Zaair Hussain How has this schism become so advanced that the well-heeled have become aliens in their own land, by their own hand? There are many culprits, but few so guilty as language. The language of power and the language of the people are profoundly divided A Pakistani comedian once remarked that the country’s elite were cloistering into ever-smaller bubbles. Like all good humour, the comment provoked reflection long after laughter had faded. To recognise our bubble is to recognise how we view those outside; from within those curved lenses, all without is distorted and alien. Even the best-meaning of … Continue reading The retreat of the elite

Zeeshan Suhail One of the largest homes in Aspen is owned by none other than Prince Bandar Al-Sultan of Saudi Arabia. The property covers dozens of acres and the master bedroom alone is between 5,000-6,000 square feet. That is even bigger than a large house in a large American city. Of course, one would expect as much from a Saudi monarch My readers might recall my column from last week in which I mentioned the trials and tribulations that come with staying indoors due to adverse weather. Well, just as that self-imposed hibernation was coming to an end, I was … Continue reading Aspen-bound, onward-bound

dawn The martial arts grannies of Kenya’s Korogocho slum Elderly women, residents of Nairobi’s Korogocho slum, are learning the rudiments of martial arts in order to survive in one of Kenya’s most dangerous shanty towns. This self defence group started in 2007 as way of fighting back at the young bandits of Korogocho who started raping women three or four times their age. -AFP Photo World Kenya rounds up prey for starving lions ZEBRAS MIGRATE Kenya rounds up prey for starving lions KOROGOCHO: At the age of 60, 80 or maybe 100, the karateka grandmas of Korogocho slum are learning … Continue reading Karate Grannies of Kenya

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The founders of a website, PleaseRobMe. Com, which provides real-time updates on empty homes locations are “irresponsible” for providing a “one stop shop” for burglars, privacy campaigners say. By Andrew Hough Published: 7:30AM GMT 19 Feb 2010 Please Rob Me website provides minute by minute updates on when people have left their homes. Its founders deny it has been set up solely for burglars. Photo: PLEASEROBME.COM The Dutch website, launched this week, provides minute-by-minute updates on people who have just left their house. Privacy campaigners have expressed outrage at the website, which publishes a regular updated stream of “opportunities” by … Continue reading Please Rob Me website causes fury for ‘telling burglars when Twitter users are not home’

British threat to Israel over Dubai Hamas assassination Britain will consider severing its intelligence-sharing agreement with Israel if Mossad agents are proved to have stolen the identities of British passport holders, The Daily Telegraph has learnt. By Gordon Rayner, Con Coughlin and Duncan Gardham Published: 6:30AM GMT 18 Feb 2010 Previous 1 of 2 Images Next The father of senior Hamas military commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh with a photo of his son Photo: REUTERS The passports of six Britons were cloned by the alleged assassins Photo: AP Ministers are understood to be furious that an alleged hit squad which murdered a Hamas leader in … Continue reading Britain will consider severing its intelligence-sharing agreement with Israel if Mossad agents are proved to have stolen the identities of British passport holders

Fatah members linked with assassination of Hamas commander in Dubai Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader, is facing accusations of collusion with Israel after two former members of his Fatah faction were linked to the assassination of a Hamas commander in Dubai last month. By Adrian Blomfield in Tel Aviv Telegraph Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a senior Hamas military commander Photo: REUTERS The two men, who are both in custody in Dubai, supplied logistical support to an assassination squad that carried out the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, according to police in the Gulf state. Making a potentially explosive accusation, Hamas alleged that Ahmad … Continue reading Fatah linked with assassination of Hamas commander

The war underground Despite much moral debate, assassinations have always been part of the Israeli-Arab conflict Aluf Benn The Guardian Israelis enjoy a love-hate relationship with the intelligence service, Mossad. When they succeed in another James Bond-style operation, we sing their praises as an example of all good things Israeli: innovation, daring, outsmarting the competition. But when they screw up, we are quick to identify all of our social maladies: arrogance, carelessness, disregarding the rules. The assassination of the Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai serves as a rare example of both attitudes. When news of the hit first broke, … Continue reading Assassinations have always been part of the Israeli-Arab conflict

dawn Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi —Reuters/File Photo Pakistan India, Pakistan ready to re-launch peace talks India, Pakistan ready to re-launch peace talks BRUSSELS: Pakistan’s arrest of an Afghan Taliban commander was not done under pressure from its US ally and shows the sincerity of its fight against terrorism, the foreign minister said on Thursday. “We have done it because it is in our interests to do so,” Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told Reuters on the sidelines of a security conference in Belgium. “If you think that Pakistan is deploying over 100,000 troops on the western border under … Continue reading Fighting Takfiri Mullahs in Pakistan’s interest: FM Qureshi

By Kuldip Nayar Firefighters examine the site of a bomb blast at the German Bakery restaurant in Pune. —Reuters A couple of years ago when President Bush visited New Delhi he pointed towards Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to say that here was a person who had no Taliban in his country. This was not really true even at that time. The then security advisor, M.K. Narayanan, said that he had his fingers crossed because the terrorists could strike anywhere, at any time. Yet what was apparent was that the terrorists came from outside and that India had no sleeper cells … Continue reading Politics of terrorism