Tuesday, January 20, 2015
French prison a university of terror?
CNN's Nic Robertson takes a look at French prisons that are becoming a breeding ground for Islamic terrorists.
Reports: AirAsia flight climbed fast, stalled
AirAsia Flight QZ8501 climbed rapidly before it crashed, a top Indonesian official said Tuesday.
Obama’s security: Pakistan rejects Indian terror attack report
Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani on Tuesday rubbished reports of any warning issued to his country by US ahead of President Barack Obama’s India visit. “The Indian media has a tendency to invent and exaggerate things,” said the Ambassador when asked to comment on reports that the US had warned Pakistan against any terror attacks on the Indian soil during Obama’s visit.
An Indian news agency on Sunday reported from Washington that Pakistan had been subtly warned of the ‘consequences’ of any terrorist attack during President Obama’s trip if that is traced back to their country. The media reports said that the US had asked Pakistan to ensure there is no cross-border terror incident during President Obama’s visit to India. Defending Islamabad’s stand on terrorism the envoy said, “As a matter of fact John Kerry had deeply appreciated the steps taken by Pakistan against terrorism.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2015.
A Tesla made for … napping?
Steve Sasman wants you to bask in the luxury of his Tesla, but he doesn't just want you to take it for a spin. He wants you to sleep there. KPHO reports.
Devolution of power: Balochistan accuses Centre of trampling on its rights
ISLAMABAD:
Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch accused the federal government of violating the letter and spirit of the Constitution by overstepping its authority and encroaching on matters that should fall under the jurisdiction of the provincial governments, an accusation made unusual by the fact that the ruling party in Islamabad and Dr Malik’s National Party are coalition partners in Quetta.
The chief minister made these remarks while attending a session of the Balochistan Development Forum, a seminar conducted in Islamabad to highlight the public policy challenges facing the country’s smallest province by population. The forum was organised by the chief minister’s Policy Reform Unit, headed by economist Kaiser Bengali, a unit meant to help the provincial government introduce legislation and policies that would spur economic and human development in Balochistan.
Dr Malik had two main quarrels with the federal government: the structure of the petroleum ministry, and Islamabad’s agenda-setting power at the Council on Common Interests (CCI).
On petroleum, it was clear that the Balochistan government continues to feel that, despite accounting for over 20% of natural gas production and over 30% of oil production, the province is left out of decision-making when it comes to hydrocarbon policies. Dr Malik attributed this to what he felt was an organisational structure at the petroleum ministry that violated the Constitution.
“Under the 18th amendment, the ministry of petroleum and natural resources should have been an umbrella ministry, actively coordinating with the provinces on issues of oil and gas,” said the chief minister, adding that it violates Article 172 Section 3 of the Constitution, which states that the federal and provincial governments have equal rights to mineral resources.
His second grievance was over the issue of the agenda-setting power exercised by Islamabad at the CCI, a constitutional body meant to coordinate issues between the federal and provincial governments. Dr Malik complained that several items that Quetta wanted placed on the CCI agenda were ignored by the federal government.
“At the time of 18th amendment, the provinces made a mistake when they did not acquire the power to set the agenda of CCI meetings,” said the chief minister.
In a sign of political disagreement within the ruling coalition in Balochistan, Dr Malik said the federal government had rendered the CCI toothless and that he would not let Islamabad encroach on Balochistan’s rights, going so far as to promise a resolution in the provincial assembly against the federal government. The ruling party in Islamabad – the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz – is also a coalition partner in the Balochistan government and has representation in Dr Malik’s cabinet.
Dr Malik is the first chief minister of the province to not be a tribal chief. An ophthalmologist by profession, he is a member of the small but growing educated middle class in Balochistan and hence his view of governance is different from that of his predecessors.
For instance, his government has been asking the federal government to allow Balochistan to issue debt without seeking permission from the federal finance ministry, a sign that the chief minister plans on engaging in capital expenditure projects beyond what federal funding for the provincial development budget would allow.
He also wants greater representation for the provincial government on the boards of state-owned oil and gas companies, such as Oil and Gas Development Company, Pakistan Petroleum, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines and Sui Southern Gas Company.
Balochistan Inter-Provincial Coordination Secretary Muhammad Ali Kakar proposed that the CCI should have a permanent secretariat in Islamabad, with equal representation from the five provincial civil services.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2015.
Hospital releases ‘Ebola country’ passenger
A plane passenger who had recently traveled to an "Ebola-affected country" does not have the virus and was released from the hospital, according to a statement from the New Jersey Department of Health.
10 killed in Hebdo protests
Violent protests over Charlie Hebdo in Niger leave 10 dead, churches and other sites torched.
Dutch court blocks extradition of Dutch-Pakistani to US over torture concerns
AMSTERDAM: A Dutch court on Tuesday blocked the extradition of a man accused of having fought against US troops in Afghanistan, saying it could not be ruled out that whether the CIA had been involved in torturing him after his arrest in Pakistan.
Dutch court documents showed the suspect, a Dutch-Pakistani dual citizen named Sabir Khan, was tortured after being apprehended by the ISI.
He faces charges in New York of conspiracy to commit murder and of supporting al Qaeda.
The court said the Netherlands could not transfer him because Dutch and international law prohibits the extradition of torture victims to countries that played a role in their abuse.
Washington denied in a letter sent to Dutch officials in October that US authorities were involved in his arrest, but the Dutch court said it was not convinced the CIA had not been involved in his detention.
“This letter does not rule out the possible involvement of the CIA,” the court in The Hague said in a statement.
“Since it cannot be ruled out that it was the CIA which requested the arrest, the judge again forbids” his extradition.
Khan’s lawyer Andre Seebregts said the CIA would have been responsible for Khan’s torture if it had asked ISI to detain him.
Dutch authorities can appeal the ruling.
A US Senate report said in December the CIA misled the White House and public about its torture of detainees after the September 11 attacks in 2001 and acted more brutally and pervasively than it acknowledged in torturing al Qaeda and other captives in secret facilities worldwide between 2002 and 2006.
7 things to know about Yemen
There's political unrest in Yemen, but what's new? The entire Mideast has been in turmoil for decades, especially since the Arab Spring in 2011.
Boy, 5, shoots, kills baby
The mother called 911 to say her 5-year-old boy shot his baby brother with a paintball gun.
Could al Qaeda benefit from Yemen turmoil?
Becky Anderson interviews pro-Houthi activist Hussain Al-Bukhaiti, who is currently in Sana'a.
Facebook aims to curb news feed ‘hoaxes’
WASHINGTON: Facebook said Tuesday it would step up efforts to limit circulation of bogus “news stories” in user feeds, saying it is an annoyance for members of the huge social network.
“We’ve heard from people that they want to see fewer stories that are hoaxes, or misleading news,” said Facebook’s Erich Owens and Udi Weinsberg in a blog post.
“Hoaxes are a form of News Feed spam that includes scams (‘Click here to win a lifetime supply of coffee’), or deliberately false or misleading news stories (‘Man sees dinosaur on hike in Utah’).”
The Facebook researchers said people “often share these hoaxes and later decide to delete their original posts after they realise they have been tricked.”
An update to Facebook’s News Feed will aim to limit the spread of posts that have been reported as hoaxes and adds a warning to messages that have been flagged as suspicious.
Facebook has also added an option that allows its users to report a “false news story” being circulated.
The social network said the update “reduces the distribution” of these posts but does not eliminate them.
“We are not removing stories people report as false and we are not reviewing content and making a determination on its accuracy,” the blog post said.
The update aims to steer clear of any effort to cut down on satirical news.
“We’ve found from testing that people tend not to report satirical content intended to be humorous, or content that is clearly labeled as satire. This type of content should not be affected by this update,” the blog said.
“The vast majority of publishers on Facebook will not be impacted by this update. A small set of publishers who are frequently posting hoaxes and scams will see their distribution decrease.”
Paris to sue Fox News for reports on Muslim ‘no-go zones’
PARIS: The city of Paris said Tuesday it plans to sue US chain Fox News for reports that there were “no-go zones” in the French capital that police and non-Muslims avoid.
The reports in the wake of the attacks in Paris two weeks ago have been widely derided and prompted Fox to issue an on-air apology for suggesting parts of Paris and the English city of Birmingham were run under Shariah law.
RELATED POST: Terror in Paris: 12 dead in gun attack at French magazine
“A complaint will be filed in the coming days,” despite the apology, said a source at Paris city hall.
The news channel had broadcast a map outlining the so-called no-go zones, which an expert, Nolan Peterson said felt like Afghanistan or Iraq.
On Saturday a Fox news anchor apologised for “some regrettable errors on air regarding the Muslim population in Europe, particularly with regard to England and France.
“Now this applies especially to discussions of so-called no-go zones, areas where non-Muslims allegedly are not allowed in and police supposedly won’t go,” the anchor said.
The Fox reports spawned much derision online and saw local news show Le Petit Journal send fake correspondents Mike and John to report on these so-called dangerous areas.
One takes fright at the sight of a Moroccan restaurant: “Oh my God a couscous! Very dangerous couscous in Paris!”
Terror suspects cased Jewish institution
New surveillance video obtained by CNN shows Amedy Coulibaly and partner Hayat Boumedienne scoping out a Jewish institution.
Amnesty calls on European countries to admit CIA cooperation
LONDON: Rights group Amnesty International on Tuesday urged five European countries to come clean on alleged cooperation with CIA operations involving torture and help bring those responsible to justice.
“Governments can no longer rely on unsubstantiated ‘national security’ grounds and claims of state secrecy to hide the truth about their roles in the torture and disappearance of people,” said Amnesty counter-terrorism and human rights expert Julia Hall.
“It’s time for justice for all those who have suffered the gruesome practices — including waterboarding, sexual assault, and mock executions — that characterised these illegal counter-terrorism operations.”
The call comes in the wake of a damning US Senate report that showed how the CIA tortured terror suspects, which dragged British spy agencies into the spotlight, as Washington’s closest partner in the “War on Terror”.
Hall said the Senate report “makes it abundantly clear that foreign governments were essential to the ‘success’ of the CIA operations”.
The Senate report did not explicitly name European countries, and London has denied press reports that it asked for mentions of British involvement to be redacted.
However, Amnesty International said its research showed Poland, Romania and Lithuania allowed secret CIA detention sites, and that British agents were involved in torture.
A parliamentary investigation into allegations of British collusion with the US in torture is due to publish its conclusions at the end of this year, but Amnesty International said the probe was “not independent”.
The US report by Democratic senators examined a secret CIA programme to capture and interrogate al Qaeda suspects in secret prisons in allied nations or in the Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba.
It found at least 119 prisoners were held in unacknowledged so-called “black sites” — likely in countries including Thailand, Afghanistan and Lithuania — with many subjected to “coercive interrogation techniques, in some cases amounting to torture”.
Toddler mauled by family dogs
An 18-month-old child was attacked and killed by two family dogs in central Florida.
Reports: AirAsia flight climbed fast, stalled
AirAsia Flight QZ8501 climbed rapidly and then stalled before it crashed, according to news reports from Indonesia.
First global solar plane trip
The first attempt at a solar-powered flight around the world plans stops in Myanmar, India, China and the U.S.
Credibility on trial again
The government’s commitment against terrorist networks is on trial again. Let us see why. Generally, the series of military and government actions since the December 16 attack, including the 20-point action plan, more than two dozen executions and passing of the 21st Amendment, sparked unusual hope among the majority of the country that we will be taking the monster of militancy head on. The December 16 tragedy had evoked global sympathy too. The Pakistani expatriate community, particularly those living in Europe and North America, also felt the pain of the aggrieved families. Their grief was not unique for a very simple reason: they live in countries where the law does not distinguish between the rich and poor, or between the mighty and helpless, the privileged and the underdogs. At least theoretically, and largely in practice too, the law takes its course whenever violated; hence, the strong craving among expatriate Pakistanis for the rule of law and a relentless pursuit of those breaking it within Pakistan. A 10-point resolution adopted at a Pakistani community meeting convened on December 23 by the Forum for International Relations Development in London, for instance, also resonates that sentiment.
At least seven of the 10 points of the resolution relate to the need for governmental resolve against terrorist forces operating in the country and an emphatic demand for demonstrating “unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the democratic process in Pakistan”. The resolution stands out as an expression for “urgent government action” in areas such as dealing with outlawed sectarian, religious radical outfits, hate speech and intolerance.
Interestingly, many of the demands are already part of the Anti-Terrorism Act (1997), and the entire resolution, in fact, reflected the frustration of these expatriates with the non-enforcement of these laws.
A series of discussions since the Peshawar massacre with Pakistanis settled in different countries suggests that they expect an unequivocal state commitment to indiscriminately disarm, de-legitimise and dismantle those radical militant groups and their extensions, which have become synonymous with the name of the country, i.e., the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Haqqani network. Not only are most Pakistanis amazed at the freedom of operation available to the several dozen so-called outlawed groups, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad, the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, etc., but also question how the leaders of these organisations end up having air time in the media.
Regardless of what the LeT or the Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) leadership says regarding the group’s past and present, it is a fact that it remains at the heart of the country’s adversarial relationship with India. Similarly, governmental claims about the Haqqani network and members of the Hezb-e-Islami notwithstanding, movements to and from Pakistan of key members of these groups remain an eyesore for the Afghan authorities. Consequently, the Afghan and Indian views on the Haqqani network and the LeT constitute the foundation of the American narrative on Islamabad’s thus far “murky and duplicitous” position on the two militant outfits.
As Pakistanis seem to believe in ‘paradigm shifts’, they once again are faced with a dichotomous, unnerving situation, which can potentially erode the newborn optimism quite easily. The context is the string of stories attributed to officials that the government has decided to officially ban the Haqqani network and the JuD. But on January 17, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan evaded a question on the Haqqani network, promising the questioner a private audience. This ambiguity raises serious questions about the government’s intent. One may — theoretically, at least — accept the government’s possible defence that the Haqqani network is an Afghan entity operating in Afghan territory. But it cannot duck under the same excuse as far as the LeT/JuD is concerned. Only a meaningful proscription and credible administrative actions against the two would help retain public confidence because most Pakistanis — both inside and outside the country — remain extremely sceptical of all official claims.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2015.
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Our side of the terror story
The main objective of the kind of terrorism that Pakistan has been facing over the last several years is to capture the hearts and minds of as many Pakistanis as possible, and not the territory. The thinking behind this approach is that territory would automatically fall into the hands of these ideologically driven terrorists once they have succeeded in achieving their key objective.
And for achieving this key objective of theirs, the terrorists depend more on the media rather than on the far and few terror attacks that they execute. That is why they try to make each one of their attacks as dramatically bloody as they can, knowing very well that it would be impossible for the media to ignore the ‘thrillers’. And they add to the drama by calling up media organisations to own up to the attacks. All this makes sensationally saleable copy for the ratings-driven media houses. In the process, they help, without perhaps knowing it, the terrorists to win more recruits among the mentally feeble sections of our youth who have been raised on some mythical versions of so-called Islamic history and at the same time terrorise the whole nation into a state of pathetic pulp.
The media houses that have tried to cover these attacks as professionally as possible so as to defuse their impact on the hearts and minds of the gullible citizens are known to have been taught new lessons on what is professional and what is not. The media, therefore, has remained under severe pressure from these terror outfits and in recent years, the country has won the dubious distinction of being one of world’s most dangerous countries for media practitioners.
Working under all kinds of pressures, mostly from terrorist organisations and not the least from even those who have been promoting and supporting the falsehood of the ‘good’ Taliban and the ‘bad’ Taliban, and those who have been looking the other way as the so-called non-state actors carried out ‘jihad’ in Indian Kashmir, the Pakistani media seemed to have become an unwilling partner in the heinous game of the terrorists. Most media narratives of these terror incidents, like the ones carried out against our security forces and their installations including the GHQ itself as well as air force and navy installations, ISI offices and police training camps, have remained slanted in ways as to inspire the religiously half-baked young minds. At times, the murderous incidents have been presented by our media as if the terrorists are playing the role of the Jack who killed the giant in the famous fable. In our case, unfortunately, the state itself, as well as its agencies, is viewed by these misled youth as the giant.
Over the period in question, the media, under pressure from terror quarters, had started referring to the terrorists not as terrorists but as ‘militants’ or ‘extremists’. And in order to be seen to be presenting both sides of the story, it went to the extent of offering space and time to the attackers of Malala Yousufzai to justify their heinous act which they did by quoting out-of-context religious injunctions. Just imagine how this ‘balanced’ story must have seemed to the credulous sections of our populace in whose eyes the so-called ‘secular’ government enjoyed no moral ascendency compared with the reverential-looking bearded terrorists, justifying their act quoting injunctions from the Holy Book. Recently, even after the 20-point National Action Plan was announced, and the distinction between the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ Taliban was removed, some media houses showed scenes in which a hero-like welcome was being accorded to Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, a senior commander of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, as he was being brought to the courts from his place of detention. Thus, the media, without perhaps knowing what it is doing, has been playing a significantly more lethal role than the automatic weapons in the hands of these terrorists or their suicide jackets, in winning the hearts and minds of our misguided youth. It is now time to stop using this slant and treat each terror story on merit. In this war on terror, there is no other side. There is only one side and that is our side.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2015.
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National census
LAHORE: As reported in newspapers, the government has decided in principle to conduct the national census in September 2015 or in March 2016. It is a commendable and long overdue decision taken by the government and it should be implemented at the earliest. Students of economics know what a vital and important role updated data plays in formulating productive policies and development projects.
Census figures can help cement national development projects on solid and accurate foundations, which yield the desired results. It is hoped that the government will keep making sincere efforts for formulating long-term policies to upgrade the economy and thus bring about genuine, promising and concrete national development, making our beloved country prosperous.
Farvat Malik
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2015.
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Snacking on fruits detrimental to oral health
An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but it could also keep your dentist busy, according to a recent survey by oral hygiene experts.
Four out of five professionals warned that snacking on fruits contributes to decay, plaque build-up and enamel erosion, and a third said that apples can cause major damage to teeth and gums, alongside chocolate and biscuits, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
The findings echo research by Professor David Bartlett at the King’s Dental Institute, which found that eating fruit may be as damaging to dental health as carbonated drinks. Just under half of the experts questioned in the poll warned that fruit juice is also a key cause of tooth and gum problems and more than a third pinpointed savoury snacks, such as crisps, as problematic too.
“We may be keeping our teeth longer, but there are still gaping holes in many people’s dental health regimes,” said Robin Seymour, Emeritus Professor of Dental Sciences at Newcastle University and leading periodontologist.
“A 2009 national survey of adult dental health found that 23 per cent of adults brush their teeth only once a day and, despite the popularity of more efficient powered toothbrushes, many of those who brushed twice a day still had visible deposits of plaque, which cause dental decay and gum disease,” added Seymour.
The warning about snacking on sugary fruit comes from a poll of 458 dentists, hygienists and dental professionals.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2015.
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Clooney’s ‘Je suis Charlie’ pin costs Iranian paper
DUBAI: Iran’s hardliner judiciary has banned a reformist newspaper for publishing a picture of Hollywood star George Clooney wearing a ‘Je suis Charlie’ (‘I am Charlie’) pin at the Golden Globe Awards 2015, Iranian newspapers reported on Monday.
Mardom-e Emrooz (Today’s People) came under criticism after running the image of the US actor at last week’s Golden Globes ceremony, displaying his support for victims of a deadly attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris two weeks ago.
A conservative press watchdog revoked Mardom-e Emrooz’s permit only three weeks after it started publishing with a pledge to support President Hassan Rouhani in his political and social liberalisation programme, an official news agency said, citing board member Allaeddin Zohurian.
Like many other Hollywood celebrities, Clooney commands wide popularity among Iranian youths, although they only get to watch the pirated copies of his movies. Almost all Hollywood productions are banned in the Islamic republic as “culturally decadent.”
Twelve people were killed in the January 7 shooting at the Charlie Hebdo office, carried out in retaliation for caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh). Thousands of religious extremists gathered outside the French embassy on Monday to denounce a new drawing of the Prophet published last Wednesday in the first issue of Charlie Hebdo after the shooting. The cartoon has sparked violent clashes in other Muslim countries as well.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2015.
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This or that?: JLO rocks cut-outs two ways
Jennifer Lopez takes the cut-out trend to a whole new level with her sharp fashion sense and eye for detail. With every red carpet event, the 45-year-old timeless star keeps upping her style quotient. JLo jazzed up her look by pairing the cut-out trend with crop tops at two recent red carpet events. Here’s a round-up of her looks. Take your pick.
Weinstein Company and Netflix’s bash, LA
Hair and make-up:
The We Are One singer threw her hair up into a sleek high ponytail, allowing her to let loose and dance the night away. Sporting a heavy smokey eye, JLo decided to keep the rest of her make-up to a minimum with a nude lip and well-contoured cheekbones.
Outfit:
The superstar rocked a skin-baring look by Amanda Wakeley, consisting of a sultry strapless, high-neck, snakeskin-embossed bodice with cut-outs on the sides. She paired it with a seductive long skirt that displayed her rock solid abs and lean legs with a plunging slit on the side.
Accessories:
JLo opted for white snakeskin closed-toe Christian Louboutin pumps, a simple diamond ankle bracelet, stud earrings, and a small gold boxed clutch. She polished her look with a fuzzy white fur shrug.
Miami VIP screening, LA
Hair and make-up:
The multi-award winner had her beachy hair down in a voluminous up-do and flaunted her skin, which looked luminous as ever. Minimal make-up was just the way to go with the ensemble and she nailed it effortlessly. Light matte blush and kohl-rimmed eyes added to the muted-glam get-up.
Outfit:
Sheer fabric and cut-outs certainly make for a scene-stealing dress. JLo dazzled at the Miami VIP screening of her upcoming thriller The Boy Next Door. The actor arrived in a figure-enhancing blue and black dress by David Koma. With stimulating cut-outs around the neck and waist and a noir see-through panel on the skirt, she gave us all the reasons to be wowed.
Accessories and shoes:
She accessorised her curve-hugging outfit with silver hoop earrings, a shiny string anklet and diamond bracelets. The Parker actor matched her look with a pair of black suede Manolo Blahnik pointed heels.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2015.
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