Maoists threaten Gandhi’s legacy Peaceful resistance in India has fallen by the wayside as Naxalite rebels believe their violence will be justified Eric Randolph guardian.co.uk Members of the Naxalites. Photograph: Mustafa Quraishi/AP The most tragic aspect of India’s civil war between the state and Maoist rebels is how it is destroying the country’s greatest ideological legacy – non-violent resistance. Arundhati Roy’s article on her time spent with the Maoists (or Naxalites, as they are also known) in the jungles of Chhattisgarh has been much debated here in India. No one can deny it offered a valuable insight into the suffering … Continue reading Maoists threaten Indian Union

Being a spy sounded fun – so when I had a message from the security services asking me to apply, I thought I should give it a go . . . Sonia Van Gilder Cooke guardian.co.uk Judi Dench as M, the head of MI6 Photograph: Allstar/UNITED ARTISTS/Sportsphoto Ltd./Allstar A tranquil evening was interrupted by the ping of an incoming email: “MI6 Graduate Event.” Intrigued, I clicked. “The event no one is talking about,” the email ran. “For the first time, the Secret Intelligence Service (sometimes known as MI6) is holding graduate events. Please do not mention or forward this email … Continue reading The day MI6 tried to recruit me – by email!

Diplomats ‘allowed’ to have foreign security personnel By Baqir Sajjad Syed dawn.com US special envoy Richard Holbrooke is surrounded by armed guards as he visits internally displaced persons at a UNHCR camp near Islamabad. Pakistan uses its intelligence agencies, diplomatic protection department of police, Frontier Constabulary and other security arrangements to provide protection to diplomats. – Reuters World China won’t confirm it’s ready for Iran sanctions China won’t confirm it’s ready for Iran sanctions ISLAMABAD: Responding to concerns expressed by diplomats about their security, the government is reported to have quietly allowed them to employ their own nationals for their … Continue reading Why do you think Diplomats in Pakistan have foreign security personnel?

Karzai Slams The West AGAIN AP/Huffington Post KABUL – President Hamid Karzai’s scathing attack on the West for its role in Afghanistan drew criticism from Afghan politicians after the White House described his remarks as genuinely troubling. Despite Karzai’s attempt at damage control, including a telephone conversation Saturday with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, his allegations laid bare the growing mistrust between the Afghan government and its international partners as the United States and NATO ramp up troop levels to try to turn back the Taliban. Moreover, on the same day of Karzai’s call to Clinton, he also held … Continue reading Karzai cannot be trusted! Time to talk with the Afghan Taliban directly?

Gas fat cat pockets £28m in a year as pensioners struggle to pay bills By Becky Barrow Frank Chapman, who is the chief executive of gas production firm BG, scooped a pay and pension package worth £28m last year The boss of one of Britain’s biggest gas giants scooped a pay and pension package worth an astonishing £28million last year, it emerged today. The size of the handout given to Frank Chapman, chief executive of the gas production firm BG, fuels the row surrounding executive fat cats. It comes as families are being crippled by average gas bills of £750 … Continue reading Frank Chapman – British Gas – Blood sucking bastard! Here is the reason why?

Some of the restrictions imposed by Taliban on women in Afghanistan The following list offers only an abbreviated glimpse of the hellish lives Afghan women are forced to lead under the Taliban, and can not begin to reflect the depth of female deprivations and sufferings. Taliban treat women worse than they treat animals. In fact, even as Taliban declare the keeping of caged birds and animals illegal, they imprison Afghan women within the four walls of their own houses. Women have no importance in Taliban eyes unless they are occupied producing children, satisfying male sexual needs or attending to the … Continue reading Read this and then ask ‘why’ I am against political mullahs!

Hank Johnson: US Congressman claims Guam ‘will capsize from military influx’ telegraph.co.uk A United States Congressman, Hank Johnson, has become an unlikely internet hit, after he claimed the Asia Pacific island of Guam would “tip over and capsize” from a planned influx of American troops. By Andrew Hough Published: 10:00PM BST 02 Apr 2010 Previous 1 of 5 Images Next Congressman Hank Johnson has become an internet hit since video of him making the remarks was posted on YouTube. Photo: GETTY Congressman Johnson seen here speaking about his fears Guam could ‘capsize’ Photo: YOUTUBE Admiral Robert Willard’s response was deadpan. Photo: US NAVY … Continue reading Guam ‘will capsize from military influx’!

VIEW: Unanswered questions —Zubair Torwali The Swat flogging video embarrassed the provincial government to the extent that its ministers accused the person who had personally brought the video out before the world. The video was also termed as a means to sabotage the ‘peace’ deal Swat has witnessed many harsh and cruel days. For about two years, it presented a view of Afghanistan during the heyday of the Afghan Taliban. The man who ignited the situation against the state of Pakistan — Sufi Mohammad — was spared (seemingly by design) for about three years. The MMA was then the ruling … Continue reading Lying Taliban Lovers must be exposed!

The unknown promise of internet freedom Despite attempts from China – and Australia – to curb online activities, the internet remains a powerful force for change Peter Singer guardian.co.uk Google has withdrawn from China, arguing that it is no longer willing to design its search engine to block information that the Chinese government does not wish its citizens to have. In liberal democracies around the world, this decision has generally been greeted with enthusiasm. But in one of those liberal democracies, Australia, the government recently said that it would legislate to block access to some websites. The prohibited material includes … Continue reading Politicians need to understand PEOPLE ARE FREE AND WILL DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS!

BNP official Mark Collett questioned over alleged threat to kill Nick Griffin Police arrest publicity director accused by BNP leadership of plotting ‘palace coup’ Adam Gabbatt and Matthew Taylor guardian.co.uk Nick Griffin and Mark Collett after winning a court case in 2006. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images The BNP has been thrown into turmoil weeks ahead of the general election after a senior party member was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill Nick Griffin. Key party officials have been summoned to a meeting tomorrow to discuss “urgent organisational matters” after Griffin and colleagues made statements to police resulting in the BNP’s … Continue reading How was BNP propaganda chief Mark Collett going to KILL Griffin?