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میمو، لاتیں، گھونسے اور فوج کا مورال: تحریر ندیم سعید Published on 17. Dec, 2011 پاکستانی نژاد امریکی منصور اعجاز میمو کی ڈگڈی بجا رہے ہیں اور پوری دنیا بندر کا تماشا دیکھ رہی ہے، یہ بتانے کی ضرورت نہیں کہ اس میں بندر کون ہے۔ پاکستانی قوم جس کا ہمارے دائیں بازو کے پنجابی دانشور ، لکھاری اور صحافی ڈھول بجاتے رہتے ہیں بہت نازک مزاج ہے اور اس سے کہیں زیادہ نازک پنجاب سے ہی تعلق رکھنے والی پاکستانی فوج کا مورال ہے جو بات بات پر گر جاتا ہے۔انہیں پاکستانیوں جو بوجہ تفریح طبع کثرت آبادی کی بنیاد پر سندھیوں ، بلوچوں، پشتونوں اور سرائیکیوں کو اپنے انگوٹھے کے نیچے رکھتے ہیں کااپنا کنٹرول دوسروں کے ہاتھوں میں رہتا ہے، اور بعض اوقات مضحکہ خیز طور پر۔ دنیا کے کسی دوردراز کونے میں چھپنے والی کسی متنازعہ کتاب یا کارٹون سے کاروبار زندگی معطل کر بیٹھتے ہیں اور اپنی ہی املاک کا جلاؤ گھیراؤ کر کے بہادری کی دھاک بیٹھانے کی کوشش کرتے ہیں۔ ایسے بہادروں کی سپاہ اور اس کے سورماؤں کا مورال تو کانچ سے بھی زیادہ نازک واقع ہوا ہے اور اس کا خمیازہ سب بھگتے آ رہے ہیں لیکن اس نزاکت میں کمی واقع ہوتی نظ

BT sues Google over Android 'patent infringements'   BT claims that the Android system, which powers smartphones and tablets, infringes its patents UK-based telecoms group BT is suing Google in the US over claims that six of its patents have been infringed. The British company's complaints centre on technologies at the core of Google's Android mobile system, search site, and a wide range of other services. BT is seeking unspecified damages and an injunction against Google's continued use of its innovations. The move marks the latest patent attack on Android following legal action by Apple, Microsoft, Oracle and others. BT said it currently had a portfolio of around 5,600 patents and patent applications. Its complaint states that it has invested heavily in mobile technologies and related services over the past two decades. It then claims that its resulting patents have been infringed by Google's search engines, Android system, Google+ so

Spain PM Rajoy aims for big deficit cut   Mr Rajoy did not spell out how he would achieve the deficit cut Spain's incoming conservative Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, has promised deep public spending cuts while offering tax breaks for companies. He told the Spanish parliament he aimed to cut the budget deficit by 16.5bn euros (£14bn; $21.6bn) next year. He said his Popular Party (PP) government would make more companies eligible for low corporate tax rates. Last month the PP won elections by a wide margin, ousting the Socialist Party amid deep economic gloom. The unemployment rate is nearly 23% and Mr Rajoy said it would be his government's priority to create jobs. The 5.4m jobless figure is the highest in the EU and the rate among under-25s is about 46%. New target Mr Rajoy's plans mean getting the budget deficit down to 4.4% of GDP next year, in contrast to the 6% target set by the previous Socialist government for this year after 9.2

Syria signs Arab League deal to allow in monitors Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem: "We do not seek to waste time. It is us seeking a solution" Syria has signed an agreement to allow observers to monitor its implementation of an Arab League initiative to end the crackdown on anti-government protests. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said the Arab League had accepted amendments demanded by Damascus. The Arab League had threatened to ask the UN Security Council to adopt its peace plan to end the crackdown, which has left more than 5,000 people dead. Syria's opposition coalition dismissed the government's decision as a "ploy". Human rights activists said security forces had killed at least six civilians on Monday, including three in al-Quriya, near the south-eastern city of Deir al-Zour. They were shot dead during clashes between troops and army defectors, the London-based Syrian

India keeps interest rates on hold at 8.5%   The value of the rupee has fallen to an all-time low against the dollar on fears for the Indian economy The Reserve Bank of India has held interest rates at 8.5%, interrupting a long period of rate increases. The widely expected decision reflects concern at the weakness of the economy. Inflation remains high, although the rate of wholesale price rises fell to 9.1% in November from 9.7% a month earlier, data on Wednesday showed. Despite the central bank raising rates 13 times since March, the value of the Indian rupee fell to another all-time low against the dollar this week. The currency's weakness, which has been driven by weakening economic data, has pushed up the price of imported goods in India, fueling inflation. March decision? "The central bank is walking a very tight rope," said Jagannadham Thunuguntla, head of research at SMC Global Securities, in New Delhi. "They are battling too many c

Data storm: Making government data pay By Michael Cross Technology reporter   Data storm: EU governments may have to open their archives - which could include weather information - to business Here's the good news: Europe's fiscally squeezed governments are sitting on assets that could be worth 40bn euros ($52bn, £33.6bn) a year. The bad news is that, to realise those assets' full potential, governments have to give them away. For free, and without licensing conditions, to all comers, including multi-national corporations as well as to local start-ups. The assets are gargantuan archives of data that public administrations generate in the course of their public tasks. Such so-called public sector information can range from data sets about the weather and the natural environment to great works of historic art. Open opportunities Earlier this week, the vice president of the European Commission, Neel

EU and IMF end informal Hungary debt talks   Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has pursued an unorthodox economic policy The European Commission and the IMF have cut short informal aid talks with Hungary due to worries over the independence of its central bank. Hungary had been seeking a standby credit line of 15-20bn euros ($19.5bn, £12.6bn) in case it ran into trouble issuing new debt. In November its credit rating was downgraded to 'junk' status by Moody's. EU negotiators objected to a proposed law which they said would compromise the independence of the central bank. "Unfortunately we did not receive assurances concerning the intentions of the Hungarian government, (which went on) to push forward in parliament the vote on the law that could potentially undermine the independence of the central bank," said European Commission spokesman Amadeu Altafaj. Bank governor Andras Simor has said the proposed bill amounts to a takeover of the