Latest news with #Hashmi
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
On being an art historian and a theorist
Listen to article Dear Dr Mussarrat Hassan, To a masoomana question: Why am I more interested in art history and theory than in making art? My straightforward answer was that right after my graduation from NCA, I was given a class to teach History of Culture and Visual Arts and not painting. Can't say if it was Mrs Hashmi's foresight or mere fate. The fact is that I was among the few who could connect with Prof Iqbal Hassan, our Western Art History instructor, his pace and pedagogy. While others would avoid attending his lectures, finding them taxing or somewhat unimportant for studio practice, we, a group of enthusiasts, would ask for extra time and discussions. However, it was not until I met you during my PhD coursework that I truly realised the importance of theoretical aspects of artmaking without which contemporary art would be a meaningless activity. You taught the History of South Asian Art, introducing us to local art forms. Learning about indigenous art gave a clearer insight into Dr Durre's question: Who Am I? Since then, you have been the greatest source of inspiration and a true mentor who encouraged me to be consistent in writing. I have been told that I am good at storytelling which is, frankly, the ultimate constant in my equation. Quoting from my grade six scrapbook: "I chase stories like fireflies on summer nights, capturing their essence in jars of imagination, where they dance and shimmer, lighting the path ahead," Only if I remember being so romantic. But it is romantic to devote oneself to a cause and be hopeful that it shall bear fruit. If so, you are the most romantic person I ever came across. And I am not just referring to your love story with Sir Ijaz-ul Hassan, to whom you have been a muse, a partner and a support system. Mashallah. Your story as an art educationist and historian is worth sharing. Towards the end of the 20th century, academics worldwide were eager to decolonise the canon of art history. The discipline grew presence in educational institutions within Pakistan, too. Universities launched degree programmes with a focus on producing and preparing scholars to add to the global voices. There was a need to sensitise the students to local art. It required more focus on genuine pedagogies, relevant to this region. Such an approach demanded surveys and anthologies of art history compiled by unbiased writers who could highlight the South Asian aesthetic sensibilities. Though the scarcity of such writers is felt even today, you stand out amongst the few who opted to combat the situation and concentrated on research and writing as early as the 1990s. Producing five books with limited resources, a gap in research literacy and a lack of recognition for the expertise is a great feat indeed. In the pre-digital era, these books on art are, as you say, "the 2nd best alternative to living works of art. It is another way of exhibiting and displaying art, especially in the absence of permanent art galleries in various districts and cities of Pakistan." Your books are a treat for the layman, a treasure for the art students and a model for the new generation of art historians that you have trained over the period. Qadeem Insaan Aur Fan-e Musawwari, published in 1996, is amongst the very few art history surveys written in Urdu. Providing Urdu explanations for frequently used English terminology makes it somewhat bilingual. It typically traces the art through the ages and is surely an alternative to the most popular survey book in English with the same title. The second book, Painting in Punjab Plains, is based on your doctoral research. It documents and analyses the works of 200 artists from Punjab, active between 1849 and 1947. The history of South Asian art, as a modern genre, mainly relied upon the court chronicles of the emperors and British State gazetteers. The authenticity of both sources is tainted with political motives and personal bias. Contrary to such narratives, your commentary is based on facts and common sense. With due respect and all the regards, I shall write again to discuss other books. Bano May 2025
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Sheikh Hasina's Son Shares Video Of Alleged LeT Terrorist Claiming Role In Bangladesh Unrest
Last Updated: The LeT terrorist mentions Bangladesh during his speech, indirectly taking credit for last year's political unrest that led to Hasina's ousting Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has shared a video featuring Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Muzammil Hashmi, in which he threatens India and claims involvement in political unrest in Bangladesh last year. In a post on social media platform X on Thursday, Wazed shared a video clip of Hashmi speaking at a public gathering. 'Leader of #Pakistani #terrorist organization La*shkar-e-Tay*ba that was responsible for attack in Kashmir claiming in a public speech that they were involved in the uprising against my mother Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of #Bangladesh," Wazed wrote alongside the video clip. Leader of #Pakistani #terrorist organization La*shkar-e-Tay*ba that was responsible for attack in Kashmir claiming in a public speech that they were involved in the uprising against my mother Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of #Bangladesh — Sajeeb Wazed (@sajeebwazed) May 29, 2025 The public gathering was allegedly organised by the Pak Markazi Muslim League—considered a political front of the banned terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba—Pakistan on Wednesday (28 May). According to The Financial Express report, the event was held in Gujranwala to mark Pakistan's nuclear weapons anniversary. In the clip which has gone viral on social media, Hashmi, who is a designated terrorist, refers to India as 'the enemy" and issues direct threats to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking at the event, he can be heard saying, ' (You try to scare us with your bullets, Modi. We send you a message, our children aren't afraid of your missiles, why would we fear your bullets?). He continued, saying, ' Hume khaufzada naa tere bade kar sake na tu kar sakega (Neither your elders could intimidate us, nor will you be able to). ' Tu tarikh dekh le is Hindustan ki tarikh, tere baap dada ki tareekh. Tere baap dada ne humesha hamare saamne paani bhara hai aur tu bhi bharega (Look at the history of India, the history of your forefathers. Your ancestors have always bowed before us, and so will you). Hashmi also mentions Bangladesh during his speech, indirectly taking credit for last year's political unrest that led to Hasina's ousting. ' Modi tu janta hai humne pichle saal tujhe bangladesh me shikast di (Modi, you know we defeated you in Bangladesh last year)," he stated. Sheikh Hasina's 15-year-long rule as prime minister ended in August 2024, when a student-led revolt forced her to flee. The 77-year-old leader escaped to India last year as crowds stormed her palace, and she remains there in self-imposed exile. Meanwhile, her Awami League party has been banned. Following her ousting, Bangladesh's interim leader is Muhammad Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who is heading the caretaker government as chief adviser till elections are held. (With inputs from agencies) Location : Bangladesh First Published:
Hans India
3 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
Virginia Lawmakers Eye State Food Safety Measures Amid Federal Rollbacks
As the federal government scales back food safety oversight, Virginia lawmakers are preparing to take matters into their own hands. On Wednesday, state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-Chesterfield) and Del. Mark Sickles (D-Fairfax) voiced growing concern over sweeping cuts to federal food safety agencies—changes they say could jeopardize public health and undermine recent policy goals championed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. While Kennedy has spearheaded efforts to eliminate synthetic food dyes linked to health issues in children—an initiative mirrored in a Virginia law signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin banning such additives in school meals—the state lawmakers argue that simultaneous federal rollbacks send mixed signals. 'We are seeing contradictory actions coming from the federal government,' said Hashmi. 'On the one hand, there's talk of improving health, and on the other, we're dismantling the infrastructure that ensures food safety.' Federal Oversight Shrinks Key federal agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) play critical roles in inspecting food, tracking outbreaks, and prosecuting violations. However, under recent directives tied to the Trump administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, several components of this system have been dismantled: The DOJ unit handling food-related prosecutions has been disbanded. CDC data-tracking teams have been cut. A Biden-era rule limiting salmonella in raw poultry was withdrawn. Two USDA food safety advisory panels were dissolved. The FDA has been criticized for withholding public information about foodborne illness investigations. Hashmi pointed to a recent Washington Post investigation about an Indiana child who nearly died after consuming E. coli-contaminated lettuce. Although the FDA internally identified the contamination source, the public was never informed. 'The FDA, under the Trump and RFK administration, has decided not to name names or alert the public to real dangers,' said Hashmi. 'That lack of transparency puts lives at risk.' State-Level Action in the Works In response, Virginia lawmakers are exploring new state regulations to help bridge the gaps left by weakened federal oversight. As chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, Hashmi says she's already pursuing measures modeled on her efforts to reform special education standards. Del. Sickles, chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, plans to make food safety a priority at a July legislative 'boot camp' focused on state health services. He emphasized that Virginia's General Assembly—long reliant on federal regulators—must now take a more active role. 'We can't afford to assume the federal government has this covered anymore,' Sickles said. 'We need to be vigilant.' Limits of State Protections Still, some experts warn that state-level efforts can only go so far. Sarah Sorscher, regulatory affairs director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, noted that because food often crosses state lines, isolated policies may leave consumers vulnerable. 'Virginia could pass strong laws, but if food is coming from states with weaker standards, the risk remains,' said Sorscher. 'This is why federal coordination is so important.' Despite these limitations, both Hashmi and Sickles say they are committed to taking all available steps to protect Virginians—especially in the absence of strong national standards. 'We are doing what we can at the state level,' Hashmi said. 'But we need federal accountability to truly keep our food safe.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
State lawmakers chew on possible food safety updates for Virginia in wake of federal cuts
(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Since taking his post in President Donald Trump's cabinet, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spearheaded a national movement to 'make America healthy again,' including a plan to phase out synthetic dyes from foods, which have been linked to adverse effects in children. Virginia lawmakers also worked on a law to ban synthetic dyes from foods in public schools that Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed this spring. Youngkin signs bipartisan law banning synthetic dyes in school meals But cuts to the federal agencies responsible for food regulation are alarming, state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, and Del. Mark Sickles, D-Fairfax, said on a call Wednesday, and work against the food safety and the public health goals Kennedy has professed. The Food and Drug Administration, Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention play key roles in regulating the nation's food supply — from packaged products like baby formula, to produce, to animal products like meat and eggs. Entities like the FDA and USDA ensure consumer protection through inspections, while the CDC investigates sources of foodborne illness outbreaks. From there, the Department of Justice can prosecute those responsible for related mistakes, if needed. But in recent months a DOJ unit that handles such cases was disbanded, several data-tracking divisions of CDC have been cut, a President Joe Biden-era rule limiting salmonella levels in raw poultry has been withdrawn, and two USDA food safety advisory committees were dismantled. The cuts are part of overall shrinking efforts spearheaded by Trump advisor Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency and hamper transparency concerning food safety, Hashmi said. She cited a Washington Post report about an Indiana boy who nearly died after eating a salad due to an E. coli outbreak that had been traced last fall but not publicly disclosed since Trump's administration took office. A lawsuit against the grower of the lettuce in the salad filed by the boy's parents last month said the bacteria affecting the child was a match to the strain that killed a person and sickened about 90 people in 15 states last fall. Federal health agencies then investigated the cases and linked them to a farm that grew romaine lettuce. A February 2025 internal FDA memo linked a single lettuce producer and ranch as the contamination source, but officials never issued public recommendations or identified the grower after the investigation. 'The FDA, under the Trump and RFK administration, have decided not to name names or make the public aware of the dangers. The parents deserve and we deserve accountability,' Hashmi said. As federal funding and systems dwindle, states are left to decide how and whether to make up the difference. Meanwhile, one of the two FDA committees that were dismantled had been tasked with reviewing the regulatory process in the wake of a deadly Listeria outbreak in a Virginia-based Boar's Head facility that occurred last year. After highlighting these challenges, Hashmi and Sickles laid out their ideas for actions state lawmakers could take. Both suggested legislators pursue updates to Virginia law that could constitute state-level food regulations. As chair of the Senate's Education and Health committee, Hashmi said she's already pursuing similar measures when it comes to special education standards in Virginia to 'fill gaps' created at the federal level. But Sarah Sorscher, a regulatory affairs director with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, emphasized that even if states like Virginia pursue state-level regulations, the nature of interstate food supply chains means there would still be gaps in consumer protections. 'We can't rely on states to take care of issues, because food could be coming in, being served to Virginia consumers that's made in other states that have weaker protections,' Sorscher said. 'So that's sort of a failure of using the state system to address food safety.' Still, Sickles thinks there are strategies Virginia could explore to bolster consumer protections when it comes to food safety. He said that state legislators haven't been as hands-on because of federal oversight on the matter, but that he now plans to keep a closer eye on the issue, and wants his 139 colleagues in the General Assembly to do the same. As chair of the House of Delegates' Health and Human Services committee, Sickles is planning a July 'boot camp' gathering that will focus on social services and the state's health department. 'We need to spend more time looking more closely into areas like this and we than we ever have before our committee,' Sickles GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Muscat Daily
24-05-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Oman's Ras Markaz Terminal exports 17mn tonnes petroleum products
Muscat – Oman Tank Terminal Company (OTTCO) has successfully handled 491 vessels at the Ras Markaz Terminal, located in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZD), from its launch in 2023 until the end of April 2025. During this period, the terminal imported over 950mn barrels of crude oil and exported approximately 17mn metric tonnes of petroleum products. In a statement to the Oman News Agency, Eng Salem bin Marhoon al Hashmi, CEO of OTTCO, highlighted Oman's growing role as a global energy logistics hub. He said, 'These achievements are the result of the company's commitment to the highest standards of safety and operational excellence, reinforcing its position as a key hub for ensuring energy security for Oman, as well as for regional and international markets.' Hashmi noted that current storage services are meeting the needs of the local market, which has prompted a strategic shift towards expanding global storage operations. He explained that OTTCO has signed a strategic agreement with Royal Vopak, a leading Dutch storage firm, to transform Duqm into a global hub for storage services. This initiative aligns with OQ Group's plans to establish a company specialising in the storage and handling of particulates. 'This partnership enhances our access to global markets, facilitates the localisation of international best practices, boosts the capabilities of Omani professionals in the energy logistics sector, and supports our sustainability goals. It also contributes to the storage and handling of ammonia and green hydrogen, in line with global trends towards clean energy,' he added. Hashmi further emphasised OTTCO's focus on the transition to clean energy, particularly in the storage and export of green ammonia. He stated that several preliminary studies have been completed to support the development of advanced infrastructure for the storage, handling, and export of green ammonia. OTTCO is also working on the development of a shared smart infrastructure for storage services and is establishing international partnerships to facilitate the exchange of expertise and bolster development efforts. These initiatives are in line with Oman's vision of becoming a leading regional centre for clean energy exports. The Ras Markaz Terminal currently supports the Duqm Refinery via an 80km pipeline transporting crude oil from Ras Markaz to the refinery. The oil storage facilities comprise eight large storage tanks, floating platforms for the import and export of oil, a 7km subsea pipeline for oil transfer, and a pumping station to move oil into the tanks. The terminal's advanced technical features allow for the blending of various types of crude oil and enable vessels to be loaded and unloaded in record time. It is designed to store all types of crude oil in significant volumes outside the Strait of Hormuz, offering international companies the option to store their oil at the terminal for flexible durations. Spanning an area of 40 sq km, the terminal has a storage capacity of approximately 200mn barrels of oil.
