VIEW: Idealism versus pragmatism —Mohammad Jamil Pakistan is at war with terrorists and there are internal and external threats to its security. In such circumstances, extension of the army chief is justifiable. The Pakistan Army has avoided politics and one should appreciate an army chief who performs his duties within the parameters of the constitution If idealism is pursued, no extension of extension of service should be given to the army chief, but for continuing the counter-terrorism measures, the extension can be looked upon as logical and inevitable. Ideally speaking, ad hoc judges should not be appointed, as it is … Continue reading General Kayani

July 30, 2010 by Ali Abbas  There have been very few times when I have not found the right words to express my grief, sorrow, anger or passion for something and today is one of those days as I write for my man, Prem Chand – A Pakistani Hindu, a true patriot, a social worker who spent his life trying to uplift the condition of his fellow countrymen, he gave sweat and tears to this land of pure. An elected member of PILDAT’s Youth Parliament, whose fellow YP’s say the following about him: He greeted muslims with a warm Assalamo … Continue reading Prem Chand We Are Ashamed!

The latest outbreaks of paranoia and anti-Muslim sentiment around the construction of new mosques, particularly the one proposed in lower Manhattan, is propelling American society down the same road it has traveled many times before, to its own detriment. By Asma T. Uddin, July 21, 2010 Stopping more than a mosque Washington, DC Writers, philosophers, professors, and politicians have referred to the United States of America as “a nation founded by immigrants.” This fact can hardly be refuted – especially considering the existence of the term “Native American.” America has dealt with the question and issues resulting from immigration since … Continue reading How can we view Muslims as Americans?

Islam, the media and meaningless language The use of reactionary language in place of context when covering issues related to Muslims is simply lazy journalism. But there is more at stake than that conclusion implies. These hollow phrases fail to portray Muslims as human beings or to accord Islam the same stature as other global faiths. By Ali H. Mir, July 28, 2010 Clear as mud Los Angeles, California Islamist, orthodox, jihadist, conservative, Islamism, hardliner, Moslem, extremist, insurgent, fundamentalist, freedom fighter, infidel, moderate, liberal, progressive. All of these words mean nothing and everything at the same time – a testament … Continue reading Muslims and the use of reactionary language

More than a coach Famed UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, who died last week at the age of 99, was an inspiration to me as a child and gave me valuable lessons in how to succeed in life. By Tarik Trad, June 7, 2010 The author with Coach Wooden Glendale, California John Wooden, who died recently at the age of 99, was best known as a college basketball coach. His UCLA basketball teams won 10 NCAA championships in 12 years, earning him the nicknamed “The Wizard of Westwood.” He coached many college All-Americans and future NBA Hall of Fame players, … Continue reading John Wooden

Israeli rabbis clamp down on burka Israeli rabbis are to clamp down on the growing number of devout Jewish women wearing the burka by declaring the garment an item of sexual deviancy. By Adrian Blomfield in Jerusalem telegraph.co.uk The move was prompted by the husbands of some burka-wearing women Photo: Tim Whitby / Alamy At the insistence of the husbands of some burka-wearing women, a leading rabbinical authority is to issue an edict declaring burka wearing a sexual fetish that is as promiscuous as wearing too little. A small group of ultra-orthodox Jews in the town of Beit Shemesh chose … Continue reading Israeli Jewish women wish to wear burkahs!

India’s surrogate mothers face new rules to restrict ‘pot of gold’ World centre of ‘surrogacy tourism’ will introduce radical legislation to regulate £1.5bn industry Jason Burke in Anand guardian.co.uk, Friday 30 July 2010 15.45 BST Article history Twins Kayan and Kalel who were carried for their Indo-American mother. Photograph: Massimiliano Clausi/LAIF/Camera PressShabnum Nur Mohammed Sheikh’s reasons for bearing another woman’s child are straightforward: the 60 rupees (80p) her husband earns from his food stall each day buys dinner but little else. Shabnum’s first surrogate pregnancy got her out of a shared shack in a slum and into a small flat. … Continue reading World centre of ‘surrogacy tourism’ will introduce radical legislation to regulate £1.5bn industry

Syrian and Saudi leaders arrive in Beirut for ‘historic’ talks President Bashar al-Assad and King Abdullah visit Lebanese capital to calm tensions and pave way for Palestinian-Israeli talks Ian Black, Middle East editor guardian.co.uk, Friday 30 July 2010 13.58 BST Article history A billboard depicting King Abdullah is erected in Beirut, where the Saudi monarch and Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad arrived today. Photograph: Sharif Karim/ReutersThe leaders of Syria and Saudi Arabia arrived in Beirut today on an unprecedented joint mission to try to calm Lebanon‘s tensions and overcome divisions over Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. The visit, described by a senior UN … Continue reading Syrian and Saudi leaders arrive in Beirut

Why Indians don’t care about David Cameron The British media may have got itself worked up over David Cameron’s visit but Indians have other priorities Leo Mirani guardian.co.uk, Friday 30 July 2010 17.00 BST Article history David Cameron was pictured on the front page of the Hindustan Times playing cricket. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire”What? James Cameron is in India?” My friend, the editor of a popular New Delhi magazine, was terribly excited for about eight seconds until I broke it to him that our present visitor was not, in fact, the multi award-winning American filmmaker but merely the British prime … Continue reading Indians don’t care about David Cameron?

Was there life on Mars? Planet’s rocks ‘may hold evidence of buried lifeforms’ By Daily Mail Reporter Researchers have discovered rocks that could contain the fossilised remains of ancient life on early Mars. The team made their discovery in the ancient rocks of Nili Fossae on the planet’s surface, which they say are almost identical to rocks in the Pilbara region of north-west Australia where some of the earliest evidence of life on Earth has been preserved. The findings could mean that is evidence of living organisms on Mars around 4 billion years ago buried on the planet’s surface. The … Continue reading Life on Mars?