Essays

Euro 2016: Platini's “mad” idea now bearing fruit  LONDON: UEFA's decision to expand the European championship to 24 teams six years ago was condemned by many but millions of fans across the continent are delighted with that choice now as the Euro 2016 qualification race draws to a gripping finale. One English newspaper said the idea was “mad”, while a global broadcaster dismissed it as a “terrible, horrible, no-good idea”, which would ruin the “perfect” 16-team format that had been in place since 1996. But try telling that to the fans of Iceland, who will be making their major tournament debut in France next year, or Wales, who have not been seen at a major finals since the 1958 World Cup but are virtually certain of joining them. Northern Ireland also stand on the brink of giving their fans a summer holiday with a Gallic flavour. — AFP Northern Ireland, who have failed to qualify for every tournament since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, a

How the private schools' fee hike is holding education hostage in Pakistan Adi Abdurab   Many of you must be aware by now, a protest movement has begun in Punjab against the recent fee hikes in private schools. These schools, among the country's most prestigious, have suddenly increased their fees without any explanation or argument, and expect students to pay up or pack up. Parents have taken to the streets in Lahore , Islamabad and Sahiwal , voicing outrage at these inordinate increments that do not correlate to the current economic climate. The schools under discussion here are among the most popular, top-tier 'brands' of education. They have numerous branches in almost every city across the country, and are the kind of places parents usually clamour to get their children enrolled into. At first, there was an introduction of a withholding tax that has now become part of the outrage, which ranges from Rs20,000/year up to 50,000/year. see more at

Mourinho vs Eva Carniero: FIFA to probe case amid legal battle   FIFA’s medical commission will this week discuss Jose Mourinho’s battle with Chelsea club doctor Eva Carneiro amid growing pressure for a settlement by the English Premier League Champions. Mourinho has refused to back down from criticism of Carneiro and head physio Jon Fearn after they went on the pitch to treat Eden Hazard in the 2-2 home draw with Swansea last month. They have since been excluded from the team bench by Mourinho and have consulted lawyers. Carneiro and Fearn’s medical intervention called on by Hazard and the referee reduced Chelsea to nine players as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had already been sent off. An angry Mourinho called it “impulsive and naive”. FIFA’s top medical experts have already backed Carneiro and FIFA’s medical commission is expected to issue a statement backing the Chelsea doctor after a meeting on Friday. “You would expect me to support the team doctor,” sa

Obama leads US in remembrance of 9/11, urges vigilance President Barack Obama led the United States (US) Friday in remembrance of 9/11, urging Americans to remain vigilant of “terrorist’ threats on the 14th anniversary of the attacks. Although US forces “have made enormous strides in degrading the core Al-Qaeda,” the terror group responsible for the deadly strikes on US soil, “we are well aware of the fact that those threats still exist out there,” Obama said in a speech broadcast live to US service members worldwide. “Both in Iraq and in Syria, Afghanistan and in North Africa, what we’re very clear about is we have significant threats coming from terrorist organizations and the terrorist ideology,” Obama warned from Fort Meade, Maryland. Earlier in the day, at 8:46 am, a bell chimed three times on the South Lawn of the White House to mark the moment when Flight 11, piloted by Al-Qaeda operatives, careened into the North Tower of the World Trade Centre in New Yor

Jane Birkin and Hermès resolve differences over croc handbag Actress and singer Jane Birkin is now satisfied with how luxury group Hermes treats crocodiles and has dropped her request to have her name removed from its iconic handbags, the French company said on Friday. Hermes said it had identified an “isolated irregularity” in the slaughter process at a crocodile farm in Texas and had warned the farm it would cease any relations should it continue to neglect its recommended procedures. Read: Jane Birkin asks Hermès to rename ‘Birkin bags’ “Jane Birkin has advised us that she is satisfied by the measures taken by Hermes,” Hermes said in a statement. Birkin could not immediately be reached for comment. Birkin said in July she had asked Hermes to rename its Birkin Croco bag until the firm adopted what she said were practices that meet international standards for the production of the bag. http://tribune.com.pk/story/955036/jane-birkin-and-hermes-resolve-differences-ov

Labour selects son of a Pakistani bus driver to stand for London mayor LONDON:  London could get its first Muslim mayor after the main opposition Labour party selected Sadiq Khan, a bus driver’s son and former government minister, as its candidate Friday. Khan, a former human rights lawyer, will stand in elections being held next May to decide who should follow Conservative Boris Johnson, one of Britain’s best-known politicians, into City Hall. http://tribune.com.pk/story/955075/labour-selects-son-of-a-pakistani-bus-driver-to-stand-for-london-mayor/

ROLE OF MASS MEDIA The term "Mass media" refers to the role of radio, television, newspapers, journals, magazines and other media in society. They stand for modern sophisticated channels of world-wide communication. Though the mass media make the communication possible over great distances, they are simply technical devices built into the human communication process. For centuries it was largely through printed matter that common ideals and aspirations were maintained over wide areas. Then the electronic revolution of the 19th and 20th centuries bought the motion picture, rad'.  and T.V which joined the printed media in spreading information, ideas and providing entertainment. The media tend to select their audience; and audiences likewise select among and within the media. One of the most distinguishing features of mass communication is that it is mostly one way. It works on the assumption that each individual is completely "passive" and will accept the com