Irish terror groups target Conservative party conference in Birmingham • Republican dissidents see attack as ‘top prize’ on hit list • Tory MP Patrick Mercer says threat to mainland is ‘worrying’ Mark Townsend and Toby Helm The Observer, Sunday 22 August 2010 Article history A nationalist protester throws a missile at police in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast in July. Photograph: Cathal McNaughton/ReutersIrish republican dissident groups are targeting the Conservative party conference this autumn, raising fears of a repeat of the 1984 Brighton attack that nearly killed the then prime minister, Margaret Thatcher. Sources in Northern Ireland said that … Continue reading Birmingham – A Terrorist Target in October 2010!

VIEW: Looking beyond the calamity —Imtiaz Alam Substituting a transparent, incorruptible and efficient mechanism with the option of “pious men” is an absurd replica of ‘Vilayat-e Faqih’ (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists), which serves neither the purpose of good and efficient governance nor a democratic federation Indeed the natural and no less man-made calamity of the floods is still continuing across Pakistan. The scale of devastation is so horrendously huge and still so incalculable that no government or agency of any capacity could cope with what the UN Secretary General has described as a “continuing tsunami”. Cursing a most vilified … Continue reading Pakistans Flood will cleanse the nation of Mullahs?

VIEW: Fuelling fundamentalism —Andleeb Abbas While the Jews and Indians have invested heavily in education, skills and research, Muslim countries have been busy trying to build inequitable societies where the accumulation of wealth in a few hands is more important than an accumulation of knowledge in the minds of the masses Fundamentalism is a state of mind where extreme views, mostly based on hardline religious preferences, create a provocation and retaliation to any opposition to the rigid stances held by the owners of these views. Sadly, this word is now considered synonymous with Muslims in general and any Muslim male … Continue reading Jews and Indians invest heavily in education, skills and research…

ANALYSIS: Relief work and politics —Dr Hasan-Askari Rizvi The bottom line is that both the official and non-official circles took time to move out for rescue and relief work, which caused much frustration among the displaced people. They expected the government and other agencies to help them at the first sign of the floods Pakistan has been experiencing devastating floods for the last three weeks. In a week’s time the water will start falling into the Arabian Sea, which will be the beginning of the end of the floods. However, the devastation and sufferings caused by the floods would continue … Continue reading Relief work and politics

Park 51 dividing lines The ‘Ground Zero mosque’ is treated as a party-political issue. In reality, both Republicans and Democrats are split on it Tom Rogan guardian.co.uk, Saturday 21 August 2010 16.00 BST Article history The proposed ‘Ground Zero mosque’ has split the public and politicians alike. Photograph: Michael Nagle/Getty ImagesIn their reporting of the political arguments over the proposed Park 51 centre (the master building that will house the “Ground Zero mosque”), most US and international media coverage has characterised the ongoing debate as a Democrat v Republican party-line dispute. But this simplification obscures the reality of a disagreement … Continue reading Park 51

Rape warrant against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange cancelled Swedish authorities withdraw an arrest warrant for the founder of the whistleblowers’ website on suspicion of rape David Batty and agencies guardian.co.uk, Saturday 21 August 2010 13.20 BST Article history Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. He wrote: ‘The charges are without basis and their issue at this moment is deeply disturbing’. Photograph: Scanpix Sweden/ReutersSwedish authorities have withdrawn an arrest warrant for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, stating that the accusation of rape against him was unfounded. The move came just a day after a warrant was issued by Sweden‘s prosecutors’ office in Stockholm in … Continue reading Julian Assange – The First Dirty Trick against him…

Fall Seven Times and Stand-Up Eight by Guest Why is the international response so slow? Why do Pakistani’s around the world not trust its own government to responsibly collect funds and dispatch aid? Why aren’t more people helping? What can I do? Will anything I do make a difference, or is the situation so hopeless that we just sit back and watch Pakistan painfully try and resurrect itself from the realms of obliteration. Is there any hope, and if so what? Reflections and conversations of such nature pervade my mind, when for the few minutes I do allow myself to … Continue reading Pakistan will rise stronger!

Japan military chopper unit heads to flood-hit Pakistan As their family members and fellow martialists see them off, the first batch of about 50 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel prepare to board a commercial flight to leave Fukuoka Airport in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, for flood-hit Pakistan. — AP Photo TOKYO: The first contingent of a 200-strong Japanese military helicopter unit left for Pakistan Saturday to join international relief efforts across the flood-ravaged nation. Fifty ground troops left the Japanese city of Fukuoka for an army airfield in Multan, central Pakistan, Japanese media reported. They will prepare the ground for the … Continue reading Japan sends helicopter unit to help Pakistan

Hardliners and flood relief Dawn Editorial Volunteers of Falah-e-Insaniyat foundation, the charity wing of militant group Jamaat-ud-Dawa supervise the cooking of food for flood affected people in Nowshera. – Photo by AP. Business Banks close 64 branches in affected areas SWEPT AWAY Pakistan farmers see livelihoods wiped out by floods As the country struggles to cope with the floods, the debate on the role of hard-line religious organisations in the relief effort continues. Just as in the case of the 2005 earthquake, various religious organisations — some with ostensible links to banned militant outfits — have been very active in … Continue reading If you are a victim – would you be choosy who helps you?