Let's Prepare for CSS 2012 Current Affairs!
 

slam to all css 2012 aspirants,
i am going to start a new thread here we all css 2012 aspirants post latest news+articles regarding Curren Affairs only so that with the passage of time we become fimiliar with all the current affairz of international world as well as of pakistan.its january 2011 inshaAllah till next YEAR we will try to cover up this paper!!
HOW ZAT??
i am starting this by posting an article

[B]Hijab makes a return in Tunisia[/B]

By Yvonne Ridley


Something really wonderful happened outside the Tunisian Embassy in London the other day as a crowd of us gathered to continue the demand for justice in the people's revolution.

I was standing next to a woman, and, with tears in her eyes she revealed she had been inside the embassy that morning to get passports for herself and her family. Her face looked vaguely familiar but I could not remember where we had met previously.

Just a few weeks ago she would not have been allowed to put one foot over the threshold but this time she was welcomed like a long lost daughter and given the red carpet treatment by the embassy staff - one even asked if she wanted to meet the Ambassador. The more she talked the more I knew that we had met previously, but where?

Then we began speculating about the deposed dictator Zine el Abidine Ben Ali and his truly awful wife Leila who, we now know thanks to Wikileaks, fancied her chances of becoming the next leader of Tunisia when her ageing husband either stood down or expired.

We both laughed at the irony of the location of their current bolt-hole … Saudi Arabia, The Land of the Two Holy Mosques and wondered how Ben Ali and Leila Trabelsi were coping with hearing the athan, or call to prayer, five times a day.

They had banned the athan from being played on state television, shunned fasting during Ramadan and dismissed the hijab as being a foreign import and not part of the Tunisian culture. Let's just say they made it up as they went along and if they wanted fatwas they would wheel out their tame and obliging $cholars for Dollars.

Ben Ali, a brute of a man who made words and phrases like torture, detention without trial, political and religious persecution commonplace in Tunisia, is also credited with ripping off the hijab from the heads of Muslim women. He banned them from wearing their scarves in schools, hospitals and universities and other public places.

He saw that the Holy Quran was banned and desecrated in the cages and dungeons where prisoners of conscience are beaten if they dared to pray outside of allotted times.

His brutal regime brought in happy clappy clerics whose narcotic-style preaching in praise of Ben Ali and his corrupt government certainly had the desired effect … it drove God-fearing worshippers out of the mosques.

No wonder the Muslim youth no longer clamored to get into masjids on Fridays to listen to these khateebs, who spent half the khutbah praising the President and his followers.

To our Christian friends, put it this way - can you imagine sitting in a church pew listening to some vicar or priest urging you to thank God for Tony Blair, George W Bush or Donald Rumsfeld and **** Cheney? Exactly!

My sister and I both wondered how Leila would view having to wear a black abaya, all enveloping cloak and veil, every time she steps outside her new home in Jeddah. I'm sure the Saudi religious police will be on hand to give the former hairdresser some encouragement.

Of all the places in the world those two had probably expected to end up I think it's a fair bet Saudi was nowhere near the top of their list as they boarded the flight from Tunisia.

In fact what wouldn't I have given to see the expressions on their faces as the pilot delivered the bad news? Sorry, we can't get clearance for London, Paris, New York, Monaco or Geneva but how does Jeddah sound?

It was Ben Ali's barbaric actions and abuse of the most basic human rights which prompted me to first go and stand outside the Tunisian Embassy in London way back in November 2006 and protest in defense of our Tunisian sisters ... and their right to practice Islam.

This man and his godless wife despised the religion of their birth so much and everything it represented that they did their best to turn the country in to a secular state.

Did they do it to please themselves or the western powers which courted them and pretended to be their best ever friends?

I remember in February 2009 driving through Tunisia with the Viva Palestina convoy encountering literally hundreds of Ben Ali's henchmen who did everything in their power to stop us from praying and attending Friday prayers.

The horrified expressions on their faces when we stopped our vehicles in the middle of the road and prayed in the street is something I will remember forever.

I recounted the tale to the sister outside the embassy and again we both laughed at the ultimate irony Ben Ali and the light-fingered Leila (she is reported to have looted 1.5 tons of gold as she fled) were now languishing in Saudi.

How poignant, having been shunned by their fickle friends in the West, it was Muslims who came to their rescue. Forgiveness is a major element in Islam and while it is far too early for Tunisians to even begin to think about that F-word, the ex-president and his wife should be grateful that some Muslims are prepared to show them the sort of mercy Ben Ali and Leila could never show their own people.

Now that he, in particular, has time to reflect on the brutalization of hijab-wearing sisters, practicing brothers and human rights campaigners, I wonder if he will discover the beauty of real Islam and not the distorted, diluted version he tried to force on his people.

I turned to the woman outside the embassy and wondered out loud if Leila will ever discover the beauty of the hijab. The words were barely out of my mouth when I suddenly recognized this woman.

We had first met in 2006, outside the Tunisian Embassy in London, at a protest. She had told me at the time in graphic detail of her own detention, abuse and torture at the hands of Ben Ali's thugs.

I will never forget her dramatic words back then as she said in a shaky voice, “I came to London with my hijab still in my pocket.” I remember being moved to tears by her story.

And now she is planning to return but with her head held high and wearing her hijab with pride.

* British journalist Yvonne Ridley is the European President of the International Muslim Women's Union as well as being a presenter on the Rattansi and Ridley show and The Agenda on Press TV

It is a great idea, but a bit too early, reading articles in regard to other subjects are good but it is not wise to prepare current affair paper from now on, that is just my opinion.

[QUOTE=zwan;259054]It is a great idea, but a bit too early, reading articles in regard to other subjects are good but it is not wise to prepare current affair paper from now on, that is just my opinion.[/QUOTE]
Not early i think its the suitable time to start as CA is that subject of which all the aspirants remian worried till exams

I would like to modify the post
 

Yeah, issues would change till the exams, but I agree to the extent that background remains the same, all the issues are inter related, so atleast we would have a background regarding all the issues. And seniors would agree that if we analyse the last three exams, affairs are almost same, but their aspects have been changed.
So, I would like to modify the post:
What to prepare from Current Affairs?

[QUOTE=mjkhan;259247]i think the right time to start is after CE 2011...however as it is CE so the more we have the better it is...so i am in..lets have an assault[/QUOTE]
i am posting articles regarding EGYPT CRISIS,hope it will be useful to all aspirants
of 2011+2012

[B]Egypt Crisis a Diplomatic, Economic and Military Headache[/B]

Commentary
By Iain Martin The nervousness detectable in the statements emanating from various foreign ministries is understandable. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office in particular has plenty of experience of how a crisis in Egypt can turn ugly with destabilizing consequences. Think of the 1950s emergence of Nasser, the conflict over Suez and the aftermath of military action.

The U.S. administration is having to proceed very carefully in pursuit of a peaceful outcome, apparently giving covert encouragement to the protesters against President Hosni Mubarak while hoping that any change of government doesn’t end up with Egypt becoming a dangerous theocracy. The moderate reformers campaigning to get Mubarak out could eventually be swept aside by zealots.

This is one of those weekends when foreign ministers cannot do all that much beyond issuing statements saying they are monitoring the situation. It is in the balance. History, and the study of various politicians’ memoirs, tells us that “monitoring the situation” translates as “we are watching the television pictures from Egypt, telephoning fellow foreign ministers from friendly countries who are also watching television coverage of Egypt and having conversations with our staff on the ground, who sensibly have locked the doors and are watching the local news on television.”

Once the initial excitement fades, about what might be the middle-eastern equivalent of 1989’s velvet revolution against communism, grave concerns are likely to start surfacing publicly in the days ahead. Indeed, the mounting casualty numbers from Egypt since the protests began suggest this uprising is not guaranteed to follow the Eastern European pattern.

The uprising could end up having a peaceful outcome with the emergence of a government under a leadership that can hold back any future fundamentalist surge. But don’t bet on it. There are multiple dangers and questions to consider.

1) Israel. To put it mildly, the only democracy in the region is not going to be relaxed about any new Egyptian government that might take a more confrontational approach on Israel’s right to exist. The Americans will urge restraint, but Israel has not in the past been afraid to takes action when it feels threatened.

2) As my colleague Steve Fidler points out, Egypt’s Suez canal is still a major pinch point in the global economy. Substantial amounts of trade and oil still move through it. Any disruption (if the movement for change turned into a violent revolution), even for a very brief period, could have consequences for the world economy in terms of rattling nerves and knocking confidence. If trade was disrupted for any serious length of time by a revolution, a diplomatic or military solution would have to be engineered.

3) How easy would that be? Not very. Any military intervention — to hold back the Israelis in the form of peace-keeping or to keep trade flowing through the canal — would be nightmarishly problematic. If it came to that then cue huge amounts of hot air at the U.N. and pressure on President Obama. Just when foreign entanglements are out of fashion in Washington, London, Paris and, of course, Brussels. But the U.S. would still find itself looked to for a solution, despite all the talk of its waning influence. Could it put together any kind of (what’s the phrase?) “coalition of the willing” to tackle the crisis? In such a hypothetical situation Chinese and American interests might actually be aligned — with the flow of trade threatened. But Iran is nearby. And energy rich Russia takes a very different view of the region from the U.S.

All in all, a peaceful culmination of the extraordinary events taking place in Egypt has a lot to recommend it.

courtesy, WALL STREET JOURNAL;

[U]Online activism fuels Egypt protest

Online social networks being used by activists to communicate and organise anti-government protests.

Fatma Naib Last Modified: 28 Jan 2011 11:50 GMT
Egyptian authorities have blocked internet and mobile services in a bid to quell anti-government protests, but the measures may have come a bit too late.

Activists spread the word online about Friday's protests, detailing the list of public squares where people should gather.

Calls for action circulated on Twitter and Facebook since early on Friday morning.

Twitter user rassdwda wrote: "#Egypt protests begin from mosques & churches, #Muslims #Christians 2gether#Jan25".

Another user named eacusa tweeted: "#Jan25 #Egypt Good news, morale in Cairo still high, veteran activists from 60s & 70s r spreading knowledge of predigital ways 2 coordinate."

In the hours before the internet was unplugged, activists used social media inside the country and relayed their messages using contacts in other countries.

Online activists from Tunisia shared information about how protesters could pour Coca-Cola on their faces as a method of protecting themselves if police use tear gas. Others offered help by submitting emergency numbers for use in case protesters are arrested.

A youth group that calls itself the April 6th Movement distributed 20,000 leaflets late on Thursday outlining a basic blueprint of where to go and what supplies to take. They urged people to distribute the information through emails and in person rather than Facebook and Twitter to avoid government interference.

No revolution, no democracy

Other Twitter users sent messages to boost protesters' morale, offering tweets of support and solidarity from countries such as Japan and the United States .

Takamit7 wrote: "Without revolution, there is no democracy. Without internet, there is no freedom. We Japanese support you!!?#Egyptian"

Some users offered ideas about how to bypass the government's technological crackdown by logging on to the internet with proxy servers.

Users outside Egypt urged fellow citizens to write to their politicians to put pressure on the Egyptian government.

Alihabibi1 wrote:"If you are in the #USA, call your congress representatives to unlock internet and phone networks in #Egypt!"

Others living abroad offered to dedicate their account all day to sending messages on behalf of people via the phone like journalist Mona Eltahawy who wrote: "#Egyptians: Friday I I'll b on #Twitter ALL DAY: if social media blocked write to me [email]eltahawy67@gmail.com[/email] and I'll spread word. #Jan25".

Eerie Cairo

The very few Egyptians that had some online connection offered an insight into how the streets looked in Cairo. A user named anonymous wrote:"Just had a peek outside the window this Friday morning. Everything looks quiet so far in Tahrir square, I don't see any police #jan25".

Others tweeted of an eerie Cairo, though the mood was likely to change after midday prayers. The mood was echoed online: After 12:30 am on Friday morning, when the government shutdown began, Twitter and Facebook became online ghost towns, with the vast majority of users inside Egypt disappearing.

Even Al Jazeera correspondent Ayman Mohyeldin wrote minutes before the total blockade: "Internet service down across #egypt #jan25. Will be tweeting on Friday by alternative means."

Others expressed their disappointment. Mona Eltahawy wrote:"Friday Jan 28 historical day in #Egypt: #Mubarak dictator of 3 decades shuts down internet bec scared of youth-organized protests #Jan25."


Source: Al Jazeera




[/U]

[QUOTE=Usman Cheema;259213]Its too early to prepare for the current affairs for 2012. Current affairs should be the last paper to prepare.

Regards,[/QUOTE]
Dear it is the most suitable time to start current affair prep. Dont consider current affair just one paper, this will make your essay, islamiat, pak affairs, IR, and some others paper too. The most important paoer is of current affairs and this is the right time to start it.

[QUOTE=islah_G;259500]Dear it is the most suitable time to start current affair prep. Dont consider current affair just one paper, this will make your essay, islamiat, pak affairs, IR, and some others paper too. The most important paoer is of current affairs and this is the right time to start it.[/QUOTE]

you are right...but in my point of view,its time to cover other subjects...as afar as C.A is concerned CE 2012 aspirants should just keep intouch with Dawn,Express newspapers....I know Current Affairs is not just a paper,it will cover all compulsory as well as it gives you a strong support in your optional subjects but its too early to talk about the important topics or aspects of the CE 2012 Current Affairs' paper....if CE 2012'aspirants,want to start its prep from now then they should opt following strategy...study of Organisations,..Pak Relations with other countries....Palestine,Kashmir and Iran quagmire......listen news daily,watch quality talk shows to develop their critical point of view regarding every important issue....(all CE 2012 aspirants should take part in the discussion section of Css forum..)
Regards

[QUOTE=islah_G;259500]Dear it is the most suitable time to start current affair prep. Dont consider current affair just one paper, this will make your essay, islamiat, pak affairs, IR, and some others paper too. The most important paoer is of current affairs and this is the right time to start it.[/QUOTE]
[B]Cables show close US ties with Mubarik[/B]
WASHINGTON: Secret US embassy cables sent from Cairo in the past two years reveal that the Obama administration wanted to maintain a close political and military relationship with the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, who is now facing a popular uprising.

A frank briefing note in May 2009 ahead of Mubarak's trip to Washington, leaked by WikiLeaks, reported that the Egyptian president had a dismal opinion of Obama's predecessor, George Bush.

"The Egyptians want the visit to demonstrate that Egypt remains America's 'indispensable Arab ally', and that bilateral tensions have abated. President Mubarak is the proud leader of a proud nation ... Mubarak is 81 years old and in reasonably good health; his most notable problem is a hearing deficit in his left ear. He responds well to respect for Egypt and for his position, but is not swayed by personal flattery," the cable said.

"Mubarak peppers his observations with anecdotes that demonstrate both his long experience and his sense of humor ... During his 28-year tenure, he survived at least three assassination attempts, maintained peace with Israel, weathered two wars in Iraq and post-2003 regional instability, intermittent economic downturns, and a manageable but chronic internal terrorist threat.

"He is a tried and true realist, innately cautious and conservative, and has little time for idealistic goals. Mubarak viewed President Bush as naive, controlled by subordinates, and totally unprepared for dealing with post-Saddam Iraq, especially the rise of Iran's regional influence."

It predicted that if Mubarak were still alive for Egypt's next presidential election in 2011, "it is likely he will run again and, inevitably, win". The most likely contender to succeed him was his son Gamal, the cable suggested.

Another cable, dated 23 February 2009, described a meeting between Gamal and the maverick US senator Joe Lieberman. Lieberman is said to have listened as the president's son expounded on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Iran's growing regional influence and how Saddam Hussein – for all his flaws – was a bulwark against Iranian ambitions.

Another cable, from March 2009, shows the US's astonishingly intimate military relationship with Egypt. Washington provides Cairo $1.3bn annually in foreign military finance (FMF) to purchase US weapons and defence equipment, and the cable said.

"President Mubarak and military leaders view our military assistance programme as the cornerstone of our mil-mil relationship and consider the $1.3bn in annual FMF as 'untouchable compensation' for making and maintaining peace with Israel.

"The tangible benefits to our mil-mil relationship are clear: Egypt remains at peace with Israel, and the US military enjoys priority access to the Suez canal and Egyptian airspace."

Sunday January 30, 2011
THE NEWS WIKILIKS DIPLOMATIC DISCLOSURE

[QUOTE=Maha Khan;259513]you are right...but in my point of view,its time to cover other subjects...as afar as C.A is concerned CE 2012 aspirants should just keep intouch with Dawn,Express newspapers....I know Current Affairs is not just a paper,it will cover all compulsory as well as it gives you a strong support in your optional subjects but its too early to talk about the important topics or aspects of the CE 2012 Current Affairs' paper....if CE 2012'aspirants,want to start its prep from now then they should opt following strategy...study of Organisations,..Pak Relations with other countries....Palestine,Kashmir and Iran quagmire......listen news daily,watch quality talk shows to develop their critical point of view regarding every important issue....(all CE 2012 aspirants should take part in the discussion section of Css forum..)
Regards[/QUOTE]
yeah u right Maha, it is too early to talk about imp topics foe CE-2012, but we know that there are some big issues awaiting soloutions plus international relations, if some one start his prepration from what he has to do.....
Thorugh study the background of every issue and relationship between states from historical perspective, make notes of that and then with the passage of time update those.
for example we have the water issuse with india, so a ancent in prepration need to read the history of water issue between india and pakistan, its importance, the water accord, the events happend till 2011 regarding the issue, and then with the course of time if any developmet comes, update it.

That would enable everyone well prepared not only for current affair but also for essay and other papers.
And one thing is to be kept in mind that the most imp paper is essay, it can make u and viceversa.

United nationz agenda for 2011 unveiled
 

The United Nations Organization (UNO) today presented its priorities for 2011, among which are issues such as sustainable development, climate change, gender equality, global security, human rights, social and crisis response to nuclear disarmament. The agenda of priorities was presented by the secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, to the 192-member UN General Assembly. Ban said that if 2010 was a challenging year for the United Nations, 2011 will be even more, but stated that the success achieved in any of these items does not belong to a single person.

“It depends on all of us together. It is crucial generational progress has occurred in recent years. We will continue our commitment to the initiative and leadership as essential to meet this ambitious agenda, “he said.

With respect to actions for a sustainable and inclusive development, Ban said that people are worried about your job, your safety on the future of children. Respect to climate change, UN Secretary General stated that ‘it is growing fast again,’ and said it was necessary to ‘take action on the matter. “

On the issue of gender equality is to combat violence against women and increase the number of female leaders at the UN because these issues, climate change, development, peace and security, involving the woman’s vision, the world will get better results.

As rescue and promotion of global security, the fourth priority, Ban Ki-moon said the UN’s efforts to seek democracy in Ivory Coast and peacekeeping operations undertaken by the international organization in Sudan. The fifth and sixth issues are priorities for advancing the human rights issue, in terms of promotion and to respond to humanitarian crises as in the case of earthquake devastated Haiti and floods in Pakistan.