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SAMRC and Thermo Fisher Scientific launch Centre of Excellence in molecular biology




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Sanlam installs water tanks at Soweto school, spotlighting water scarcity crisis




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Braamfontein at standstill as operation sees law enforcement crack down on unsafe buildings and food retailers




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Gogos claims husband forced her to sign prenup




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La última palabra acerca de las relaciones A

La enseñanza bíblica en profundidad de John MacArthur lleva la verdad transformadora de la Palabra de Dios a millones de personas cada día.




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La última palabra acerca de las relaciones B

La enseñanza bíblica en profundidad de John MacArthur lleva la verdad transformadora de la Palabra de Dios a millones de personas cada día.




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Ejerciendo tu valentía

La enseñanza bíblica en profundidad de John MacArthur lleva la verdad transformadora de la Palabra de Dios a millones de personas cada día.




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Christ: The Head of the Church




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PNP denies cybercrime surge

The Philippine National Police belied yesterday the results of a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations showing a spike in cybercrime cases.




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The Hope That Overcomes the World




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Paul's Burden for the Church




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The Jedwabne Massacre of 1941: An Interview with Marcin Malek

On July 10, 1941, Christian Poles hunted down, clubbed, drowned, gutted, and burned alive 1,600 Jewish men, women, and children-all but seven of the town's Jews.




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Antigovernment Protesters Encircle Serbian State TV Building, Demand Media Freedom

Huge crowds of antigovernment protesters Saturday encircled the Serbian state television building in downtown Belgrade to press their demand for autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic to ease his tight grip on the mainstream media and allow alternative voices. Tens of thousands of opposition supporters, some chanting slogans urging Vucic's resignation, streamed into the rain-drenched streets a day after the president's followers staged an equally big rally in the capital. Most of his supporters were bused into the capital from all over Serbia and some neighboring states. Outside the RTS TV headquarters, the crowds blew whistles and booed loudly. They say that according to the laws, state TV should be unbiased as a public broadcaster, but that it has been openly pro-government. Held for the fourth time since the early May shootings, the opposition-led protests appear to be shaping up into the biggest revolt against Vucic's autocratic rule during his over 10 years in power. The rallies initially erupted in response to two back-to-back mass shootings earlier this month that left 18 people dead and 20 wounded, many of them children from an elementary school. Other protest demands include the resignations of top officials and the revoking of licenses for pro-government media that air violent content and host crime figures and war criminals. Vucic has accused the opposition of abusing the shooting tragedy for political ends. Earlier Saturday, he stepped down from the helm of his populist party amid plans to form a wider political movement. Vucic named his close ally, Milos Vucevic, the current defense minister, as his successor. Holding umbrellas amid heavy rain Saturday, the protesters walked slowly around the RTS television building in central Belgrade, completely covering the streets in the entire area. Many held flowers in memory of the slain children and wore badges reading "vulture" or "hyena," mocking the expressions that officials used to describe the protesters. Vucic has said the new, national movement will be formed in June to include other parties, experts and prominent individuals and promote unity. Analysts say it is a bid to regroup amid mounting public pressure. Critics say the movement could lead to single-party rule, more or less as the case in Vladimir Putin's Russia, which Vucic supports. During the rally Friday, Vucic offered dialogue as he seeks ways to ease mounting public pressure. Opposition parties have pledged to press on with the demonstrations until their demands are fulfilled. They include the ouster of the interior minister and the intelligence chief; the revocation of nationwide broadcast licenses for two pro-government TV stations; and the dismissal of a media-monitoring body. "If they don't fulfill (the demands) we are not leaving from here," said Milica Tomic, a Belgrade resident. "We will be here, if it need be, every day, every week, whenever."




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Overcoming ISIS: Transcending Sectarian Rivalries

The Western strategy of fighting warfare with warfare has only perpetuated sectarian divides, creating the very environment that fostered ISIS.




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Trump taps US Senator Marco Rubio for secretary of state


Rubio, 53, has said in recent interviews that Ukraine needs to seek a negotiated settlement with Russia rather than focus on regaining all territory that Russia has taken in the last decade.




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102 years ago, one of the all-time greatest archaeological discoveries was made


A member of the team, a water boy, accidentally stumbled upon a stone that turned out to be the first step of an ancient staircase.




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Secret government photos uncover key archaeological findings in Iraq


The Battle of al-Qadisiyyah was a crucial victory for Arab Muslim forces of the Rashidun Caliphate over the Sasanian Empire.




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Emperor penguin found 3,500 km from Antarctica on an Australian tourist beach


This is the first recorded sighting of an emperor penguin in Australia, experts say.




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Egyptian government legalizes 293 churches, reinforcing religious inclusivity


Under Article 8 of Law No. 80, which governs the construction and restoration of churches in Egypt, the government continues to support religious institutions by aligning them with legal standards.




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Liberia: Sources - Executive May Submit Draft Budget to the Breakaway Bloc This Week

[Liberian Investigator] Monrovia -- Sources have hinted to The Liberian Investigator that the Executive Branch, through the Ministry of Finance & Development Planning, is contemplating submitting the 2025 draft national budget to the breakaway "majority bloc" in the House of Representatives later this week.




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Ethiopia: Dereja, in Partnership with the Ministry of Labor and Skills and the Mastercard Foundation, to Host the 5th National Career Expo, Connecting Over 30,000 Recent Graduates

[Mastercard Foundation] Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -- Dereja, in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and Skills (MOLS) and the Mastercard Foundation, will host the 5th National Career Expo on November 6 - 7, 2024, at Millennium Hall, Addis Ababa. The event will connect over 30,000 skilled professionals to the job market.




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Church opposes Villa Rosa project, local plan change

Archdiocese of Malta’s Environment Commission says it views the Villa Rosa project as another example where individual interests are prioritised over community wellbeing




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Church and independent schools outperform state schools in computer literacy

Females perform better than males • Malta’s computer literacy score is within international average for computer literacy and substantially below average in computational thinking




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Democracy’s Dilemma: Can We Overcome Short-Termism to Build Lasting Peace?

While the expansion of democracy is a key condition for peace, the Achilles’ heel of democracies is that their leaders are constrained by electoral calendars, forcing them to push for peace or delay, whereas autocracies can afford to play the long game to achieve the favorable outcomes they desire. Take, for example, the current wars […]




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Scorched Earth Colonizing of Gaza is a Horrible Idea

For religious, humanitarian, and scientific reasons, Israel’s increasingly apparent plan for the de facto colonization of the Northern Gaza Strip is a bad idea. When that program was rejected recently by Israel’s own Defense Minister Yoav Galant, he was summarily fired by Prime Minister Netanyahu. However, the founding document of the worldwide Jewish community, the […]




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What are Trump’s Day One plans for immigration enforcement?

Donald Trump is likely to take many executive actions on his first day as president to ramp up immigration enforcement and roll back signature Biden legal entry programs, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. - REUTERS




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Saudi armed forces chief of staff in Iran for talks with officials


Iran's state media said al-Ruwaili headed a high-level Saudi military delegation in Tehran and met Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri.




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Iranian FM and Quds Force do outreach to Iraq


High-level meetings in Tehran signal deepening Iran-Iraq security cooperation, while Iran simultaneously advances its regional agenda through talks with Turkey, Russia, and Lebanon.




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US warns Israel against forcible displacement, starvation in Gaza


It was also urgently important that Israel pause implementation of a law banning the operation of the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA, Thomas-Greenfield added.




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World record set at extreme Antarctica Ice Ultra race

World record set at extreme Antarctica Ice Ultra race




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Rubbish build up after Spanish floods leads to health issues as search for missing people continues

Rubbish build up after Spanish floods leads to health issues as search for missing people continues




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Church of England head Justin Welby resigns over handling of sex abuse scandal

Church of England head Justin Welby resigns over handling of sex abuse scandal




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The Church and Integrity




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The Church and Rational Truth




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The Church and Objective Truth




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The Church and Pseudo-Tolerance




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The Church and the World




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Doctrine: The Forgotten Purpose of the Church

I remember listening to a Christian radio station when a caller asked, “What should I look for in a church?” The host responded by saying, “The thing I look for is fellowship. That’s the most important thing in choosing a church.” That may be a good feature of a church—but that is not the right answer.

READ MORE




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Ben Affleck eager to finalise divorce proceedings with Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck tied the knot in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022 Ben Affleck opened up about his exertion over constant questions regarding Jennifer Lopez, as the actor awaits legal verdict on their divorce.As per a close source, "The reason he may always look it when he is out and...




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Why Hugh Jackman divorced wife Deborra-Lee Furness?

Hugh Jackman divorced Deborra-Lee Furness because of Sutton Foster affairHugh Jackman divorced his wife Deborra-Lee Furness because of his budding romance with longtime friend Sutton Foster.On October 26, gossip blogger Tasha Lustig shared new speculation on her Instagram account...




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Scientific Research Can Play a Key Role in Unlocking Climate Finance



Climate finance will come under intense scrutiny during COP29, and its distribution aligned with scientific analysis of the impacts of climate change, but the methodology ignores the inequality in research networks of the Global South.




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Arab Region Leaders, Experts Gather to Find Solutions to Water Scarcity, Sustainable Development

The Arab region is among the most water-scarce areas globally, as nearly 392 million people live in countries facing water scarcity or absolute water scarcity. So dire is the situation that, of the 22 Arab countries, 19 fall below the annual threshold for water scarcity in renewable resources, defined as 1,000 cubic meters per person. […]




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Without Supercharging Adaptation Funding Global Temperatures Could Surge

The Head of Impact Assessment and Adaptation, Henry Neufeldt, UN Environment Programme Copenhagen Climate Centre, has called for increased climate adaptation funding, particularly for developing nations facing significant climate risks. UNEP’s latest report reveals an acute adaptation finance gap, with current international funding for developing countries at USD 30 billion—far below the USD 200 to 400 […]




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At UN, US warns Israel against forcible displacement, starvation in Gaza

The United States stressed at the United Nations that “there must be no forcible displacement, nor policy of starvation in Gaza” by Israel, warning such policies would have grave implications under U.S. and international law. The remarks by U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield came just hours after Washington said its ally Israel was […]




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(Associate) Human Resource Officer

ADB has a vacancy for the position of (Associate) Human Resource Officer in the Budget, People, and Management Systems Department. The deadline for submitting applications is on 20-NOV-2024.




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Asian Development Blog: How to Advance Green, Inclusive Trade through E-commerce in Asia and the Pacific

To support e-commerce, public-private collaboration must prioritize closing the digital divide, supporting small businesses, and promoting environmental sustainability. Strengthening data governance, competition, and tax frameworks are also key to resilient and equitable e-commerce.





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Rice Contract Farming in Lao PDR: Moving from Subsistence to Commercial Agriculture

This study finds contract farming in Lao PDR to be effective in raising incomes of small farmers, thus reducing poverty.



  • Publications/Papers and Briefs

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Beijing pushes to join security efforts for citizens in Pakistan, sources say

Beijing is pushing Pakistan to allow its own security staff to provide protection to thousands of Chinese citizens working in Pakistan during talks, after a car bombing near Karachi’s airport that was seen as a major security breach, sources said.

Last month’s airport bombing that killed two Chinese engineers returning to work on a project after a holiday in Thailand was the latest in a string of attacks on Beijing’s interests in Pakistan.

The attacks have angered China, which has pushed Pakistan to begin formal negotiations for a joint security management system.

Reuters spoke to five Pakistani security and government sources with direct knowledge of the previously unreported negotiations and demands on condition of anonymity, as the talks are sensitive, and reviewed a written proposal sent by Beijing to Islamabad.

“They (Chinese) want to bring in their own security,” said one official, who sat in on a recent meeting, adding that Pakistan had not so far agreed to such a step.

According to the official, a written proposal sent to Islamabad by Beijing, and forwarded to Pakistani agencies for review, mentioned a clause allowing the dispatching of security agencies and military forces into each others’ territory to assist in counter-terrorism missions and conduct joint strikes.

The dispatching would be done after discussions, but Pakistan was averse to the proposal, one official said.

Neither Beijing nor Islamabad confirmed the talks officially.

Dawn.com has also reached out to the Foreign Office for a comment.

The source, and two other officials, said there was a consensus on setting up a joint security management system, and that Pakistan was amenable to Chinese officials sitting in on security meetings and co-ordination.

But there was no agreement on their participating in security arrangements on the ground.

The first official said Pakistan had asked China for help in improving its intelligence and surveillance capabilities instead of direct involvement.

A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry told Reuters it was not familiar with talks on a joint security scheme, but added, “China will continue to strengthen co-operation with Pakistan and make joint efforts to do its utmost to maintain the security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions.”

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, declined to comment to Reuters while the interior and planning ministries did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

In a statement last week, Pakistan’s interior ministry said both sides agreed to develop a joint strategy to prevent similar incidents in the future.

‘Grave security breach’

The nature of the Karachi bombing has angered Beijing, which is now pushing harder to achieve a long-standing demand to control security arrangements for its citizens.

A pick-up truck rigged with nearly 100 kilogrammes of explosives waited unchecked for about 40 minutes near the outermost security cordon of the heavily guarded airport before its driver rammed it into a vehicle carrying Chinese engineers, officials said.

“It was a grave security breach,” admitted one of the officials investigating the bombing, which came just a week before Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Islamabad, the first such trip in a decade.

The official said investigators believe the attackers had “inside help” in securing details of the itinerary and route of the engineers, who had returned from a month off in Thailand.

They were to be escorted back to a power plant set up as part of plans for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Longtime Pakistan ally China has thousands of nationals working on projects grouped under the CPEC, a $65-billion investment in President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to expand China’s global reach by road, rail and sea.

‘Chinese frustrations’

Publicly, China has mostly backed Pakistan’s arrangements, even as it calls for enhanced security.

Privately, Beijing has expressed frustration. At one recent meeting, the Chinese side provided evidence that Pakistan had failed to follow security protocols agreed on twice in recent months, three officials said. Such protocols usually feature high standards for the deployment and movement of Chinese officials.

However, earlier this month, China’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, while speaking at an event, had expressed frustration over the attacks, stating it was “unacceptable” and urging Islamabad to strengthen security measures for Chinese nationals and crack down on anti-China elements.

In response, Foreign Office Spokes­person Mumtaz Zahra Baloch had called the statement “perplexing” and a stark departure from the longstanding diplomatic norms between the two nations.

Chinese nationals have been in the crosshairs of banned outfits who accuse Beijing and Pakistan of exploiting minerals in Balochistan, where China has a strategic port and mining interests.

Thousands of Pakistani security officers from the army, police and a dedicated force called the Special Protection Unit are posted to guard Chinese nationals.

Only China’s embassy in Islamabad and its consulates are allowed Chinese official security personnel, the Pakistani officials said.




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to wire a motor control circuit

to wire a motor control circuit