By Amineh Soghdi KERMAN, Iran – The arrest of Iranian Sunni Islamic militant Abdulmalik Rigi means the end of his Jundallah (Army of God) group, some analysts believe, and has been widely welcomed in the southeastern Sistan and Balochistan province where it operates. Rigi was captured after a Kyrgyz passenger plane in which he was traveling was forced to land in Iran on February 23 by Iranian fighters. Iranian Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi was quoted as saying that Rigi had ties to a number of intelligence services including the United States Central Intelligence Agency. He said Rigi carried a US-issued … Continue reading Abdulmalik Rigi the ‘good-for-nothing bandit’

By Donald Kirk SEOUL – North Korea’s rhetoric is such a familiar noise during United States-South Korean war games that most people don’t pay attention. Nor does anyone outside the US and Korean military establishments seem to care much about the exercises themselves – Key Resolve and Foal Eagle. The real exchange of fire seems to be going on quite separately. That’s a debate among Americans and Koreans over one of the most contentious issues between the US and South Korea, namely the plan to give “operational control” over all military operations to a South Korean commander in the event … Continue reading South Korea reluctant to take command

Aun Mohammad Zaidi We as citizens have forgotten what it means to be people. In a democracy, contrary to popular belief, it is not parliament that is supreme but rather the people who elect them On Friday, Lahore or rather Pakistan got a reminder like none before. The Taliban in all their force showed this country that they can and will strike at will wherever they want and there is nothing the citizens of this country can do about it. The twin suicide blasts in RA Bazaar followed by six smaller explosions in different parts of Lahore, brought the city … Continue reading We all fall down!

Fauzia Yazdani Female empowerment will not happen through political slogans, but through carefully designed policy interventions that focus on integrating women so as to further gender mainstreaming I was part of the critical mass of women that was created to celebrate the International Women’s Day in Islamabad, jointly organised by the Ministry of Women’s Development (MOWD) and PTV on March 8, 2010. The critical mass had to wait, as usual, for almost two hours for the prime minister to grace the occasion. It was a show of pomp that failed to dedicate a moment of silence to recognise the large … Continue reading Equal rights and equal opportunities

Dr Khalil Ahmad For Libertarians, religious freedom is an inseparable part of this natural personal freedom that the Constitution of 1973 so purposefully protects. Protecting religious freedom as a fundamental right is not only morally, spiritually, and intellectually of greater merit but is also socially harmonious Secularism is an old song that keeps reverberating in the liberal, enlightened, progressive, leftist, and socialist circles of Pakistan. Earlier this January, news from Bangladesh that its Supreme Court banned the use of religion by political parties provided a fresh impetus to the choir. Since then a plethora of op-ed pieces appreciating and envying … Continue reading Do we need secularism?

By Daily Mail Reporter This motorist was spotted by police driving with her car bonnet wide open, peering through the tiny gap to see where she was going. When incredulous officers pulled her over, the 53-year-old woman told them the bonnet was faulty and she was on her way to get it repaired. The woman had been using a four inch gap between her dashboard and the bonnet to steer her car through a busy seaside town. Spot the driver: The bonnet of the car was completely up as it was being driven Officers in Weymouth, Dorset were carrying out … Continue reading What do you mean I can’t see the road, officer? Woman pulled over driving with a VERY faulty bonnet

This stunning series of images captures the moments a starling is chased down and snatched in mid-air by a bald eagle. By Andy Bloxham telegraph.co.uk Previous 1 of 3 Images Next The bald eagle is native to North America can reach a wingspan of up to eight feet. Photo: SOLENT The bald eagle is native to North America can reach a wingspan of up to eight feet. Photo: SOLENT The bald eagle is native to North America can reach a wingspan of up to eight feet. Photo: SOLENT The photographs capture the bird of prey wheeling into position behind the songbird, then preparing … Continue reading Starling snatched mid-air by eagle in spectacular photos

A British expat who claims to have no gender is thought to have become the first person to be officially recognised as neither male or female. By Heidi Blake telegraph May-Welby said: ‘The concepts of man or woman don?t fit me. The simplest solution is not to have any sex identification’ Norrie May-Welby, 48, was born a man but had a sex change operation in 1990, at the age of 28. After becoming unhappy as a woman, May-Welby decided to become a “neuter”. The 48-year-old is now officially recognised as a person of no specific gender. May-Welby emigrated to Australia … Continue reading Briton is recognised as world’s first officially genderless person

When a Chinese college student posted a message announcing her desire to find a boyfriend she wasn’t prepared for the overwhelming response. telegraph.co.uk Previous 1 of 2 Images Next Zhang Mengqian Photo: REX FEATURES Zhang Mengqian’s boyfriend advert attracts thousands of suitors, Chengdu, Sichuan province Photo: REX FEATURES After leaving the message, thousands of eager potential boyfriends swarmed to the dormitory building where Zhang Mengqian lives. The mass gathering occurred after the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in Chengdu, in southwest China’s Sichuan province, declared March 7 and 8 as a girls’ day for the female students. The university, which … Continue reading China: girl’s boyfriend advert attracts thousands of suitors