COMMENT: Our own muddle —Shahzad Chaudhry After the usual round of condemnation following the blasts, what has emerged as a national political response is even more tragic. The PPP found it most opportune to zero in on the PML-N’s reluctance to accept Punjab as a hotbed of domestic terrorism Mian Nawaz Sharif, the twice elected former prime minister and leader of the party in power in Punjab, the PML-N, could only make it to Data Darbar, the unfortunate site of the July 1st blasts that killed 44 devotees and injured over 150, on the fifth day after the blasts. This, … Continue reading Pakistans muddle

VIEW: Legal minds of Pakistan —Yasser Latif Hamdani The gap between Pakistan and India in terms of intellectual, economic and social development is roughly equal to the gap between Ram Mohan Roy and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan in terms of time Any legal scholar picking up jurisprudence in Pakistan would be under the impression that Pakistan and India never separated. The reliance Pakistani jurists, judges and lawyers place on Indian judgements and case law is phenomenal. Indian precedents are not just persuasive – as in the case of English judgements and some American ones – but are given the status … Continue reading Legal minds of Pakistan

Barefoot Bandit on the run in the Bahamas: Teenage Facebook ‘hero’ flies to Caribbean after stealing plane Has stolen cars and FOUR planes to get from West Coast in U.S. to Bahamas His mother says: ‘I’m glad he’s able to enjoy beautiful islands’ Learnt how to fly by playing computer games and reading instruction manuals Police after him since 2007 when he broke out of a juvenile detention centre A teenage Facebook cult hero, known as the Barefoot Bandit, is believed to have crash-landed a plane in the Bahamas to continue his crime spree. Colton Harris-Moore, 19, has more than … Continue reading Free Colton Harris-Moore

Chinese airport closed after fiery UFO is spotted flying over city A Chinese airport was closed after this mysterious object was spotted in the sky. Arcing over Zhejiang’s provincial capital Hangzhou, the UFO appeared to glow with an eerie white light and left a bright trail in its wake. Xiaoshan Airport was closed after the UFO was detected at around 9 pm and dozens of flights had to be diverted. The strange light appeared to glow as it swept through the night sky, to the alarm of local residents Another photo from a different angle which shows a wide trail … Continue reading UFO is spotted near airport

In Defense of Wicca Note: The following are my opinions. Yours will probably differ. If you have objections, feel free to write to me at shydavid@ airspeed.com You may also search this site. The Problem Americans generally believe that their Constitution guarantees their freedom to worship as they please. That is a false belief. The USA Constitution recognizes that right: it is the citizen’s duty (and obligation) to defend it. If this were Pangloss’s “best of all possible worlds” (Candide, by Voltaire), the United States government would defend that right against people who would deny other people that right. It … Continue reading Defend our Wiccan brothers and sisters!

Attack on Iran’s Baha’i is a human rights outrage The destruction of 50 Baha’i homes demonstrates the Iranian government’s disregard for its international obligations Barney Leith guardian.co.uk, Friday 9 July 2010 09.30 BST Article history The homes of 50 Baha’i farming families were razed in Ivel, Iran on 26 June. Photograph: Baha’i World News Service”The governor general is like a physician … if he feels that there is a malignant tumour in the body of the society, he tries to remove it.” Such was the official explanation given to Natoly Derakhshan, a Baha’i from the village of Ivel in Mazandaran … Continue reading Time to stand up for the Baha’i religious group

‘National security’ Afghan justification doesn’t hold Our involvement in Afghanistan has galvanised radicals – it’s time politicians took account of widely acknowledged realities Ivo Petkovski guardian.co.uk, Friday 9 July 2010 11.30 BST Article history Liam Fox is sticking with the argument that involvement in Afghanistan is ‘a national security imperative’. Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/ReutersThree words you’re unlikely to hear from a UK or US politician these days are “war on terror”, but undeniably the phrase has taken its place just behind “yes we can” and “I agree with Nick” in the roll-call of classic political soundbites. The latest instalment of this … Continue reading Afghanistan has galvanised radicals– it’s time politicians acknowledged realities

Buddhism in education Buddhist meditation is justified in schools by its practical benefits. But there’s more to it than that Ed Halliwell guardian.co.uk, Friday 9 July 2010 14.00 BST Article history As faith schooling from various traditions continues to grab headlines, the prospect of a specifically Buddhist education hasn’t been much mooted. School-based practices inspired by Buddhism, on the other hand, are starting to gain momentum. Last weekend, Goldie Hawn was enthusing about the British launch of her meditation in schools programme, while, on a slightly lower key note, mindfulness teaching has already been introduced in several private institutions – … Continue reading Buddhist meditation is justified in schools by its practical benefits

Mel Gibson’s onscreen charisma has become off-screen unpleasantness In 13th-century Scotland, Gibson’s persona has box office appeal. But in a private domestic row, Braveheart is a monster Marina Hyde guardian.co.uk, Friday 9 July 2010 20.00 BST Article history ‘He wasn’t as nice as he was on film,” Mel Gibson once conceded of William Wallace. “We romanticised it a bit, but that’s the language of film – you have to make it cinematically acceptable. Actually, he was a monster …” And so to the latest episode in the life of Mel, whose hugely successful stock in trade is playing wild-eyed characters … Continue reading Mel Gibson – Let him be!

Our band of brothers War veterans need an army of support to help them cope with life after returning from conflict Anthony Wright guardian.co.uk, Friday 9 July 2010 20.30 BST Article history This week, the case of John Dale, who served 20 years in the military but whose return to civilian life was beset by mental health problems, drinking, relationship difficulties and abiding guilt about his time in the forces, was reported in this paper. He has spent time in prison and is currently homeless. Dale’s experience is not uncommon. I have helped several veterans who’ve ended up in jail. Some … Continue reading War veterans need an army of support to help them cope with life after returning from conflict