Makkah Clock Tower set to open soon A view of the clock tower being built as part of the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project near the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (AN photo by Badea Abu Al-Naja) By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS Published: Jun 13, 2010 00:02 Updated: Jun 13, 2010 00:05 MAKKAH: The Makkah Clock Tower, which is being built on the instructions of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, is scheduled to be inaugurated shortly. The tower, designed by a leading German company,  on completion will be the tallest in the world. It can be … Continue reading Mecca Clock Tower

US discovers $1 trillion Afghan mineral deposits: NYT dawn.com The report about the country’s untapped wealth is likely to intensify competition among regional players such as China, India and even Russia for a greater role in exploiting those resources. — Photo by AFP Front Page Taliban could become part of Afghan set-up: Obama aide Taliban could become part of Afghan set-up: Obama aide SINGAPORE: Afghanistan could be holding $1 trillion of untapped mineral deposits including critical industrial metals such as lithium, the New York Times reported, quoting US government officials. The previously unknown deposits of iron, copper, cobalt and gold … Continue reading $1 trillion in minerals in Afghan Pashtun areas

The three blind mice By Jawed Naqvi .com dawn Suicide and torture have a strange nexus. Both are increasingly used as strategies in today’s terror war. There is no dearth of survivors of the most horrendous forms of torture in liberal and democratic India. Not everyone survives the ordeal of course. In the wider world, prisoners including, ironically enough, death-row convicts are said to have hanged themselves to escape the pain inflicted on them. Gory details of Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib are beyond normal human capacity to absorb or accept. But India’s middle classes and its ruling elite made … Continue reading Suicide and torture – strategies of war?

COMMNT: The idea of Pakistan —Ammar Ali Qureshi Pakistan as an idea in the 1940s appealed to all sections of Muslim society in India. It would be wrong to assume that sects such as the Ahmedis or Shias took a collective decision Professor Ishtiaq Ahmed, in his article “The demand for Pakistan and Islam” (Daily Times, June 8, 2010), has raised a number of contradictory and controversial points that demand clarification and refutation. His statement about Ahmedis and Shias, of being initially wary of joining Pakistan or rejecting it first before accepting it, can be disproved from his own article. … Continue reading The idea of Pakistan

VIEW: Heretic, communist and Muslim Leaguer —Yasser Latif Hamdani The blatant use of Islam had been very much a part of Indian politics since Mahatma Gandhi encouraged Muslim divines to come into politics during the Khilafat Movement. At the time, Jinnah was the lone voice of dissent in Congress I have been receiving a plethora of e-mails in response to my article ‘Two Nation Theory’ (Daily Times, June 7, 2010), which has now necessitated that I further develop my thoughts on the complex political scenario that 1940s’ British India presented and which ultimately led to two distinct events that are … Continue reading Heretic, Commie, Muslim!

Religious parties fail to revive MMA Maulana Fazlur Rehman says JUI-F will pull out of ruling coalition if all former component parties of MMA make such a demand LAHORE: Central leaders of six religio-political parties met in Lahore on Sunday to evolve a consensus on the revival of their 2002 electoral alliance – the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) – but failed to narrow down their differences. However, they agreed to meet again in the federal capital to decide the fate of their alliance. “The meeting participants agreed that efforts for the revival of the MMA will continue in our next meeting … Continue reading Pakistani Mullah parties fail to revive ‘ MMA (Multi Mullah Alliance)’

Another Apple miracle By Martin J Young HUA HIN, Thailand – Expectations were so high for the latest version of Apple’s iPhone that it was dubbed “Jesus-Phone” before it was unveiled at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday amid choreographed bright lights and the excessive hype that is now the norm from CEO Steve Jobs and Co at product launches. Apple worshipers will no doubt be marveling at the slightly squarer corners and 24% reduction in thickness of the iPhone4, or drooling over the new aluminosilicate glass screen which, Apple claims, is also used in helicopters. The real test will … Continue reading Steve Jobs – Satanist or a Money Loving Mullah?

Why men will judge a woman in milliseconds Men take a fraction of a second to decide if they are attracted to a woman or not – but they should not be called shallow because they are genetically programmed to do so, scientists say. Men who instantly judge a woman based on her looks are simply following their survival instincts, scientists say Photo: GETTY IMAGES Men weigh up potential partners almost instantaneously based on their appearance because their “ancient” genetic preference for attractive mates leads them to, experts claim. According to research, a woman with an attractive face is taken … Continue reading Judge a woman in milliseconds?