The New Nation - Internet Edition

For early solution of BCS crisis

THE Council of Advisers on Sunday assigned the cabinet committee on administrative reform and good governance to review the disputed issues of the 27th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Examination. The government asked the committee to submit its suggestions with a view to solving the longstanding problem within the shortest possible time.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) had published in January 2007 the result of the 27th BCS examination in which more than sixteen thousand candidates had taken part. But against allegations of irregularities in the selection process, PSC cancelled the viva voce results on May 30 last year at the recommendation of the Council of Advisers. Fresh viva voce examination was held from July 27 last year through May 18 this year. PSC published the second phase of the result and recommended 3,239 candidates for appointment in cadre posts. The government took the decision of further review as a group of candidates who qualified earlier found themselves disqualified and started a strong movement.

Exactly three years have passed since the preliminary test for the 27th BCS examination was held in November 2005. The issue still remains to be solved. The Public Service Commission is a statutory body that acts independently of others. PSC should not have taken such a long time to take a decision. Nobody demands wonders from it. But three years were enough for the PSC to solve the crisis that involves the fate of so many educated youths. PSC itself seems to be in doubt about the process of the 27th BCS examination. In that case, the youths who qualified have a natural right to get the benefits of doubts. Not only the whole selection process needs to be reviewed, it should also be seen as to why PSC failed to identify the irregularities, if any.

GM mosquitoes to prevent malaria

SCIENTISTS have genetically modified mosquitoes in a cramped humid laboratory in London recently for combating malaria as the Associated Press news agency reported. Malaria kills nearly three million people worldwide every year, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Faced with a losing battle against the killer disease, scientists are increasingly exploring new avenues that might have seemed far-fetched just a few years ago. Millions of bed-nets have been handed out, and villages across the African continent have been doused with insecticide. But those measures have not put a significant dent in malaria cases. After a string of failed initiatives, the United Nations announced a campaign to provide bed-net to anyone who needs them by 2010. Some scientists think creating mutant mosquitoes resistant to the disease might work better.

World Health Organisation experts say, 'the malaria burden is increasing'. Under such circumstances, the WHO would have to investigate whether genetically modified mosquitoes could make a difference. Some organisations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation found the work so promising that they have invested millions of dollars into genetic strategies to stop mosquitoes from transmitting diseases like malaria and dengue fever. Mosquitoes bred to be immune to malaria could break the disease's transmission cycle.

In 2005, it was found possible to create a genetically modified mosquito by inserting a gene that glowed fluorescent green in males. Among other possibilities, a team of researchers is now planning to create sterile male mosquitoes to mate with wild female mosquitoes, thus stunting population growth. The researchers are also trying to engineer a malaria-resistant mosquito. Last year, American researchers created mosquitoes resistant to a type of malaria that infects mice. Others are altering the DNA of the mosquitoes that spread dengue.

Reemergence of Russia as superpower

Musa Khan Jalalzai

Russia's resurgence as a strategic actor and a new cold war player is widely discussed in the United Kingdom and Asia. Russia Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during his presidency made unbelievable economic and military progress. In UK intellectual circle, the resurgence of Russia in the international arena is considered a big issue of the near future. Russia's new policy direction - and particularly its nascent interest in alternative energy - is important because Russia is such a large energy exporter.

The re-emergence of Russia on international arena and more importantly Putin's intellectual approach to developing a foreign policy, has presented an issue for the world to think about.

Russia under the leadership of President Putin outlined a new policy for central Asian region. President Medvedev has recently enunciated five principles of Russian foreign policy. A number of contradictions are built into them. Medvedev, unlike Putin, is more willing to try to implement changes in world policy. He believes there is a lot to change.

During his Presidency, Vladimir Putin took several actions indicating that the country plans to reclaim its position as a military power on a global scale. Russian bombers were back on long range patrols, and a submarine crew recently planted a Russian flag on the seabed beneath the North Pole. During the Putin years, Russian economy saw the nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increase 6 fold, climbing from 22nd to 11th largest in the world. In 2007, Russia's GDP exceeded that of 1990.

The trip of President Medvedev to the G20 summit is expected to deliver any breakthroughs on troubled U.S.-Russian relations, as little movement is likely before current U.S. President George W. Bush leaves office in January.

On the war in Georgia, US and European leaders immediately condemned Moscow for flouting established borders. The challenge facing the next US president will be to manage Russia's emerging role as a powerful and alluring alternative to the West.

'Russian leaders are trying to wield the language of stability, humanitarianism, and prosperity. If the rift between Russia and the West widens, it will not produce a repeat of the Cold War. Instead, it will create a new and delicate rivalry over the ability of each political system to explain its own inconsistencies to its citizens and the wider world. Military sources say, Russia has around 5700 active nuclear warheads. Poland will contain just 10 interceptor missiles. The most likely strategic purpose of the missile defense programme is to mop up any Russian or Chinese missiles which had not been destroyed during a pre-emptive US attack.

The politics of Missile defense has recently become one of the most acute problems of international politics. Plans by the United States to deploy a third position area in Eastern Europe for its national missile defense system triggered a sharp reaction from Russia, which threatened to take countermeasures.

Russia's strategic forces have conducted regular test launches of Soviet-built ballistic missiles to check their performance. The military has repeatedly extended the lifetime of Soviet-built weapons as the government lacks the funds to replace them quickly with new weapons. The basic factor of mutual distrust between Russia and US increased readiness of their strategic nuclear potentials in line with the task of mutual nuclear deterrence.

The U.S. is trying to convince Russia that the new missile defense system will not be directed against it. But Russia considers it as a military threat to its national defense. However, statements like this run counter to Washington's doctrinal approaches to its defense policy. Russia has repeatedly made it clear that Russia's territory allows for the building of a missile defense system with a structure that can best ward off missile threats from the south. A missile defense system can be effective only if it is capable of hitting a target at various phases of the trajectory of a missile or warhead.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates in one of his statements rejected a Russian suggestion that both countries scrap plans to place missile systems in Eastern Europe. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in a televised interview with French journalists broadcast that Moscow was willing to reconsider deploying Iskander missiles in its westernmost region of Kaliningrad if Washington did not place 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a missile-tracking radar in the Czech Republic

Barack Obama, immediately, after his election as US President said it would be prudent to "explore the possibility of deploying missile defense systems in Europe," in light of what he called active efforts by Iran to develop ballistic missiles as well as nuclear weapons.

Russia remains one of the world's leading military powers. It is second only to the United States in nuclear weapons, and Russia remains the strongest power in Europe and Asia in terms of its conventional ground, air, and naval forces. For more than a decade, Russian leaders have struggled to formulate security and defense policies that protect Russia's borders and project Russia's influence.

After attaining broad macro economic stability and high growth likely to exceed both India and China in 2008 as per the IMF, the focus is now on using the oil windfall to build and modernize infrastructure and create an environment conducive to business, particularly the non commodities exports.

There are still many financial crises in Russia but debates are under way on the growing Russian economic power. Today practically all socio-political groups and blocs in Russia are discussing the country's future along with opportunities of economical growth, but are suggesting very different ways of solving existing problems. On the Russian political and military influence, Moscow-based military expert Vladimir Mukhin says Russia has lost much of its position in Central Asia since then. But Russia still has troops and bases in Central Asia in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and in Kazakhstan.

However, analysts in Tajikistan analysts say that merely strengthening its military presence in Central Asia doesn't necessarily mean Russia's influence there will rise. On November 11, Russian President began a working visit to Kazakhstan to discuss the security situation in the region. The CSTO comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Water crisis-A crucial issue to concern

Khalid Md. Bahauddin

Water pervades all aspects of human development and human freedom. Water security is an integral part of this broader conception of human security. In broad terms water security is about ensuring that every person has reliable access to enough safe water at an affordable price to lead a healthy, dignified and productive life, while maintaining the ecological systems that provide water and also depend on water. When these conditions are not met, or when access to water is disrupted, people face acute human security risks transmitted through poor health and the disruption of livelihoods and vulnerability. While the world's population tripled in the 20th century, the use of renewable water resources has grown six-fold. Within the next fifty years, the world population will increase by another 40 to 50 %. This population growth - coupled with industrialization and urbanization - will result in an increasing demand for water and will have serious consequences on the environment.

Worldwide, over a billion people do not have access to safe drinking water, and approximately one-third of the world's population lives under water stress. Water stress results from an imbalance between water use and water resources. Water stress causes deterioration of fresh water resources in terms of quantity (aquifer over-exploitation, dry rivers, etc.) and quality (eutrophication, organic matter pollution, saline intrusion, etc.) Humans use water in many ways, and we typically classify water use by three major use groups: agriculture, industry, and urban use. These are generally considered the three principal consumers of water, with most water consumed by agriculture for the production of food. However, there is also a fourth group; ecosystems also have water needs and requirements. Each river and lake requires a certain amount of water to continue to exist, and plants and animals require water for their survival too. This fourth need is often overlooked as we work to meet the immediate day-to-day water needs of humankind. However, its importance is becoming apparent as rivers are suffering from reduced flow or no flow before they reach the ocean, and fresh water dependent ecosystems are being compromised. Ultimately, our sustainable future on Earth is linked to the health of Earth's ecosystems.

Currently, per capita availability of freshwater is decreasing and contaminated water is still the greatest environmental cause of human sickness and death. Water resources are being threatened by increased consumption, increased pollution, and increasing population. These threats are likely to become worse during our lifetimes and those of our children. Specifically, we will have to be concerned about:

Surface water and groundwater availability

Surface water and groundwater quality

Water related diseases

Water availability for irrigation and food production

Water for urban use, drinking, and sanitation

Water for industry, to make the things we need

Damming of rivers: the benefits versus the ecological and human costs Changing climate/weather patterns

International problems/violence caused by water stress and water-related ecosystem damage By 2025, two-thirds of the world's people are expected to be living in water stressed countries. Most of these people will live in Asia and Africa where water-related diseases are endemic and increase every year. Over 5 million people now die annually from water related diseases such as diarrhea, malaria, and schistosomiasis (bilharzia). In addition, trachoma, a highly contagious eye disease, blinds many more. Population growth creates an obvious threat to what little remaining water is left for human use. Africa and Asia are currently the most water stressed areas, and since these two continents also have the greatest population growth, their already severe water stress will likely continue to increase. This explosion of water stress will be caused by increased personal water usage as a result of a 40 percent population growth in these countries, increased water use in irrigation for food production (17 percent), and increased water use in industrial production.

Global economic growth is both expected and hoped for because poverty is rife across the world, but under current trends, economic growth, coupled with population growth, will lead to drastic increases in the demand for natural resources, including water. Growth in agriculture, industries and energy producers will greatly increase water demand. In addition, as people's standard of living increases, they tend to use more water in dishwashers, washing machines, swimming pools, car washes, etc. The resulting competition for water could be devastating for many people. Since the 1990s, international efforts to improve water policy have increased, especially through growing recognition of the social and economic value of water. Water councils and global organizations are meeting and passing resolutions to protect water resources. The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) set such resolutions at the Second World Water Forum in 2000. The Vision sets out targets:

(1) to cut "the proportion of people without access to hygienic sanitation" in half by 2015; (2) to cut "the proportion of people without access to adequate quantities of affordable and safe water" in half by 2015; and (3) to "provide water, sanitation and hygiene for all" by 2025.

In 1998, the International Network of Basin Organizations met and emphasized the need to (1) facilitate the exchange of accurate and harmonized information among riverine countries; (2) promote consultation at all levels, especially within pertinent international institutions and mechanisms; (3) and define medium-range priority action programs of common interest to improve water management and decrease pollution. In the 2000 Ministerial Declaration on Water Security in the 21st Century, the environmental ministers from several countries met and set out a declaration on water needs in the new millennium: (1) to meet the needs of people who lack access to safe water and sanitation, (2) to secure the water supply for food, (3) to protect ecosystems with sustainable water resources, (4) to share water resources among bordering countries including the correct governing of water, (5) to value water, and (6) to manage future risks regarding water (World Water Forum 2000).

Technology has also been developed to conserve water through drip irrigation and low flow toilets. In theory, farmers can change irrigation practices and each of us can change our daily domestic water needs, but the technology is often too expensive or otherwise not available for those who need it most.

G-20 for economic stimulus plan

Dr.Abdul Ruff

As the largest gathering of presidents and prime ministers here since NATO's 50th anniversary celebration in 1999, the leaders of the G-20 countries met for an emergency summit on the global financial crisis. The meeting of G20 representing about 90% of the world economy, hosted by the outgoing US president, is bringing together both leading industrial powers such as the US, Japan and Germany, and emerging market countries such as China, Brazil and India as well as oil leader Saudi Arabia.

World leaders continue talks on measures to limit the current financial turmoil at a summit in Washington. They hope to agree on long-term reforms to cut the risk of further crises and a coordinated economic stimulus plan. Efforts are focused on five hours of formal talks on Nov 15. The summit began with a working dinner on14 Nov. Divisions have emerged between Europe, which wants stricter market rules and the US and other countries, which prefer more moderate reforms. Later summits are expected to focus on working out the details of the reforms needed.

Opening the two-day summit at the White House, US President George W Bush dampened hopes for quick solutions. He said this problem did not develop overnight and it will not be solved overnight, but with continued cooperation and determination it will be solved. But US President-elect Barack Obama is not attending, raising concerns over the lack of guarantee that any proposals agreed by Bush will be implemented by his successor.

The participants hope to agree on a common set of principles for future reform, including changes to the organizations charged with regulating the world economy. Anger toward America for causing the financial disaster is prevalent. Antonio Patriota, Brazil's ambassador to the United States, told reporters that the financial crisis has made all participants in the system equal. There were complaints about the speculation and deregulation in the US that became this market tsunami. The G-20 summit is being held in Bush's "lame duck" period. The policies of his administration over the past several years are seen as at least partly responsible for the current global financial crisis. At a time when Bush is considered to have lost his credibility on economic matters, it also is not clear if his pledges will be taken seriously at the G-20 summit.

Leaders are close to agreeing a concrete action plan on financial regulation. Speaking after the opening dinner, German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck said "the window of opportunities for financial reform has never been as wide open as at present". Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that he thought it was unlikely that the major economies of the world would consent to external control of their regulatory systems. "Compulsory governancet is unrealistic," he said. However, European leaders have signaled that they are seeking more far-reaching initiatives. "We want to change the rules of the game in the financial world," said French President Nicolas Sarkozy. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was surprised to hear warnings against too much regulation of financial markets when the crisis had not yet been overcome.

Earlier, President Bush had insisted the financial crisis was not a failure of free-market capitalism. "The answer is to fix the problems we face, make the reforms we need, and move forward with the free-market principles that have delivered prosperity and hope to people all across the globe," he said. Speaking in New York, he said the surest way back to sustained economic growth was not to reinvent the system, but to reform it.

Contributions from China, Saudi Arabia and gulf oil-exporting countries are being sought to bolster IMF's $250 billion reserves. Already the balance of economic power is showing signs of shifting. The point is that if China and the Gulf countries are called upon to refurbish IMF funds, will they not ask for a change in their shareholding positions at the IMF. Indeed, there is a mismatch in the current financial system. While financial markets have gone global, regulatory agencies are national. This needs fixing, but that requires sovereign commitments across borders.

An emerging challenge that the summit will have to address is the matter of growing imbalance in saving and spending in different parts of the globe. This imbalance has been a thorn in the global order. The challenge is to get the Chinese, for instance, to adjust their exchange rate, spend more and reduce their current account surpluses. At the same time, Americans and Europeans have to spend less and save more. Fundamental reforms are called for in the following areas: risk management practices, compensation structures, oversight of securitized mortgages, credit rating agencies, and infrastructure of derivatives markets.

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has taken the lead in urging China and other countries with big cash stockpiles to finance the International Monetary Fund so that it can make more emergency loans. Japan has announced it is prepared to lend up to $100bn to the IMF to help emerging economies hit by the financial crisis. Meeting on the sidelines of the summit, the Japanese, Chinese and South Korean finance ministers said they might expand their mutual currency swap arrangements.

The absence of the most talked about man in the US - whose remarkable victory caught global attention - disappointed some of the world leaders who were hoping to meet the president-elect to get to know him better ahead of his inauguration next year. Instead, Barack Obama designated former Republican Congressman Jim Leach and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to meet unofficially with delegations at the summit on his behalf. "While some may say it's awkward that he's not there, it would be far more problematic to be there. We firmly believe there is only one president at a time," said Robert Gibbs, a senior adviser to Obama. Many say his decision to stay away is to avoid any conflict of views with President George W. Bush that could come up with world leaders.

China is likely to be the key to any reforms agreed. With nearly $2 trillion in foreign exchange reserves and an economy that is still expanding, albeit at a slower pace, it is one of the few countries attending that has the cash to help countries in distress. "We will actively participate in rescue activities for this international financial crisis," said Yi Gang, deputy governor of the Chinese central bank. With nearly $2 trillion in foreign exchange reserves and an economy that is still expanding, albeit at a slower pace, it is one of the few countries attending that has the cash to help countries in distress. However, in exchange China is likely to want to hold more power at the IMF, which is dominated by the US and the EU.