Defence of Pakistan Day today

Pakistan Defence Day Wallpaper

Defence of Pakistan Day with a renewed pledge to sacrifice everything to defend the geographical and ideological frontiers of the country.

The armed forces have prepared special programmes to celebrate the day in a befitting manner. Seminars and get-togethers have been planned to pay homage to those who sacrificed their lives for the defence of the country.

Political, social and religious organizations will organize seminars to highlight the sacrifices of the armed forces while defending the motherland during the 1965 war.

The Defence of Pakistan Day will start with special prayers for the prosperity and progress of the country.

Newspapers will bring out special supplements while radio and TV channels will beam special programmes to mark the day.

From News Desk

"Defence day of Pakistan will be celebrated with great zeal and fervour"

"PNCA announces 'Defence Day' programmes"

"Government of Pakistan has announced operational awards for the Armed Forces of Pakistan on the occasion of Defence Day of Pakistan 6th September 2009. Details are as follow"

"Pakistan Army will celebrate the Defence of Pakistan Day with a resolve to safeguard the frontiers of the motherland and to live up to the expectations of the nation in testing times."

Stopping to smell roses really can relieve stress

Feeling stressed? Stop and smell the roses. Or perhaps get a good whiff of lavender, lemon, mango, mint, coriander or other fragrant plants.

We`ve all heard the old adage that we should take breaks and "stop and smell the roses" to relieve stress. Now, scientists in Japan have reported the first scientific evidence that inhaling certain fragrances does indeed alter gene activity and blood chemistry in ways that can reduce stress levels.

The study, which appears in the American Chemical Society`s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, exposed lab rats to stressful conditions while inhaling and not inhaling linalool, which is a fragrance found naturally in lavender, mint, coriander, bergamot, lemon, mango and many other fragrant plants. After inhaling linalool, the rats which were exposed to stressful conditions had stress-elevated levels of neutrophils and lymphocytes return to near normal levels (both neutrophils and lymphcytes are key parts of the immune system).

In all, linalool is found in over 200 species of plants, mainly from mints, scented herbs, laurels such as cinnamon and rosewood, and citrus fruits. It is also found in some birch trees and other plants and has even been found in some fungi. The majority of the fragrant plants which contain linalool are noted for having a floral scent with a touch of spiciness.

The scientists also found that inhaling linalool reduced the activity of more than 100 genes that are normally significantly elevated in stressful situations. The findings could form the basis of new blood tests for identifying fragrances that can soothe stress, the researchers say. While linalool has been one of the most widely used substances to ease tension and emotional stress, until the new study the ways in which linalool affected the body had been an unsolved puzzle to scientists.

Aromatherapists have long believed in the power of fragrance to lower stress levels - and aromatherapy for stress relief has been popular for ages, although until the Japanese study there`s been little scientific evidence to support it. Now it appears that just like the advice our mothers and grandmothers gave us to "eat an apple a day to keep the doctor away", the advice "stop and smell the roses" from time to time may be yet another popular bit of old time wisdom that rings true.

In time, perhaps we will also discover proof that many fragrances soothe stress and have other health benefits as well. Who knows, we may even find that fragrances bring back pleasant memories of simpler times, such as the odors of fresh baked breads, apple pies, cinnamon rolls and a nice hot bowl of stew.

Source

Butt does not have clue about handling cricket affairs’

Mr Butt, the World Cup has been taken out of Pakistan and you have disappointed the nation, government and your team—Aamir Sohail
Photo by AP

Former Director, National Cricket Academy (NCA) Aamir Sohail has again lambasted Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt for misleading the board’s patron, the President Asif Ali Zardari, as well as hoodwinking the general masses regarding relocation of the 2011 World Cup matches.

In a hard-hitting statement issued to the press on Wednesday, Aamir said that he was amazed over the audacity of the PCB chairman to be calling Pakistanis naive while also suggesting that they are not aware of the ground realities in his rejoinder carried by the press on Sept 1.

‘Let me assure Mr Ijaz Butt that the people of Pakistan are not naive. Passionate about the sport, they are knowledgeable and fully aware of what is going on in the world of cricket. Instead Mr Ijaz Butt, with all due respect, you are the one wearing the blinkers and do not have a clue about handling the affairs of cricket domestically as well as internationally,’ Aamir said in his statement.

The former Test opener said that Ijaz, from all accounts was ill-prepared for the Executive and IDI board meetings held in April when a decision was taken to remove Pakistan as a host nation, citing security concerns.

‘It appears that Butt Sahib has no worthwhile advisers to help him evolve any strategy at all. If that’s what is lacking, it would have been prudent for Mr Butt to sit with the Governing Board members right after the Sri Lankan incident to evolve a viable course of action to tackle the ensuing crisis rather than giving them a briefing just before surrendering at the last meeting with Mr David Morgan.’

‘Mr Butt also does not seem to know the way issues at international forums are tackled, his letter to the ICC president accusing the CEO of the ICC of influencing members to support IDI’s decision to relocate matches from Pakistan does not go well with the diplomatic norms,’ Aamir added.

Aamir reminded that the PCB chairman had said in his rejoinder: ‘We must not forget that the World Cup is an ICC/IDI event and this body has the right to relocate matches outside of a host country at any point in time and their decision is final.’

But he maintains that it is a fact that Ijaz has admitted that he was naive himself because the same was documented in the Host Submission Agreement signed by all the four co-hosts, including the PCB, and which the worthy chairman did not bother to read before going to the ICC meeting.

He asked: ‘What was the haste in going into a costly wrangle when the result was a foregone conclusion. Whereas the Host Agreement does not say that in case of relocation of matches, the host country will be stripped of the hosting and participating fee?’

The former NCA director also alleged that the ICC forced the PCB to withdraw the court case. Otherwise it would not only deprive the PCB of the hosting fee but also claim the legal cost of the case.

‘Ijaz Butt could have saved a huge amount of Rs7 million wasted on hiring a foreign lawyer. Had Mr Butt or any of his advisers read this Host Submission Agreement earlier, better sense would have prevailed in preventing the PCB from moving the court against the ICC,’ he said.

Taking strong exception to the rejoinder, Aamir criticised the clumsy manner in which the tragic March 3 incident was handled by Ijaz. He added it was a major contributory factor in the subsequent developments vis-a-vis 2011 World Cup.

The co-hosts of the World Cup were not contacted after the incident despite strong advice from some of his staff. Instead he castigated the match referee Chris Broad, which did not go well in the world cricket regulatory body.

Aamir said the PCB didn’t carry out even an in-house discussion to fix responsibility.

He argued foreign teams were reluctant to visit Pakistan on security concerns and Sri Lanka was only lured to come and play here amid assurances of provision of presidential-level security to them.

MoUs were signed with the provincial governments in Sindh and Punjab in order to make sure that whatever is promised to the Sri Lankan team was fully provided because a lot hinged on the successful completion of the Sri Lankan team’s tour to Pakistan.

Aamir alleged that the PCB didn’t show any interest to interact with the government to ensure foolproof security for the visiting team.

Aamir also recalled that a couple of days ago, the PCB Director HR and Administration Wasim Bari, while talking to a television channel, threw the whole blame of the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus on the president of Pakistan and the state.

‘Now when Ijaz Butt blames his own government for the mishap, how can he go on a foreign forum and convince the foreigners there with such kind of statements about the PCB not having anything to do with the attack on the Sri Lankan team?’

Aamir while reminding Ijaz Butt about the incompetent and regrettable manner in which the whole sorry episode was handled, said: ‘Mr Butt, the World Cup has been taken out of Pakistan and you have disappointed the nation, government and your team.

‘Any self-respecting chairman would have stepped down in such circumstances,’ Aamir opined.

Baber Iqbal sets a new record

Little Genius Baber Iqbal sets a new record as the youngest MCTS

President agrees to clip his powers

President Asif Ali Zardari has agreed on transferring his powers with respect to appointment of services chiefs, chairman joint chiefs of staff committee and governors to prime minister and he has informed parliament committee for constitutional reforms on this count.

Sources close to president Asif Ali Zardari told, some federal ministers and close associates of president Asif Ali Zardari, during the party meetings in Karachi and Islamabad had asked him not to withdraw from his power all at once as he would grow weaker this way. On the other hand President Asif Ali Zardari refused to accept their advice saying he wanted restoration of 1973 constitution in its original form and he would deliver his promises made with Mian Nawaz Sharif and his allies in this respect.

President was of the view he made it clear twice in his address to the parliament that it should decide about his powers, therefore, he would agree with parliamentary committee report.

Sources told president had also agreed in principle to undo 58/2-b and 17th amendment while some close aides of the president had advised him not to make the prime minister so stronger. President told that prime minister also belonged to his party.

Sources revealed president has also agreed on making appointments of auditor general of Pakistan, chief election commissioner and other constitutional inductions on the advice of the prime minister.

President had summoned Mian Raza Rabbani, chairman constitutional reforms committee and asked him to work freely and vest powers with the president what are laid down in 1973 constitution.

Online News Network

A taste of vision

Retired Marine Corps Cpl. Mike Jernigan, who lost both eyes in an explosion in Iraq, demonstrates a device called BrainPort, a unique technology that restores 'vision through a sensor placed on his tongue. Its users have revealed that they can make out shapes, and even read signs with fewer than 20 hours training only. -AP

In a groundbreaking innovation, scientists have created an electronic device that may allow blind people to 'see' using their tongues.

The extraordinary technology works by taking pictures filmed by a tiny camera, and turns the information into electrical pulses, which can be felt on the tongue, BBC reported.

Tests have shown that the nerves send messages to the brain, which turn these tingles back into pictures.

The tool, called the BrainPort vision device, resembles a pair of sunglasses attached by cable to a plastic lollipop. Its users have revealed that they can make out shapes, and even read signs with fewer than 20 hours training only.

Scientists behind this innovation say that learning to picture images felt on the tongue is similar to learning to ride a bike.

The device, which collects visual data through a small digital video camera about 2.5cm in diameter, which sits in the middle of a pair of sunglasses worn by the user, could be available for sale later this year. The information is then transmitted to a hand-held control unit, which is about the size of a mobile phone.

Later, the unit converts the digital signal into electrical pulses and sends this to the tongue via the lollipop that sits on the tongue. The lollipop contains a grid of 600 electrodes, which pulsate according to how much light is in that area of the picture.

The control unit also allows users to zoom in and out and control light settings and electric shock intensity.

'At first, I was amazed at what the device could do. One guy started to cry when he saw his first letter,' News.com.au quoted William Seiple, research director at Lighthouse International, which has been testing it, as saying.

Robert Beckman, president of US-based Wicab which is developing the BrainPort, said: 'It enables blind people to gain perception of their surroundings, displayed on their tongue. They cannot necessarily read a book but they can read a sign.'

Beckman is hoping that the device would be used to improve people's mobility and safety. - APP

Pakistan makes promising start at boxing worlds

Pakistan's Mohammed Waseem (blue) lands a punch against Oraz Avzalshoev of Tajikistan (red) during their first preliminary round match in Milan, Italy.

Pakistan made an encouraging start at the world boxing championships in Milan, Italy, when flyweight Mohammed Waseem moved ahead with a convincing victory over Oraz Avzalshoev of Tajikistan in the first preliminary round on Tuesday.

According to information available here, the Pakistani pugilist, who won 13-7 against the Tajik, led from the first bell as he had 4-2 lead in the opening round. Read More

Photo: Fabio Bozzani courtesy of worldboxingmilano.org