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Business Recorder
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Decline and decay of moral values
'Cum finis est licitus, etiam media sunt lictia' is the Latin for 'the end justifies the means'. No. It doesn't and must not be sanctioned with acceptance. If the end is ignoble no means are justifiable. The acceptance of the idiom will mean that when the end is permitted, the means also stand permitted. If procuring great happiness for highest number of people is the motive, it doesn't mean that immoral action (means) is allowed. No expediency of any sorts can be a tool to sacrifice morals. T. S. Eliot put it aptly: 'The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason.' As a corollary to my thought, I am tempted to use words of Aldous Huxley, where he says, 'The end cannot justify the means, for the simple and obvious reason that the means employed determine the nature of the ends produced '. The difference between a moral man and a man of honour is that the latter regrets a discreditable act, even when it has worked and he has not been caught. 'Everything's got a moral, if only you can find it' (Alice in Wonderland- Lewis Carroll). Moral standards are not to be confused as statements for stagnation of society, instead the standard must be perceived as statement of immortality. Truth cannot ever be a negative quality. Morality is a feel-good factor and immorality renders to the soul a feel bad factor, post, an act, deed or spoken word. Smile dances upon morality while frown frocks immorality. Moral standards are meant to subjugate the base and animal instincts man possess. Moral values are shaped by cultural, societal, religious and universal principles of good behaviour, inclusive of ethics, forbearance, tolerance and justice. These moral standards serve as a beacon of light to guide individuals in the dark maze of life, in making a proper estimation of what is right and what is not. The results of this determination serve to influence our thoughts, behaviour and conduct. 'Without civic morality communities perish; without personal morality their survival has no value.' (Bertrand Russell). The essential principles of moral standards, upon which hinges the entire edifice of human behaviour, include presence of unimpeachable integrity and honesty, uncompromising respect for human life and above all unflinching faith in the divine mechanism of retribution relating to responsibility and accountability. I grew up in a regimented Roman Catholic environment at school, where morals as a subject was emphasised. At the end of each class, a narration of moral behaviour was part of the routine. The indoctrination of values has to be done during the period when minds are free of pollution and distortions; and are soft sponges to absorb the instillation of the criterion and discernment faculty of selecting between what is good, right and what is not, and is wrong. In the world of philosophy, the study of ethics or moral principles deals with effect upon human behaviour of universally accepted principles, customs and traditions. The behaviour code of a society is dependent upon individuals having a defined and strict moral compass. It is not merely a concept but a method of leading life, with guiding principles of moral values, obligations and of making decisions in life based on the ideals of purpose and need. We are blessed as a Nation to be an Islamic country. We have the Code and the Compass. But are we in adherence? Chris Drew, a Professor by profession, in a paper on moral values has an appendix to it titled A to Z of moral values; of these I would highlight the following: Benev olence, compassion, courage, dignity, forgiveness, generosity, honest, integrity, justice, kindness, mercy, responsibility, toleranc e, trust and wisdom. Reading the list, I wondered if he was giving the definition of a Muslim as seen through the lens of the Holy Book. At the University of Oxford, anthropologists have discovered what they believe to be seven universal values. The rules are: help your family, return favours, be brave, defer to superiors, divide resources fairly, and respect others' property. Dr. Oliver Scott Curry, senior researcher at the Institute for Cognitive and Evolu tionary Anthropology, said: 'As predicted, these seven moral principles appear to be universal across cultures. Everyone everywhere shares a common moral code. All agree that cooperating, promoting the common good, is the right thing to do.' Moral philosophy has existed over a thousand years — it keeps on growing and evolving, with each era of human history. Its foundations are strongly entrenched, based on experience, relating to morality, values, ethics and the many obligations that sprout from these pillars of thought. This formidable, yet delicate, fabric of morality and moral being continues to being torn to shreds by the Israeli army in Gaza. Human morality has become a utopia — it is today buried in the cemetery, called Gaza; alongside women, innocent and raped; men, brave and tortured and children shocked and starved. The hands of the dial of the moral compass are broken and detached — these lie splintered and mutilated in form and dug deeply into the heart of the Gazans. To protect sanity and mental well-being, I decided about three months back to abandon the long established habit of watching with keen interest political talk shows. These have not only becoming boring but were also sporting the same spent bullets on a regular basis, as guests and experts—invariably all would express about the future, as if the book of human wisdom lay revealed upon their hearts. The contents of the programme of late are toxic and the guests, more toxic. To expect morality from seasoned positions is to expect the rising of the Sun from not the west but South! Slumping after day's work before the idiotbox (TV) I began to watch some local drama serials. Little did I know what cultural shock I was to receive. There are at least three serials which are stated to be purely family dramas but not in the traditions of Haseena Moin's, or of the quality of Parchayian, Aangan Terra, etc. These are of present day and age. The scripts and playwright have contents that are socially obnoxious. The dialogues rarely meet the moral standards of our society, culture and traditions. Brazenness in speech is the hallmark of humility and politeness it appears. The plots of each are one of rebellion by off-springs against parents. The rebuke and disdain in conversations with parents and elders is pronounced. The youth falling into waywardness is prominent — in fact, sometimes it is glorified to actually make the impressionable age viewers to get tempted to enact the scenes in real life. At the drop of hat, children are seen threatening parents to leave their parental abodes. In every of those dramas, the attempted suicide on trivial issues is a high climax point. Are we selling suicide as a panacea for ills of life? Why so much screen space is being given to suicide scenes? Is it glorification or a sign of courage? What exactly is the message? The ennoblement of seeking relationships outside the ambit of religious and societal limitations is rampant; if for a moment, it was to be accepted as a happening thing in the society, what is the rate of incidence? Negligible. By projection with glamour and magnification, aren't we giving it a traction — an open invitation. From the decade of the 1980s and later, we have progressed. But is progress a reason to abandon the standards of morality, which are meant to be linchpin for the growth of society? The race to become wealthy without corresponding hard work or honesty is projected. 'There can be no civility without a deep morality, though it may not always call itself by that name' and, 'The evolution of a highly destined society must be moral; it must run in the grooves of the celestial wheels' ( Ralph Walton Emerson). As hapless citizens we are caught between the toxic political talk shows and the despicable contents of several dramas. How much can we force people to watch National Geographic or Animal Planet? The impelling question is why this slide into moral degradation? Why is the immoral behaviour being given a status and exaltation? This must cease. All sections of society must play a role to recover our traditions of morality and nobility. Progress is being confused with liberation from cultural standards of moral behaviour. Let there be rejuvenation of our unique standards of noble behaviour. 'The nation's morals are like its teeth: the more decayed the more it hurts to touch them' (George Bernard Shaw). Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Local Germany
26-06-2025
- Local Germany
Insider tips: The essential things to do in Hamburg in the summer
T. S. Eliot famously wrote that 'April is the cruellest month' – and in Hamburg, summer can be the cruellest season. Wedged between two coasts as we are, summer weather often switches from swelteringly humid heat one week to gale-force gusts the next. Yet despite the potential for a complete wash-out (just Google 'Hamburg summer memes'…), this is the time of year when our parks, lakes, and events calendar come into their own. What is more, with summer nights short due to our northern latitude, even a few pesky afternoon squalls still leave plenty of daylight hours to enjoy. So if you've got a brolly and a reliable weather app, here are five ways to enjoy summertime Hamburg – and some tips about how to avoid the crowds of people looking to do likewise. Get on a ferry Day-trippers, overnight stayers, residents with guests to show around, annoyed locals looking for a seat: the 62 ferry from the Landungsbrücken quays to Finkenwerder packs them all in. The classic way to see Hamburg from the water, it's still a fantastic option for a sunny morning – stress on 'morning' to beat the rush. Photo by Wolfgang Weiser: But why not try the less busy alternatives? If you've got time on a weekday, the 73 will take you along the gritty post-industrial backchannels of Steinwerder to the trendy end of Wilhelmsburg. Another option is to take a pleasant walk along the Elbe to Teufelsbrück and then hop on the 64 to Finkenwerder. At the weekends, the 65 will take you from there back over to the picturesque hill-village suburb of Blankenese. (Check timetables here .) Advertisement Get on your bike Ferries take bikes, too, so if you cross to Finkenwerder and head past the Airbus runway (keeping your eyes peeled for the awe-inspiring A300 Beluga transporter), you'll soon be cycling through the Altes Land, Europe's largest contiguous fruit-growing area. With its miles of apple, pear, and cherry orchards punctuated by quaint villages, it offers plenty of places to stop for juice, cakes, and other associated refreshments – or to shelter from the rain. Use saddle-bags to take advantage of bumper crops at low prices (everything is flat out here, so no need to worry about weight). End in bijou Buxtehude or sweet Stade, both with beautifully preserved Hanseatic town-centres and S-Bahn connections back into town. Image by Mario from Pixabay Other picturesque, if slightly more challenging routes, will get you away from the steady stream of like-minded cyclists. Why not take the (surprisingly hilly) Alster towpath up through the genteel northern suburbs, following the river out past horse paddocks and through woodlands as far as Rader Schule for an afternoon coffee/cold beer? Or, if you've got thighs of iron and an entire weekend to spare, you could try the Elbe cycle-path out to lovely Lauenburg, with a choice of chichi hotels and plenty to see and do while you're there. Advertisement Get on the train Lauenburg is a change of train away, either at Büchen or Lüneburg. Just 30 minutes from Hauptbahnhof, the latter is a gorgeous Hanseatic city which grew fabulously wealthy in the Middle Ages thanks to its salt mines, leaving it with dizzying, intricate church spires – and a serious subsidence problem. Leaning tower of Pisa? Leaning towers (plural) of Lüneburg! Lubeck is well worth a visit from Hamburg. Photo by Wolfgang Weiser on Unsplash Another medieval Hanseatic gem within day-tripping distance of Hamburg is Lübeck, a compact city with plenty to offer besides its trademark Holstentor gatehouse and atmospheric city centre. Gourmets will enjoy the marzipan for which it is known (potentially in ice-cream form if it's a hot day) as well as a wide range of fish dishes – especially out at Travemünde, the seaside suburb just a few stops further along the line. Alternatively, there are trains out to the coastal resorts of Timmendorfer Strand and Scharbeutz, although those looking to beat the day-tripping crowds are best advised to stay on board until up-and-coming Haffkrug. For adrenalin junkies, the next stop, Sierksdorf, is the right one: as well as Germany's highest and fastest rollercoaster, nearby Hansapark also has some of the best log-flumes in the business. Advertisement Go open-air swimming For those who prefer their water-related kicks to be less vertigo-inducing, Hamburg has got so many open-air swimming options that you could (confession:) live here for decades and never try them all. If you're in the market for a classic German Freibad experience, there is no better place to swim laps, belly-flop from diving boards, and people-watch than the Kaifu lido. If you'd avoid the fairweather posers, Bondenwald and Finkenwerder are quieter options. Municipal operator Bäderland also runs a natural pool filled from the Alster at Stadtpark – which, thanks to its opaque (yet clean) water, tends to put off the crowds. Indeed, if you're not put off by not being able to see the bottom, Hamburg has no end of free outdoor bathing spots. There's no need to risk drowning or being mown down by container ships on busy, fast-flowing Elbe, either, if you trade the main beach for the river's quieter arms – like the tranquil Dove Elbe, for instance, out east. Helpfully, the city authorities keep tabs of water quality here and at various other recommended swimming spots (list here ). Photo by Frank Rietsch: Go to the Wasserlichtkonzerte One final water-related tip: Wasserlichtkonzerte . It's a bit of a cop-out to call things 'untranslatable', but these spectacles held every evening from 1st May to 30th September in Planten un Blomen park really are lacking an equivalent – even in other German cities. Yes, Hamburg's 'water-light concerts' are performed using an ingenious combination of high-pressure fountains illuminated by spotlights and coordinated with speakers to create a truly unique audio-visual outdoor experience. There is, quite simply, nothing quite like them. So take a picnic and enjoy this uplifting experience with friends (or dates…) after sundown. A tip for avoiding the crowds? Get a good picnic blanket with a waterproof underside so that you can go even when it's been raining again and the grass is wet… Share your own tips for what to do in Hamburg this summer in the comments section below.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
UGC NET English 2025: Top 20+ Most Repeated Questions for UGC NET English Paper Preparation
UGC NET English 2025: UGC NET English 2025 exam has a detailed & vast syllabus. It is meant for those aiming for Assistant Professorship or JRF. As of June 2, 2025, candidates should study both Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 checks general teaching and research skills. It includes topics like Teaching and Research Aptitude, Comprehension, Communication, Logical and Mathematical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, ICT, People and Environment, and Higher Education System. Paper 2 is focused on English Literature and related areas. It covers Drama (from Classical to Postmodern), Poetry (Old English to Postmodern), Fiction and Short Stories, and Non-Fictional Prose. It also includes topics like Language (concepts, theories, pedagogy), English in India (history and development), Cultural Studies, Literary Criticism, Post-World War II Literary Theory, and Research Methods in English. UGC NET English 2025 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme Exam Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes) Mode: Online (Computer-based Test) Number of Papers: 2 (Paper 1 and Paper 2) UGC NET English 2025 Paper 1 Questions: 50 MCQs Total Marks: 100 Focus: General Teaching and Research Aptitude UGC NET English 2025 Paper 2 Questions: 100 MCQs Total Marks: 200 Focus: English Literature, Language, and Related Topics UGC NET English 2025 Marking Scheme Marks per Question: 2 marks each Negative Marking: None Total Marks: 300 Candidates must attempt all questions within the given time to qualify. Top Repeated UGC NET English Questions (2025) Below are the required chapter-wise Top Repeated UGC NET English Questions 2025 listed: 1. Literary Theory and Criticism Define New Criticism and explain its main features. What is Structuralism? Discuss its impact on literary studies. Explain the concept of Postcolonialism with examples. What are the key ideas of Feminist Criticism? Discuss the contributions of T.S. Eliot to literary criticism. Define Reader-Response Theory and its significance. Explain the concept of Deconstruction as proposed by Jacques Derrida. What is Marxist Criticism? How does it interpret literature? 2. Indian Writing in English Discuss the themes of R.K. Narayan's novels. What are the major concerns of Mulk Raj Anand's writings? Explain the significance of Salman Rushdie's "Midnight's Children" in Indian English literature. Describe the contribution of Kamala Das to Indian English poetry. Discuss the role of Girish Karnad in Indian English drama. 3. English Literature: Poetry, Drama, and Prose Analyze the theme of alienation in T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land." Discuss the role of the supernatural in Shakespeare's "Macbeth." What is the significance of the Romantic Movement in English literature? Explain the characteristics of Victorian poetry with examples. Discuss the narrative technique used in Virginia Woolf's "To the Lighthouse." What are the major themes in George Orwell's "1984"? 4. Language and Linguistics Define Phonetics and explain its branches. What is Code-switching? Give examples. Explain the difference between Denotation and Connotation. What is Transformational Generative Grammar according to Noam Chomsky? Discuss the features of Indian English as a variety of English. 5. Grammar and Usage Identify and correct the error in the sentence: "Neither of the boys are coming." Explain the use of subjunctive mood in English. What are phrasal verbs? Give five examples. Differentiate between active and passive voice with examples. Preparation Tips for UGC NET English 2025 Exam Aspirants, to prepare well for the UGC NET English 2025 exam, candidates should plan their study time smartly. The exam has two papers. Paper 1 is about Teaching and Research Aptitude. Paper 2 is based on English Literature. Key Topics to Focus On: Paper 1 (General Aptitude): Teaching Aptitude, Research Methodology, Reading Comprehension, Communication, Reasoning, ICT, and Higher Education System. Paper 2 (English Literature): Drama, Poetry, Fiction and Short Story, Non-Fiction Prose, Language (Basics and Pedagogy), English in India, Cultural Studies, Literary Criticism, Post-WWII Literary Theory, and Research Methods. Time Management Tips: Spend 1.5 hours daily on Paper 2. Focus on understanding literary texts, analyzing theories, and revising major movements. Give 1 hour daily to Paper 1. Practice reasoning, teaching techniques, and research basics. Set aside weekly time to solve mock tests and previous year question papers. This will boost your speed and confidence.
Press and Journal
14-05-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Colin Farquhar: M&S shuts with a whimper but can Union Street come back with a bang?
So there it goes; the death of another long-standing Union Street fixture – 'not with a bang, but with a whimper'. This was T.S Eliot writing in The Hollow Men, likely not prophesying the struggles of 21st-Century high street retail in Aberdeen, but accurate nonetheless. Ahead of schedule, M&S at the St Nicholas Centre closed its doors for the last time last week to very little fanfare, as its replacement at Union Square roars into life. We were supposed to have it until late summer. Firstly, I hope any staff who have lost their earnings during the process have been looked after, although it appears many have been transferred to the new flagship. Eighty-one years of trading quietly ceased, the store joins Debenhams and John Lewis as a monument to an image of Aberdeen city centre long past – an Unholy Trinity of empty department stores. Meanwhile, Union Street still coughs and splutters. 'This is the way the world ends'. I found myself in the Bon Accord and St Nicholas Centres on Saturday morning, and passing through into the square ahead of the old M&S entrance I found no real discernible change as yet. As a man who is very nearly a certain age – you may have noticed my distinguished grey hair – I'm quite accustomed to going to M&S to pick up a shirt, or even their long-johns, which I swear by. But prints now cover the closed entrance doors and windows redirecting us all to the branch at Union Square, another symptom of the damage done to Union Street since the centre was opened. Passersby continued their days in the sun seemingly with no reflection, avoiding the street theatre which has begun to occupy that part of the town, already gearing up to party at 10.30am, unlikely to improve any in the absence of M&S. At least, by virtue of the nice weather, there were plenty of people going around. But another hollowed out space in a street of hollowed out spaces with only minimal signs of improvement the further we get along the road. It would be easy to paint a depressing picture. Yet, to pinch from T.S. Eliot again, it ain't The Wasteland yet. Aberdeen remains the largest and most economically important city in a very wealthy part of the world and the means to create opportunity from these challenges should be at our fingertips. 'What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow out of this stony rubbish' – Eliot maybe was referring to the grievances of the granite city after all. We have to work out what will endure, as shopping increasingly turns online. The answer is probably people, and we need to work out what will drag them, by hook or by crook, into town, as retail ebbs away, or retreats to sunnier climes like Union Square, where footfall appears pretty consistent. You can't organically create a thriving city centre. Intervention is needed, as ultimately it was a different intervention that pulled people away. A long-term plan for improved city centre living and bringing the upper floors of Union Street back into use is hugely promising – there's a lot of empty space up there, as there is on the deck, but a lot of work is needed. Imagine though a renewed central boulevard of Union Street, reinvented and greened, which due to the city's geography will always run like a river through the heart of the city, flowing into North and South. One where students and young professionals lived above, and nightlife, hospitality, arts and tourism thrived below. You'll say 'never' but it works in other places. A bold plan for full pedestrianisation, where you might have to put up with bus gates for a bit longer, but the pay-off feels more worth it. One which is well-connected by public transport and active travel routes to the refreshed beach. The need for long-term vision and infrastructural change at the heart of Aberdeen has never been more apparent in my eyes. And what then, of these empty spaces in this 'Unreal City'. The brooding long shadows of the Debenhams, John Lewis and Marks and Spencer, all imposing and fragile in their predicament, both permanent and not. At the end of the day it's pretty binary. You either use them for something else, or you knock them down; tear them down or turn them over, because it's unlikely an all out resurgence of department sized stores is coming back. On the day the closure of M&S was announced I popped in to M&S and went to the cafe with a pal, one with a keen interest in the arts and the regeneration of town centres. We both wondered what else it could be. The only answer is that it could be anything. Colin Farquhar works as a creative spaces manager and film programmer in the north-east culture sector
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
Best Amazon deals to shop this weekend: I browsed thousands of sales and found markdowns of up to 75%
April is the cruellest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain. Way to harsh our early-spring buzz, T.S. Eliot! Sure, he was one of the greatest poets of the past century and a standard bearer of Modernism on both sides of the Atlantic, but that's no reason to bring us down at this, the most forward-looking time of the year. Speaking of looking forward: The best Amazon deals this weekend will see you sorted and suited up for the sunshiney fun and blue skies of the next few months. Top Amazon deals iRobot Roomba i5 Robot Vacuum & Mop for $199 (was $350): All-time low Crest 3D Whitestrips for $30 (was $43): Near all-time low Granitestone Piezano Pizza Oven for $95 (was $150): Near all-time low Yeti Roadie 24 Cooler for $200 (was $250): All-time low Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro) for $399 (was $499): All-time low Planning to wow 'em on the court this year? Why not make a statement (i.e., "I want to be comfortable and look hot while I kick your butt") with this tennis dress, now 40% off (aka $30 — love!). If you've got a warm-weather road trip on your sked, I spy with my little eye a way to stay vigilant and safe: this 4K dashcam, half price at just 100 bucks. Maybe your taste runs more toward kicking back with a cold one (this Yeti cooler's $50 off), making homemade patio pizza (how 'bout a portable oven for $95?) or just electrocuting flying insects with a lazy wave (this handheld zapper is a shocking $12 off). Whatever your warm-weather wonts, Amazon's got you covered. Psyched, right? But don't wait — they'll be no second coming for some of these deals. You might show up next week and find this place a wasteland. In any event, you don't have to thank us. It's our job to turn you on to the weekend's most sensational steals. Withholding that precious intel would just be ... cruel. In this guide: Rare Amazon deals | All-time low prices | Best home deals | Best kitchen deals | Best tech deals | Best fashion deals | Best beauty and wellness deals If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
