Faith in democracy Posted by Nadeem F. Paracha Islam holds an important place in the workings of society and thus politics of Pakistan, a fact even some of the most secular political parties of the country cannot ignore. Just what is the religious make-up of Pakistan’s political parties in this context, especially regarding their response to the rise of extremist violence? Let’s explore. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Formed in 1967 by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the PPP soon became the country’s premier progressive party. Right from the onset, three distinct groups of influence emerged in the party. The most dominant among … Continue reading Faith in democracy or mullahs?

By Steve Connor Cern believes it can build a successor to the Large Hadron Collider (left) within the Circle line (right) by 2020 // London Underground is in talks with the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern) about the possibility of using the 23km tunnel of the Circle Line to house a new type of particle accelerator similar to the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva. Particle physicists believe the existing tunnel can be adapted to take a small-scale “atom smasher” alongside the passenger line at a fraction of the cost of building a new tunnel elsewhere in Europe. They are … Continue reading Hadron Collider II planned for Circle Line

Labour’s election strategy: bring on no-nonsense hard man Gordon Brown • Campaign posters focus on alpha male personality • Advisers consider tactic of staged confrontation • Send us your hard-man Brown ads • See the election posters here • Comment: Is Bruiser Brown the right strategy? Olaf Priol The Guardian, Labour strategists are considering a billboard campaign portraying Brown as ‘a sort of Dirty Harry figure’, in the words of one senior aide. In an audacious new election strategy, Labour is set to embrace Gordon Brown‘s reputation for anger and physical aggression, presenting the prime minister as a hard man, … Continue reading Bring on no-nonsense hard man Gordon Brown

Ferrets key to bridging the digital divide between cities and rural areas Specially trained ferrets are being used to deliver broadband to rural areas following groundbreaking techniques used by an internet provider. Telegraph.co.uk Ferrets have been used by Virgin Media for over a year to help lay cables for its broadband service Photo: VIRGIN The animals have been used by Virgin Media for over a year to help lay cables for its broadband service, the company has disclosed. The ferrets wear jackets fitted with a microchip which is able to analyse any breaks or damage in the underground network. The … Continue reading Ferrets are being used to deliver broadband to rural areas

Project Orion : The Secret Story of the Atomic Spaceship (VIDEO) World renowned physicist Freeman Dyson’s son, George Dyson, tells the spellbinding story of Project Orion, a massive, nuclear-powered spacecraft the size of the Empire State building fueled by atomic bombs with the power to destroy half of Planet Earth. The mission was to take us to Saturn in five years. With an insider’s perspective and a cache of documents -many still classified-photos and film, Dyson brings this dusty Atomic Age dream of the early 1960’s to life. The project lives today in limbo at NASA possibly to be activated … Continue reading Story of the Atomic Spaceship (VIDEO)

The Cygnus Bubble – Natural Object or Astroengineering Project? (A Galaxy Classic) Is the solar-system sized bubble in the Consellation Cygnus a planetary nebulae or could it be an “AC” or astroengineering construction, also known as a Dyson sphere, named after Freeman Dyson of the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study who proposed the theory? Dyson’s thought experiment suggested that in our search for advanced extraterrrestrial civilizations that Instead of radio signals we should look for spheres, which are artificial mega structures that enclose the orbit of a star, fabricated from the material of that solar system. The key is to distinguish a … Continue reading Natural Object or Astroengineering Project?

Sheikh Salman al-Oadah Everything in existence is subject to Allah’s will and power. For Muslims, this goes without saying. It is an essential tenet of every Muslim’s faith. Allah says: “Indeed, Allah has power over all things.” However, this is no excuse for human beings to evade responsibility for their own decisions. No one can argue that it was their fate to sin. We know this from firsthand experience. We know instinctively that we make our own decisions. We choose to do some things and refrain from doing other things. We carry out intentional actions. We intend, for instance, to … Continue reading Allah’s Decree, Free Will, and Our Sins

Heaven & Earth and the beasts He scattered in both…” – Extra-Terrestrial Life? Sheikh Muhammad b. Ibrâhîm Dûdah Allah says: “And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the beasts that He has scattered throughout them both: and He has power to gather them together when He wills.” [Sûrah al-Shûrâ: 29] Human beings have long wondered: Are we alone in this vast universe? Do any other thinking beings exist on other worlds? We have reason to wonder. Is our planet the only one to bear the fruit of life from among the countless planets … Continue reading Islamic faith includes respecting Extra-Terrestrial Life?