Lotus Elise

Lotus Elise

Lotus is introducing special edition of Elise at its 20^th anniversary. The Elise is appreciated by it’s fans for it’s light weight and high performance. It was first time introduced in the Frankfurt Auto show in 1995.

Lotus is promoting this special edition as fuel sipper and lightweight model. The Elise’s new model is reduced in weight by 22 pounds.

According to company this 2,010 lb sports car achieves 27.3 mpg in the city and 47.6mpg on the highway.  It gains speed of 62 mph in 4.6 seconds with it’s 1.8 liter supercharged engine and it has a top speed of 145 mph.

The Elise anniversary edition is available in four traditional Lotus colors: blue, green, yellow and silver. The weight is saved by lightweight forged wheels, lightweight body color matching center console and lightweight sports  seats made of leather or Alcantara.

The Lotus Elise Anniversary Edition is going to cost about $ 59,00 depending upon the fluctuations  of currency market . Another addition of $5,300 in MSRP for hardtop roof, radio and air conditioning.

The Chief Executive Officer , Dany Bahar, of Group Lotus said: “We worked very hard on getting the Elise 2015 exactly right, it’s our entry level car so it needs to give a proper introduction to the driving experience.”  

“The Elise you can buy now is still a fantastic car, make no mistake, Lotus remain very proud of it, but this is a natural progression for us moving forward. The Elise 2015 will also be class-leading in terms of performance and efficiency bit it will do more than that it will take the Elise model to the forefront of its class across the board.”

“The design of the Elise 2015 is perfect for the target market, it’s young, strong, confident, verging on ruthless, it mirrors the engineering and technology. It’s the next generation Elise for a new generation of Lotus drivers.”

Don’t fear despite dramatic changes and upgrades  the Elise 2015 lost nothing  that made the coupe famous, it still keeps it’s dreamy performance.

Specifications

·         Citing Capacity- 2 seater

·         Fuel-Petrol

·         Hybrid technology-Mild hybrid

·         Engine-1.8 liter 4cylinder

·         Power-Torque 320 PS / 330 Nm

·         Speed- 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds

·         Top Speed-270 km/h

·         Weight-1,095 kg

·         Doors- 2

·         Transmission- Manual 6 Speed, DTC optional

·         Drive- Rear Wheel drive.

·         Production-Start of production Early 2015

·         Availability- Spring 2015

·         Expected Price- £35,000

Honda Accord LX Sedan

Four door Front Wheel Drive Car, 185 Horsepower engine, Direct Gasoline Fuel injection with 5 passenger sitting capacity.

Honda Accord LX Sedan

The Accord’s blend of beautiful and engaging driving dynamics and it’s spacious interior not only makes it top ranker in the market but also makes place for it in the list of 10 best for 2015. It is available as sedan or a coup, the Accord is in 185-hp 2.4 liter four cylinder and 278-hp 3.5 liter V-6. A six speed automatic or CVT are available but the Slick six-speed is best to enjoy the drive. The hybrid model gives a mileage of 50-mpg in city cruising; a plug-in hybrid is also available in some markets.

Specifications

·         Brakes – 4 wheel ABS system, Front and Rear discs

·         Engine --  Regular Unleaded 1-4, Direct Gasoline Fuel injection System, SAE Net  185 Horsepower @6400 RPM, SAE Net 181 Torqe@3900 RPM

·         Fuel Tank --  Approx 17.2 gal

·         Exterior Dimensions – Wheelbase 109.3 in, Overall length 191.4 in, Maximum width w/o mirrors 72.8 in, Front Track Width 62.8, Rear track width 62.7 in, Minimum ground clearance 5.8 in

·         Interior Dimensions --  Passenger Capacity 5, Front Head Room 39.1 in, Front leg Room 42.5 in, Front Shoulder Room 58.6 in, Front Hip Room 55.6, Second Head Room 37.5 In, Second Leg Room 38.5, Second Shoulder Room 56.6 in Second Hip Room 54.7

·         Mileage --  EPA Fuel Economy on Highway ESt 34 MPG, City Cruising Range 412.80 mi, EPA Fuel Economy in City ESt 24 MPG, Combined Fuel Economy ESt 27 MPG, Cruising Range on Highway 584.80 mi

·         Steering – Rack-Pinion Steering, Curb to Curb Turing Diameter 38.1 ft

·         Suspension- Strut Front Suspension, Multi-Link Rear Suspension.

·         Tires-Front Tire size P205/65HR16, Rear Tire size P205/65HR16, Compact spare Tire

·         Wheels-Front Wheel Size 16x6.5 in, Rear Wheel Size 16x6.5, Spare Wheel Size Compact, Front and Rear Wheel are made of Aluminum, Spare Wheel is made of Steel

The Politics in Pakistan

Politics is usually considered to run the system of the government which includes executive but people have a notion that politics is a tactic work which needs cunningness.

         Actually this is the real practice of which is being done by different leaders of different nations. In reality politics is a Greek word and the meaning is for or relating to citizens. Politics is a process to run the community in a proper and regular way. Simply just like in family the head of the family is the person who run the whole system peacefully and meet the needs of each and every person and sometimes he has to take strict decisions for the adjustment of the rules and regulations.

         Now the question comes before us is that "Are the head of the states are doing the same job which a head of the family does?" The answer of everyone will be negative no doubt. In our political system we see that politics is a way of get a lot of money either by hook or by crook. One can hoard money by entering the politics and he can also become famous. There is one similarity between the head of the state and the head of the family and that is both want the development and luxury for their children. The head of the family is positive in his step here but the head of the state is negative as he is running the whole state not just his personal family members the same matter is with all the members of the associated persons who are responsible for their respective jobs.

         As we see in our political history after Quaid and from Liaqat Ali Khan to Nawaz  Shareef all these leaders did such kind of jobs which were more beneficial for their personal affairs rather than for their beloved homeland and even they know the reality this country was got after a long and hectic struggle of our fore fathers. The dilemma of our nature is that we have lost our integrity as well as respect completely. Although we get rid from the slavery of the English but still we are in the slavish habits. Whenever we get the opportunity to get money we never let it go and never think about the right and wrong. In our present age the fellow who is well settled is weeping and the person who is leaving from hand to mouth is also weeping for his financial state.

         Rules and regulations are the milestones for every state to run the system smoothly and firmly. These rules are equal for every tom dick and harry. This is called in legal term "the rule of law" but if we see in practice these rules are just for the frail and weak people and all the others are big fish and they are exempted from the rule of law. There is no need to mention any example for proving this as this fact is known by all citizens even who don’t know the abc of politics.

The Clash of Civilizations

The clash of civilizations is a controversial theory in international relations. It was formulated in an article by Samuel P. Huntington entitled “The Clash of Civilizations” published in the American journal Foreign Affairs in 1993. The itself was first used by Bernard Lewis in the September 1990 issue of The Atlantic Monthly entitled “The Roots of Muslim Rage.” Huntington later stretched his thesis in1996 book The Clash of Civilization and Remaking of world Order.

Huntington’s “The Clash of Civilizations”

Huntington began his thinking by surveying the diverse thinking about the nature of global politics in the post –Cold War period. Some theorists and writers argued the liberal democracy and Western values had become the only remaining ideological alternative or the world had reached the end of history in a Hegelian sense. Huntington assumed that while the age of ideology had ended the world had only reverted to a normal state of affairs characterized by cultural conflict. In the article, he argued that the primary axis of conflict in the 21^st century would be along cultural and religious lines. As an extension, he posted that the concept of different civilizations, as the highest ranking of cultural identity, would increasingly become useful in analyzing the potential for conflict.

Due to an  enormous response and solidification of his views, Huntington later expanded the thesis in his 1996 book The Clash of Civilization and Remaking of World Order.

Using various studies of history, but of course making certain decisions. Huntington divided the civilizations as such:

Ø  Western Christendom, centered on Europe and North America but also including Australia and New Zealand. Whether Latin America and the former member states of the Soviet Union are included , or are instead their own separate civilization, will be an important future consideration for those areas, according to Huntington.

Ø  The Orthodox world of Orthodox and/or Salvic eastern Europe and Russia.

Ø  Latin America

Ø  The Muslim world of the South Asia, North Africa, Middle East, , Malaysia Indonesia

Ø  The Hindu civilization, located chiefly in India, Nepal, and adhered by the global Non-resident Indian and person of Indian Origin

Ø  The Sinic civilization of China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore

Ø  Sub-Saharan Africa

Ø  The Buddhist areas of Northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, Buryatia, Thailand,Myanmar, Cambodia, Tibet and Laos

Ø  Japan, considered an independent civilization

Huntington argued that the trends of global conflict were increasingly appearing at these civilzational divisions. Wars such as those following the divide of Yugoslavia, in Chechnya, and between Pakistan and India were cited as evidence of intercivilizational and universal norms would only further antagonize other civilizations.

The New Great Game

The new great game is a current competition between the United states of America, Russia, China, Turkey, India, Iran, and Pakistan to secure reliable long-term resources of petroleum and natural gas trough the construction of oil pipelines in the past-Soviet nations of central Asia. The term was coined by Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid in reference to the original Great Game between the British Empire and the Russian Empire for strategic supremacy in Central Asia in the 19^th and early 20^th century.

          British and Russian involvement in the region go back to the 19^th century Great Game, while the United States is a late-comer, dating back to Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. In order to counter Soviet expansion, the American government funded the Afghan Mujahideen from 1985 to 1992. The situation is complicated by the mutual desire of major powers, most of all the United States, to establish military bases in Central Asia for counter- terrorism . The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a security organization headed by China and Russia, issued a statement in 2005 calling on the US to establish a timetable for withdrawal of US military presence in Central Asia.

          While the mostly-western great powers try to exert their influence over Central Asia to gain a foothold over each other, lesser powers, Iran, India, Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia are participating in the ‘game’ to further their own interests. According to the center for Defense Information Tohir’Idosh, the cofounder of the IMU, has received funding from “intelligence services and Islamic charities in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.” The governments of all four have started different political, economic, cultural projects in the region to compete with each other. Kazakhstan itself has also tried to establish regional hegemony, as demonstrated through the Kazakh government’s US $100 million to Kyrgyzstan in earthquake aid in December 2006. Indo-Pakistani rivalry also plays a role.

Phases

            The great game has gone through three phases. The first phase began at the end of World War II and lasted until the end of the Cold War with fall of Soviet Union. The second phase began with the independence of the Central Asian nations until the color revolutions of the early 2000s open Georgia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan to democratization and foreign investment. The third and current phase began in May 2005 when the Central Asian governments first openly questioned whether they could trust the British and American governments and their distinct foreign policies emerged among the Central Asian states. Islamist terrorists in Uzbekistan attempted to overthrow the government, but were violently put down by Karimov administration.

Second Phase: Allying with East

Kyrgyzstan (1991-2005)

          Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev sought assistance from the United States in 2002 as domestic dissent increased, but received little as his administration failed to demonstrate progress in democratization or human rights. Akayev made Russian an official language, gave Russia a military base in Kant, and increased trade with Russia by 49% in 2002. The Kyrgyz people overthrew President Askar Akayev  in Tulip Revolution 2005. Kyrgyzstan has since shifted to balancing the interests of Russia and United States by allowing both of them to have air bases.

Third Phase:

Uzbekistan after May 2005

          While the western world condemned what it initially perceived as an excessive use of force by the Uzbek government I quelling uprising in Andijan, the Karimov administration received verbal and financial support from China, India , and Russia. The European Union imposed trade and travel sanctions against Uzbekistan on 3 October 2005, almost five months after the initial incident, Karimov ordered US troops to leave the Karshikhanabad airbase on 29 July 2005 within six month. On 21 December 2006 Russia gain the right to use the Navoi air base in Uzbekistan in the event of an emergency. China is actively trying to obtain a base in Uzbekistan. The third phase of ‘Great Game’ is going on and players are playing the game to secure their interests.     

China an Emerging Superpower

The People’s of Republic of China (PRC) is often considered an emerging superpower due to its large and stable population, its rapidly growing economy and military spending and capabilities. However, it has several economic, political and demographic problems which need to be overcome to be considered as a superpower. It is also not yet as influential on the international stage when compared to the United States or former Soviet Union.

Factors in Favor

Geographic Factors

Territorial size – The People’s Republic of China covers a total area of 9,596 square km which is the third largest in world after Russia and Canada. China’s total land area is the second largest in the world after Russia.

Natural resources – China’s land possesses vast wealth of valuable natural resources such as coal, oil, and minerals. In view of PRC’s extensive river network and mountainous terrain, there is ample potential for the production of hydroelectric power. In fact, China has the largest hydroelectric potential in the world. For instance, the Three gorges Dam that spans the Yangtze River (the third longest river in the world), will provide China with a large amount of hydroelectricity, twice as much as the second largest dam in the world.

Demographic Factors

Population size – China’s population is the world’s largest, with about 1.3 billion citizens. With the global human population currently estimated at about 6.5 billion, China is home to approximately 20%. Because of the One-Child policy the PRC is able to control the population in mainland China, although this may eventually have a detrimental effect on mainland China’s demographics.

Military Factors

Military- The 2.25 million-strong People’s Liberation Army makes it the largest military in the world, in terms of sheer number of troops (3.5 million if the people’s Armed Police is included). However, the PRC is not part of any multinational military alliance such as the NATO (whose total size of armed forces number, 4,086,900 in 1990), would have dwarfed that of the PRC. In spite of these numbers, the PLA is behind advanced Western militaries in many areas. Recognizing this fact, the PRC is undergoing a massive effort to improve and modernize its military technology, equipment, and power projection capabilities – all fuelled by rapidly growing defense budget.

International Trade and Political Influences

China and the United Nations-As one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council with veto power, the PRC has increasing influence in the world politics.

International influence -The PRC is gradually increasing its influence in areas which are traditionally dominated by the influence of Western countries. This is in part due to the PRC’s non-ideological approach to foreign affairs and offer of no-strings-attached assistance, which thus presents an alternative for seeking foreign and potential allies. Its ties with these countries have been closer driven by strengthening economic bond through trade and strategic investment, and to much lesser extent, military cooperation.

Economic Factors

          China’s GDP-has grown at a rate of at least 9% per year for more than 25 years (although recently the government has sought to slow this growth slightly to prevent a clash), one of the fastest growth rates for a major economy in recorded history. In 2005, China became the fourth largest economy in world in terms of market exchange value and the second largest when measured by purchasing power parity, with a GDP (PPP) of US$8.8 trillion in 2006. It is expected that China will pass Japan in GDP by 2017, US around 2020. In the same period of time, it has moved 300-400 million people out of poverty and raised the average Chinese person’s income by 8 times.

          Trade- China’s international trade grew at an annual rate of 29.5% in the last years. China’s export share is 7.35% and import share is 6.3% in world trade. China is currently only a major manufacturing export economy.  The PRC government also put great efforts to push for exporting medical supplies and software. China’s foreign exchange reserves has become largest in world

Technology- Studies show that china is progressing rapidly in science and technology research as the PRC government spent billions of dollars in fields such as biotechnology and information technology. It is spending more than 2.0% of its GDP. According to experts China might produce more engineering PhDs than the USA in 2016. Many foreign companies have set up R&D centers in China due to official government support and to tap lower-cost Chinese talents.   

Currency War

A reserve currency (or anchor currency) is a currency which is held in significant quantities by many governments and institutions as part of their foreign exchange reserves. The products, such as oil, gas, etc. are traded in it in the global market.

This permits the issuing country to purchase the commodities at a marginally cheaper rate than other countries, which must exchange their currency with each purchase and pay a transaction cost .It also permits the government issuing the currency to borrow money at a good rate, as there will always be a wider market for that currency than others.

 

History

                After world war ll the international financial system was governed by a formal agreement, the Bretton Woods System. Under this system the US dollar was placed deliberately at the centre of the system, with the guarantee of US government to other central banks that they could sell their US dollar reserves at a fix rate for gold if they do desired. European countries and Japan deliberately devalued their currencies against the dollar in order to boost exports and development.

          In the late 1960s and early 70s the system came apart under pressure from the rising prominence of the other countries, as well as growing deficits in the US. The US dollar remains central due to the lack of competitor currencies.

          Recently, nations, especially in Asia, have been stockpiling reserves at levels previously unknown, especially in US dollars, in an effort to strengthen export competitiveness by weakening their own currencies, and also to contain quick and large inflows of capital and buffer against financial crisis such as the Asian financial crisis.

United States dollar

                Today, the United States dollar is the most important reserve currency in the world. In the last decade, two thirds of the total allocated foreign exchange reserves of countries have been in United States dollars. Due to this reason the United States dollar said to have “status of reserve-currency”, that help the United States to run higher trade deficits with greatly postponed economic impact. Central bank reserves held in dollar-denominated debt, however, are relatively small compared to private holdings of such debt. If foreign holders of dollar-denominated assets decide to shift holdings to assets denominated in other currencies, there could be grave consequences for the US economy. Changes in the structure of the international financial system, however, typically occur only gradually. Thus, a large, sudden shift away from dollar reserve holding is unlikely.

Euro

                The Euro is currently the second most commonly held reserve currency, being approximately a quarter of allocated holdings. After World War ll and the rebuilding of the German economy, the German Deutsch Mark gained the status of the second most important reserve currency after the US dollar. When the Euro was launched in 1999, replacing the Mark and other European currencies, it attained the status of a main reserve currency. Since then its part in official reserves has risen continually as banks seek to diversify their reserves and trade in the euro zone continues to expand.

          According to former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan that the Euro could replace the US dollar as the world’s primary reserve currency. It is “absolutely conceivable that the euro will replace the dollar as reserve currency, or will be traded as a similarly important reserve currency.” Econometrical analysis suggests the euro may replace the US dollar (i) if the euro members, including the UK, adopt the Euro by 2020 or (ii) the recent depreciation trend of the dollar persists into the future.”

Petrodollar Warfare

                The phrase petrodollar warfare refers to a hypothesis that a secret thrust of United States foreign policy over recent decades has been the status of the United States dollar as the world’s dominant reserve currency and as the currency in which oil is priced. The term was used by William R. Clark, the author of a book with the same title. The phrase oil currency wars are occasionally used with the same meaning.

          Supporters of this hypothesis believe that the value of the US dollar is determined by the fact that many key commodities (particularly oil and gas) are traded in dollars. They believe that if it changes to another currency, such as the euro, many nations would sell dollars and cause the banks to shift their reserves because they would no longer need dollars to buy oil and gas. This would make the dollar weaker relative to the euro. The core of the hypothesis is that US administrations are greatly motivated by fear of the consequences of a weaker dollar. This motivation is seen as underlying and explaining many aspects of US foreign policy about Iraq.