders are serious about addressing the grievances of the Hazara community, they could take the first step by visiting the two cemeteries in Quetta, Bahisht-e-Zahra in Hazara Town and Bahisht-e-Zainab on Alamdar Road, where the Hazaras have buried over 350 victims of sectarian violence. These cemeteries are a testament to the courage and resilience of a community whose right to live in peace has been violated in the presence of a democratically elected government.
Many in Pakistan believe that the Nato’s attack in Mohmand is an attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty. If sovereignty implies “having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area” then Pakistan has lost sovereignty in most of Balochistan, including Quetta. Hundreds of Shia victims are proof that the State has lost control of Quetta.
The State restores law and order in Quetta. It has to reestablish its writ neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood, street-by-street. It can start with Saryab Road where more than 50 members of Hazara community have been killed in several attacks over the past few years.
Meanwhile Pakistanis have to learn to embrace all victims of violence as equals. While we grieve for our fallen soldiers, we should do the same for the civilian victims of sectarian violence. If our anger and grief is determined not by the innocence of the victims but by their ethnicity and sectarian affiliations, we will continue to drift towards even a more violent future.
Kabul doles out mineral mining rights
Published: Nov. 30, 2011 at 7:21 AM
KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Exploration of mineral deposits in Afghanistan could begin as early as 2015 after Afghan mining ministry officials said new development rights were awarded.
A consortium of Indian companies led by state-owned Steel Authority of India landed a $10.3 billion deal for three mining sites in central Afghanistan, the BBC reports.
U.S. defense officials estimated in 2010 that there could be as much as $1 trillion worth of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and lithium in Afghanistan.
U.S. Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt has said disclosure of the resource potential in Afghanistan might allay concerns about investing in such frontier areas.
A 2007 survey found an estimated 1.5 million metric tons of potential rare earth resources in southern Afghanistan. The international community gets more than 95 percent of its rare earth minerals from China.
Afghan officials said production of iron ore deposits in Bamiyan province could begin in 2015. The awards, they said, represent some of the biggest foreign investments in Afghanistan.
The British broadcaster added that Canadian mining company Kilo Goldmines also secured exploration rights in Afghanistan. The company, in a statement, said it had submitted a bid to explore iron ore deposits in Bamiyan but hadn't been notified by Kabul of the outcome of the bidding process.
UPI
KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Exploration of mineral deposits in Afghanistan could begin as early as 2015 after Afghan mining ministry officials said new development rights were awarded.
A consortium of Indian companies led by state-owned Steel Authority of India landed a $10.3 billion deal for three mining sites in central Afghanistan, the BBC reports.
U.S. defense officials estimated in 2010 that there could be as much as $1 trillion worth of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and lithium in Afghanistan.
U.S. Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt has said disclosure of the resource potential in Afghanistan might allay concerns about investing in such frontier areas.
A 2007 survey found an estimated 1.5 million metric tons of potential rare earth resources in southern Afghanistan. The international community gets more than 95 percent of its rare earth minerals from China.
Afghan officials said production of iron ore deposits in Bamiyan province could begin in 2015. The awards, they said, represent some of the biggest foreign investments in Afghanistan.
The British broadcaster added that Canadian mining company Kilo Goldmines also secured exploration rights in Afghanistan. The company, in a statement, said it had submitted a bid to explore iron ore deposits in Bamiyan but hadn't been notified by Kabul of the outcome of the bidding process.
UPI
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