Day: June 9, 2024

France invites several states to join military training efforts in Ukraine  Ukrainska Pravda

Предприниматель хотел перенять опыт пользователей Telegram, чтобы улучшить работу мессенджера.

До 80% дорожно-транспортных происшествий случаются по вине водителей, которые опасно водят.

Надежды украинского президента Владимира Зеленского, возложенные на форум, не оправдаются.

Кордоны полиции не пропустили демонстрантов к зданию парламента.

The commemoration of significant historical events often serves as a poignant reminder of a nation’s resilience and determination. Among the milestones in Pakistan’s history, the Youm-i-Takbir, marking the nation’s nuclear tests in May 1998, stands as a testament to Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to national sovereignty and security. However, the genesis of Pakistan’s nuclear journey dates back to decades earlier, rooted in the imperatives of strategic deterrence and regional stability.

Historial realities and Pakistan’s inherited rivalry hold significance in Pakistan going nuclear. The aftermath of Pakistan’s independence in 1947 and significantly the Kashmir issue created a security dilemmas in South Asia. Confronted with a larger, militarily potent neighbour and historical grievances, Pakistan grappled with threats to its sovereignty and strategic vulnerabilities. The loss of its eastern wing in the 1971 war underscored the imperative of strategic parity and deterrence against India’s conventional superiority. Thus, Pakistan’s decision to pursue a nuclear weapons option, catalyzed by India’s nuclear tests in 1974, was a rational response to safeguard national security interests and restore strategic balance in the region.

Pakistan’s nuclear program evolved amidst geopolitical complexities and regional power dynamics. The quest for strategic parity and deterrence against India’s nuclear advancements necessitated a concerted effort to acquire nuclear technology and capabilities. Despite global skepticism and adversity, Pakistan remained steadfast in its pursuit, culminating in successful nuclear tests in 1998. These tests not only neutralized India’s conventional advantage but also established Pakistan as a credible nuclear deterrent force, ensuring stability and preventing all-out conflict in South Asia.

India’s nuclear posture with relation to Pakistan is comprised of various critical aspects. To begin with, India is aggressively modernizing;and strengthening;its nuclear capabilities. Second, India is employing;limited military tactics against Pakistan, and staying below the nuclear threshold.;Importantly, India’s long-standing “no first use” policy on nuclear weapons is possibly being;reevaluated. ;India offensive posture,;taking proactive counterforce actions against Pakistan, creates concerns about inadvertent escalation.;

Pakistan’s nuclear policy, characterized by principles of restraint and responsibility, serves as a crucial deterrent against India’s aggressive nuclear posture. Pakistan’s progression towards establishing a triad of nuclear forces within its full-spectrum deterrence posture, particularly in response to India’s augmented naval nuclear capabilities, serves as a strategic countermeasure against India’s military dominance. This evolution from strategic to full-spectrum deterrence aims to deter and counter India’s military advancements and limited warfare policy. The incorporation of comprehensive deterrent strategy within the concept of “minimum credible deterrence” underscores Pakistan’s commitment to bolstering its deterrence capabilities. By incorporating a triad of nuclear forces, Pakistan aims to enhance the credibility and effectiveness of its deterrence across various potential conflict scenarios, ensuring the protection of its national security interests amidst regional power dynamics.

Beyond its military implications, Pakistan’s nuclear program has contributed significantly to socio-economic development and national prosperity. Nuclear technology, harnessed for peaceful purposes, has addressed energy needs, enhanced healthcare services, improved agricultural productivity, and advanced industrial development. With six nuclear power plants operating within its borders, Pakistan generates a substantial portion of its electricity for promoting energy security. Moreover, nuclear technology finds diverse applications in agriculture, healthcare, water resource management, and industrial processes, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering sustainable development.

Pakistan’s nuclear program represents a triumph of national resilience, strategic prudence, and socio-economic development. By acquiring nuclear capabilities, Pakistan has ensured its security, deterred aggression, and maintained regional stability in South Asia. The peaceful applications of nuclear technology have contributed to Pakistan’s sustainable development goals. As Pakistan navigates the complexities of the global arena, its nuclear policy remains anchored in principles of restraint, deterrence, and socio-economic progress, ensuring stability amidst evolving challenges.

Pakistan, already suffering from cost-pushed-inflation, faces two challenges. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has to make a difficult decision of cutting interest rate for making debt servicing sustainable.

The business community is already jittery due to likely introduction of new taxes, no reduction in interest rate, but more distressing hike in electricity and gas tariffs.;

Analysts believe, Pakistan’s current account just can’t be improved without restoring competitiveness of the local manufacturers.

During this past week, Moody’s statement suggesting a status quo in the upcoming MPC meeting exerted some pressure on the stock market.

Looking ahead, the upcoming MPC meeting on June 10 will be in the spotlight, with any rate cut expected to shift the market’s focus towards cyclical sectors.

More than two years into the;steepest;interest-rate tightening cycle in decades, central banks around the world are grappling with how fast to unwind the policy.;Policymakers from South Korea;to Canada are weighing progress on slowing inflation, and some have started cutting rates.

Policymakers in Latin America have been trimming since earlier this year. While that;all marks a major milestone, price pressures have;proven stubborn, a strong dollar has roiled developing nations;and geopolitical tensions have added a layer of uncertainty to the post-pandemic economic recovery.

US Federal Reserve officials will meet next week and are widely expected to hold interest rates steady;as the;US economy hums along and the labor market keeps firing on;all thrusters.;

The Labor Department data this week suggesting last year’s payroll gains might not have been as robust as first counted,;there’s now the risk;that Fed Chair Jerome Powell and his colleagues could keep monetary policy too tight for;too long.

Even as the Fed’s;central bank peers;diverge;(the en-vogue;term for the current;unwinding cycle), rate cuts by the European Central Bank and the Bank of Canada “are less bold departures and more like components of a mosaic,” Daniel Moss;writes;in;Bloomberg Opinion. “Harmony has been breaking down for a while.”

Feudalism managed to survive in different stages of its history.  As a social, economic, political, and cultural system that emerged in the Middle Ages, has shown remarkable resilience by adapting and transforming throughout history. In contemporary times, it has reinvented itself in the form of techno-feudalism.

This modern iteration is dominated by platform companies that dominate and control various aspects of economic activities of producers, consumers, and distributers. These companies extract rent from producers, consumers, and distributors, influencing the economic activities of individuals, societies, states, and governments. The pervasive reach of these online platforms underscores the enduring nature of feudal structures, albeit in a new, technologically driven context. 

Like medieval feudalism, technological feudalism does not produce tangible goods and services but instead survives through the accumulation of rent. While medieval feudal lords extracted agricultural produce and labour from serfs, techno-feudal lords extract value through data and user engagement on digital platforms. Both systems thrive by leveraging their control over resources and populations to generate wealth, not by producing anything themselves but by appropriating the productivity and creativity abilities of the working masses.;

The owners of tech corporations and online platform companies have become the new landlords of the digital age. They exert significant control over individuals, societies, and political systems, effectively enslaving them. By fostering a culture that controls the creative abilities of working people, these tech giants ensure their dominance. Moreover, they actively reshape legal systems to maintain their influence and control over every sphere of life and the planet. This modern form of feudalism underscores the power and reach of these feudal corporate entities in the contemporary world.

The accumulation of rent has been a central feature of feudalism throughout all stages of its history. This principle, which originally manifested through the collection of agricultural produce and labour from serfs, has evolved over time. In modern iterations, such as techno-feudalism, rent accumulation is evident in the control and monetisation of digital spaces by tech corporations. Whether in medieval manors or contemporary online platforms, the core mechanism remains the same: extracting rent from dependent or subordinate groups to enhance the wealth and power of the feudal ruling and non-ruling entities.

Techno-consumers of social media are akin to free slaves, labouring for the rental profits of social media company owners. Despite the perception of freedom and choice, these users are, in reality, contributing to the wealth of the digital platform owners through their engagement and data generation. This dynamic reflects a modern form of exploitation, where the users’ activities and personal information are commodified for corporate gain.

Technofeudalism is designed to subjugate working people and manipulate their consciousness to serve the interests of techno-feudal lords, all under the guise of technological progress. This system thrives without fostering genuine technological education, skills, and consciousness among the masses, primarily due to digital divides and the lack of availability and accessibility of technology for all. The technological barriers are intentionally crafted to create an army of unemployed workforce that remains perpetually available to work for low wages and under unfavourable working conditions imposed by the techno-feudals. This dynamic perpetuates inequality and exploitation, reinforcing the dominance of the tech elites.

Digital capitalism in all its forms, along with technofeudalism in all its iterations, complement each other to survive and thrive together, often at the expense of people and their planet. This symbiotic relationship enables these systems to exploit resources, labour, and data, prioritising rental profit over the well-being of individuals and the environment. As they reinforce each other’s structures and practices, they create a landscape where the interests of the few dominate, leading to increasing inequality, exploitation, and environmental degradation.

The working-class control over technology, the democratisation of digital platforms and technological infrastructure, the availability and accessibility of technological education and skills for all, and the prioritisation of technology for people rather than profit are some of the immediate alternatives to ensure technological progress that upholds the interests of the masses. Through these concerted efforts, working people can harness technology as a tool for societal advancement and empowerment, ensuring that its benefits are accessible to all members of society, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

The cessation of the rent-seeking culture inherent in digital capitalism and technofeudalism stands as a pivotal factor in fostering the development of technology for the benefit of all, thereby ensuring the cultivation of a progressive technological consciousness. By dismantling the barriers erected by rent-seeking behaviours within these systems, working people can pave the way for equitable access to technological advancements. This inclusivity not only democratises innovation but also nurtures a collective awareness of the transformative power of technology, empowering individuals, and communities alike to actively engage with and shape the trajectory of technological progress and future.

Albert Einstein was the first modern-day celebrity and, decades after his death, still has the world’s most recognizable face. His influence is seen in much of the technology we use every day: GPS, remote controls, weather forecasts, even toothpaste.

But it’s not just Einstein’s scientific discoveries that continue to shape our world. His legacy underpins the search for aliens, the rescue of refugees, the invention of time machines, and the debunking of fake news. He appears in new books, TV shows, and movies all the time―and fans are paying millions for Einstein relics at auction.

Award-winning author and journalist Benyamin Cohen has a bizarre side hustle as the manager of Einstein’s official social media accounts, which have 20 million followers―more than most living celebrities.

In The Einstein Effect, Cohen embarks on a global quest to unearth Einstein’s ongoing relevance today. Along the way, he meets scientists and celebrities, speaks to dozens with the last name Einstein (including two rabbis), and even tracks down the brain of Einstein, stolen from his body during the autopsy.

Cohen shows us the myriad ways the Nobel Prize winner’s influence is still with us, giving an in-depth―and often hilarious―look at the world’s favorite genius like you’ve never seen him before.