COMMENT: A crisis of morality? —Dr Syed Mansoor Hussain The emphasis both among the ruling classes and the elites is on public displays of piety with frequent trips to holy sites. Public piety has therefore replaced personal probity and as such made a mockery of the moral principles that are the underpinnings of our great faith If our pundits of the print and electronic media are to be believed, Pakistan is going through a crisis of morality. If only we were better people, more tolerant of each other and more honest in our dealings, they say, then things would be … Continue reading A crisis of morality?

COMMENT: Imperial whims —Shahzad Chaudhry A recent poll suggests more than 50 percent Americans do not place Afghanistan in their country’s top two issues, which are the state of the economy and the unemployment rate. This trend is likely to prevail and the upcoming House and Senate elections in November will further define the agenda of the politics to follow Just three months back, Afghanistan was a pretty settled place and given Afghanistan’s predicaments of over three decades, such a state will always be relative and scarce. Consider, however, if only Afghanistan was to know the way out of its … Continue reading American Imperial whims

COMMENT: Is a new trade war hitting our region? —Muhammad Aftab ATTA 1965 had allowed Kabul to use the Pakistani seaport of Karachi and road transportation for custom-free transit and foreign trade through its land route. However, the Afghan businessmen and the smuggling mafia have grossly misused this transit facility for 45 years Are we witnessing the US-NATO-led war in Afghanistan winding down, but a new war hitting the region? Indications are that we are. And it can be more hurtful and longer lasting. Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and the US are plunging head on into this war over giving Afghanistan … Continue reading Is a new trade war hitting our region?

A couple of Apollo 15 original pictures show an unusual cigar-shaped object on the backside of the Moon The “Apollo 20” An American-Soviet Classified Mission For An Abandoned Alien Ship On The Moon? Released Controversial Footages on YouTube – Leak of Information or Skilful Fake? by Luca Scantamburlo freelance and writer May 17, 2007 from AngeliSmarriti Website A recent controversial footage of about 6 minutes (which seems a digital transfer from a film, and that we can call the “Apollo 20 footage”) released on YouTube is causing amazement inside the ufological public on the Web, all around the world. The footage would … Continue reading United States did not go back to the Moon because…?

BORDER AGENCY COSTS US ALL £70M Border officials are writing off almost £70million in bad debts, overpayments and compensation express.co.uk By Ted Jeory BUNGLING border officials are preparing to write off almost £70million in bad debts, overpayments and compensation to asylum seekers. A shocking catalogue of costly mistakes at the Home Office’s UK Border Agency meant £26million had to be written off in the last financial year. And the agency paid out £13million of benefits in error to would-be refugees since April 2008. Astonishingly, a further £41million has had to be set aside in special accounts to cover more bungles, … Continue reading UKBA – Terrorist Group eats away £70M!

Art world goes mad for Britain’s ‘Mini Monet’: Boy aged seven makes £150,000 in 30 minutes by selling his paintings By Daily Mail Reporter His paintings fetch thousands and attract buyers from all over the world. But while his watercolours, pastels and oil paintings hint at a talent honed through decades of practice Kieron Williamson is barely half-way through primary school. The seven-year-old prodigy sold his latest collection of paintings for £150,000 at the weekend, with all 33 works sold within just half-an-hour. Genius at work: Kieron Williamson, painting in his parents’ kitchen in Holt, Norfolk, has sold all over … Continue reading UK Monet aged 7!

Iranian women’s rugby team take to the field wearing modesty-preserving headscarves and tracksuits By Nick Pisa If the rugby-playing women of Iran’s national sevens team had cauliflower ears, no-one could tell. Kitted out in tight-fitting headscarves and full tracksuits to protect their modesty, the players caused quite a stir when they played in Europe for the first time. Taking to the field in a women’s seven-a-side tournament in Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy, they were dealt a 10-0 by the host nation and then suffered a further 33-0 setback in a second game. Representing Iran: Female coach Fatemeh Moolai, with arm raised, … Continue reading Iranian women’s rugby team

Long-Awaited Cluster Bomb Ban Enters Into Force; US Straggles Behind by: Esther Banales  |  Inter Press Service | Report An unexploded cluster bombin Lao PDR. (Photo: Steve Joyce / MAG) United Nations – Thirty-eight countries will start observing the Convention on Cluster Munitions this Sunday, Aug. 1, after a rapid entry into force since the treaty was announced two years ago in Oslo. “This new instrument is a major advance for the global disarmament and humanitarian agendas, and will help us to counter the widespread insecurity and suffering caused by these terrible weapons, particularly among civilians and children,” noted U.N. Secretary-General Ban … Continue reading Cluster Bomb Ban – US Straggles

Afghanistan and the “Sacrifice Trap” by: Simon Moyle  |  Waging Nonviolence | Op-Ed (Photo: Mass Communication Specialist Senior Chief Kevin Elliott / U.S. Navy) The last month has seen six Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan, bringing our country’s total to seventeen. Yet even with a federal election looming and 61 percent of Australians wanting troops brought home, our involvement in the war has bipartisan support. In fact, far from raising questions over our mission there, these deaths seem to only strengthen the government’s resolve to remain. The same seems to be true of the U.S. and many other NATO countries. It strengthens … Continue reading Afghanistan – “Sacrifice Trap”