Tea Party Leader: “Allah is a Monkey God, Muslims are His Animals” loonwatch A racist tea party leader has expressed his belief that “Allah is a monkey God” and that “Muslims are His animals.” I understand the Tea Party is diverse but I don’t know how anyone, especially a Muslim (there are some) could be a member of their organization. Tea Party Leader: Allah is a Monkey God A top Tea Party leader, enraged by a plan to build a mosque near Ground Zero, has referred to the Islamic deity as a “monkey-god” and to Muslims as “the animals of … Continue reading Tea Party Leader: “Allah is a Monkey God, Muslims are His Animals”

Have you noticed police cars aren’t as big as they used to be? It looks like budget cuts really ARE starting to bite Police today unveiled what appeared to be their latest weapon in the fight against crime – a pedal-powered patrol car complete with siren and blue flashing light. The new five-gear vehicle, which has a top speed of 20mph, cost over £1,000, has full Hampshire Constabulary livery and a roll bar to protect the driver in the event of a crash. However, police admit that even if they are pedalling furiously the 6ft-long vehicle is unlikely to be … Continue reading Police budget cuts starting to bite?

Syria’s relationship with Russia – which is cultural as well as strategic – highlights how US non-engagement has failed James Denselow guardian.co.uk This has been a busy month so far for the Syrians. The US Congress blocked Obama’s attempt to appoint Robert Ford as ambassador following reports of Syrian Scud missiles being transferred to Hezbollah, and on 3 May Washington renewed economic and diplomatic sanctions on Syria that have been in place since 2004. While the US remains unwilling or unable to reach out to Damascus, the Russians have no such worries, prompting concern that the first visit of a … Continue reading Russia shows US how to deal with Syria

Mark Souder’s affair to remember As the Mark Souder scandal shows, clinging to antiquated views on sex only makes a mockery of Republicans’ preachings Sahil Kapur guardian.co.uk Mark Souder announces his resignation after it was revealed he had had an affair with a staffer. Photograph: Frank Gray/AP Photograph: Frank Gray/AP If he wants forgiveness, Republican congressman Mark Souder had better hope God digs irony. The “family values” Christian lawmaker from Indiana, who has a long history of bashing extramarital sex, was revealed on Tuesday to have had an affair with a staffer. In the next of many layers of irony … Continue reading Why so much fixation with sex?

BLUEPRINT: The University of God —Rakesh Mani Are you a Pakistani who happens to be a Muslim, or a Muslim who happens to be a Pakistani? Are you an Indian who happens to be Hindu, or a Hindu who happens to be Indian? Flag first, or faith? Like many others, I read last week’s column by Yasser Latif Hamdani (‘Faisal Shahzad’s radicalisation’, Daily Times, May 10, 2010), the lawyer and writer, with considerable interest. He discussed the radicalisation of the Times Square would-be bomber, Faisal Shahzad, and traced his hardline ideology to the rabid agendas of Islamic organisations on American … Continue reading The University of God

Dawn Editorial It is time the Punjab government accepted the obvious and took urgent steps to dismantle the jihadi network whose tentacles are spreading throughout the province. – (File Photo) It is time the Punjab government accepted the obvious and took urgent steps to dismantle the jihadi network whose tentacles are spreading throughout the province. Southern Punjab has long been seen by independent observers as a hub for Punjabi militants who maintain close ties with the Taliban and travel to the tribal belt for both training and combat. The traffic, in fact, is two-way with Punjabi militants providing safe haven … Continue reading Punjabi Taliban

By Irfan Husain Afghan Taliban. –Photo by AP Oriel College is tucked away in the medieval heart of Oxford, and has a lovely square and hall. Established by Charles II in 1326, it has continued to provide generations of students with a fine education. In another incarnation, I would love to study there. Invited to speak to members of the Pakistan Society at Oxford, I was shown around the ancient premises by Ayyaz Mallick, the highly articulate young office-bearer of the Society who had arranged my visit. I had decided to speak about Muslim attitudes towards the West, and inevitably, … Continue reading From Oriel College to Helmand

One of the very best things about London is the fusion of cultures. I’ve been invited to homes of friends from places like Lithuania, Pakistan and Uganda for home-cooked meals of food from their countries, have had food cooked for me by Korean, Indian and Mongolian friends just as if they would make it in their own countries.   Lately, W has been telling me about how his family in Colombia trap giant ants (about an inch long) which are called “hormigas”. They pull off the wings and legs and toast them for hours in a pot over an open fire. They are enjoyed as … Continue reading ANTS! Eating Colombian Hormigas

Burka rage as female lawyer rips veil off Muslim woman in French clothes shop By Peter Allen Tensions: A Muslim woman wears a burka in France (file picture). Police were forced to break up a fight in a French clothing shop after a female lawyer ripped the Islamic veil off a woman A female lawyer allegedly ripped another woman’s burka off in a clothes shop – and told her to ‘clear off to your own country’. The 26-year-old Muslim convert said the 60-year-old lawyer made ‘snide remarks’ about her Islamic veil. An argument followed during which the older woman is … Continue reading Time to ban Sarkozy from wearing high-heels!

The rootless world of the super-rich Mark Palmer telegraph.co.uk Roman Abramovich’s yacht Pelorus Once, very wealthy people owned big estates in the country. Now they have homes all over the world and flit to and fro in private jets, yachts – or even submarines. Mark Palmer reports Even before rumours began to circulate that it was haunted, David and Victoria Beckham had never slept a night in Domaine St-Vincent, the estate in Var-Provence they bought three years ago for £1.5 million. This might seem odd for those of us who can only fantasise about a second home in the South … Continue reading Super-rich – really poor?