ANALYSIS: Profiling Pakistani jihadists —Ali K Chishti One major draw for jihadis in Pakistan is the clout a religious militant enjoys with the law-enforcement agencies. The militant organisation gives otherwise powerless men a strong sense of identity in an increasingly fragmented social structure What kind of people are rushing to join jihadi organisations? Where are they coming from? What is their family and educational background? And most importantly, what motivates them to put their lives on the line for missions that really have nothing material to do with them? What really prompts a Punjabi, Sindhi, Baloch or Pashtun to become … Continue reading Profiling Pakistani jihadists

Twelve U.S. soldiers face trial after Afghan civilians ‘were killed for sport and their fingers collected as trophies’ By Daily Mail Reporter A dozen US soldiers are facing trail accused of being part of a ‘kill team’ that allegedly killed Afghan civilians in an arbitrary fashion – and they even collected their victims’ fingers as trophies of war. Five soldiers have been charged with the killing three Afghan men ‘for sport’. And seven more are accused of covering up the murders. In one of the most serious accusations of war crimes to come out of the Afghan war, the deaths … Continue reading Afghan civilians killed for sport and fingers collected as trophies!

Orange and T-Mobile merge networks so users can switch between them By Daily Mail Reporter Mobile users will be able to swap between both networks Customers of T-Mobile and Orange will now be able to use either network in the wake of the two firms’ recent merger, it has been announced. From next month the 30 million customers the firm will be able to make calls and send texts on either network for no extra cost. The move is the first real benefit for customers to emerge from the recent merger between the two mobile giants which has resulted in … Continue reading Orange and T-Mobile merge

Right, no more monkey business! Weighing in at 15st, Britain’s fattest orangutan is put on a diet By David Derbyshire Weighing in at a hefty 15 and a half stone, tubby Oshine gives a whole new meaning to the phrase Great Ape. After a lifetime being indulged with jellies, burgers, chips and marshmallows, the 3.5ft tall ape weighs twice as much as a healthy orangutan – and as much as portly six foot tall man. Now, Britain’s fattest primate is changing her ways. Enlarge   Cutting back on the calories: Oshine was kept as a pet in Africa for 13 … Continue reading McDonalds

Incredible close-up shots of mantises as they feed and disguise themselves on twigs By Daily Mail Reporter With bulbous eyes and their strange stick-like bodies, these mantises look like creatures from another planet. Perched on the tiny stem of a plant, one insect enjoys a lunch of tiny yellow aphids. Another picture shows a mantis about to pounce on an unwitting butterfly and one incredible shot even shows the creatures in larvae form, not much bigger than a thorn. This ball of liquid is probably the contents of this mantis’ stomach as they expose the fluid to the air to … Continue reading Praying mantids

Police sergeant who threw innocent woman, 57, headfirst on to concrete floor is jailed for six months By Arthur Martin Jailed: Sergeant Mark Andrews arrives at Oxford Magistrates Court, where he was sentenced to six months A judge branded two police officers liars yesterday as he jailed a sergeant who hurled a woman headfirst on to a concrete floor. Sergeant Mark Andrews was caught on CCTV dragging Pamela Somerville, 59, by her wrists across the floor of a police station in Wiltshire before throwing her into a cell. The footage shows him walking away as his 5ft 2in victim lies … Continue reading Pig and Woman

Neo-nationalism threatens Europe Giving way to nationalist groups from Scotland, the Basque country or Flanders would only highlight old differences Stewart Motha guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 7 September 2010 13.00 BST Article history Alex Salmond, SNP leader and first minister of Scotland, walks across a giant Saltire flag. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesThe prevailing view seems to be that the idea of Europe as a cultural, political, and even economic institution is under threat. What threatens Europe? A glib response would be: “It’s the UK, stupid!” We will find more than a grain of truth in this response. The UK straddles Europe’s … Continue reading Tribalism threatens Europe

Punjab govt goes after Hindu mythology cartoons “Amar Chitra Katha” was a Hindu mythology series that aired on a foreign television channel. PHOTO: PUBLICITY LAHORE: The Punjab government has formed a committee which will present a report on the airing of cartoons depicting Hindu mythology and if they can be banned in Pakistan. The committee is headed by Punjab government spokesman Senator Pervaiz Rasheed and comprises Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Cultural Wing President and MPA, Farah Deeba, MPA Khawaja Imran Nazir and other officials. Even though Indian TV channels are currently off-air in Pakistan, several cable operators are broadcasting Indian … Continue reading Sharif after Hindu mythology cartoons!

One of the most awe-inspiring sights in religion: Hundreds of thousands of Muslims gather at Mecca for Ramadan By Mail Foreign Service They have come in their hundreds of thousands, all devout, converging on one of the world’s holiest places. This was the scene at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the birthplace of Islam, yesterday as Muslims around the world celebrated Ramadan. The Grand Mosque houses the Kaaba, the most holy place in Islam, a square-shaped building that predates the religion itself. It is the Kaaba that Muslims around the world are facing when they pray towards Mecca. Ritual: Hundreds … Continue reading Muslims gather at Mecca for Ramadan