Pakistan fighter pilot wins battle of sexes, now she’s ready for war
With an olive green head scarf poking out from her helmet, Ayesha Farooq flashes a cheeky grin when asked if it is lonely being the only war-ready female fighter pilot in Pakistan.
Farooq, hailing from Bahawalpur, is one of 19 women who have become pilots in the Pakistan Air Force over the last decade – there are five other female fighter pilots, but they have yet to take the final tests to qualify for combat. (complete article)
Edward Snowden: the whistleblower behind the NSA surveillance revelations
The 29-year-old source behind the biggest intelligence leak in the NSA’s history explains his motives, his uncertain future and why he never intended on hiding in the shadows (complete Q&A video)
Boundless Informant: the NSA’s secret tool to track global surveillance data
Iran was the country where the largest amount of intelligence was gathered, with more than 14bn reports in that period, followed by 13.5bn from Pakistan. Jordan, one of America’s closest Arab allies, came third with 12.7bn, Egypt fourth with 7.6bn and India fifth with 6.3bn.
The heatmap gives each nation a color code based on how extensively it is subjected to NSA surveillance. The color scheme ranges from green (least subjected to surveillance) through yellow and orange to red (most surveillance). (complete news)
Inside Story Americas - ‘Big Brother’ Obama?
On Saturday, the Guardian reported from a secret directive that US President Barack Obama has ordered his senior national security and intelligence officials to draw up a list of potential overseas targets for US cyber attacks.
“With respect to the internet and emails, this does not apply to US citizens, and it does not apply to people living in the United States,” Obama said on Friday.
His comments follow news that the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are tapping directly into the central servers of nine leading US internet companies to spy on foreigners.
According to the Washington Post newspaper, even though US citizens were not the intended targets of surveillance, this has allowed investigators to examine emails, photos and other documents of tens of millions of Americans that can be used to track people and their contacts over time.We ask under what authority the US monitors the world’s phone calls and internet usage.
Navy Wants Aircraft Carriers to Manufacture Weapons On the Go
These days, the mention of 3D-printed weapons conjures up visions of people printing AK-47s in their garages (ok, that might just be me). But a recent story in the Armed Forces Journal brings word of a more systematic implementation of 3D-printed warfare.
According to one Lieutenant Commander Michael Llenza, the Navy’s future lies in converting aircraft carriers into “floating factories,” each carrying a fleet of 3D printers to churn out weapons, drones, and even shelters at a moment’s notice. There’s money and time to be saved in the sheer logistical rationality of the scheme. For example, when cylindrical bullets are stacked, tiny bits of wasted space are created—which add up, when you’re talking about millions of the things. Rectangular packages of powder, which could be printed into bullets when needed, are a far more efficient use of space. (complete article)
- May 28
- , 2013
This is where Martin Patience of BBC got stuck in a streaming buffer! #news #media #log
At 7:15pm, the low buzz of a drone was heard overheard. Seconds later, an enormous explosion engulfed the area, destroying the boat and several nearby homes. Sources say 46 Watertown residents were killed in the missile strike, including 12 children.
A hypothetical narration of a drone targeting the Boston Marathon bombing suspect in Watertown by an American Facebook user based in San Francisco, has gone viral amongst Pakistani Facebook users. Within 24 hours the post was shared more than 5000 times and generated hundreds of comments.
What if Watertown was Droned?
(via globalvoices)
(via docecomoacanela)
Stradivarius trees: Searching for perfect musical wood (By John Laurenson)
Switzerland is home to some of the best violin makers in the world. But how do they know which tree will make a top quality violin? A wander through the forest with a master tree picker gives an idea of the enormous experience and instinct required.
Just any tree will not do when combing a forest in Switzerland for the perfect musical wood - its age, the weather and even the position of the moon help to craft the warmest, fullest notes.
Lorenzo Pellegrini shook his head and walked away, knee-deep in snow. (Complete article)
There is even something very musical about the article! And this article is not even about instrument making, it is about Lorenzo.
- April 15
- , 2013
The Independent: Atheists Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris face Islamophobia backlash
They are often described as “The Unholy Trinity” – a trio of ferociously bright and pugilistic academics who use science to decimate what they believe to be the world’s greatest folly: religion.
But now Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris are on the receiving end of stinging criticism from fellow liberal non-believers who say their particular brand of atheism has swung from being a scientifically rigorous attack on all religions to a populist and crude hatred of Islam.
In the last fortnight a series of columns have been written denouncing the so-called New Atheist movement for, in one writer’s words, lending a “veneer of scientific respectability to today’s politically-useful bigotry.” (Complete article)
That chopstick pickpocket will like to see that Iranian time machine! #log #photos #Iran #China #Technology #news
- April 13
- , 2013
Muslims in Sri Lanka have voiced concerns about a growing number of anti-Muslim protests and attacks, carried out by hardline Buddhist groups.
It comes four years after the army in this mainly Sinhalese Buddhist country defeated Tamil separatists. (video)
janay kab kaun kisay mar day kafir kah kay,
shahar ka shahar Musalmaan hoa phirta hai.
(Trans: Not knowing when someone might kill someone calling them Infidel, whole city has become Muslim).
In wake of burning and looting of poor Christian houses in Lahore after a false Blasphemy rumour yesterday, a homeowner in the area has placed a notice outside his home explaining to the rioters that he is a Muslim!
These “lovers of Prophet” make no sense to me. They claim to be doing these atrocities in the name of the same Prophet who said that on the day of Judgement he will stand as a foe to anyone who harmed a non-Muslim.
Unlike many people who are willing to dismiss these as misguided idiots or lunatics, I say they are there only because of either our action or inaction. We the common citizens are the reason for all this to be happening today in Pakistan.
![A Malian army soldier patrols in Gao. Meanwhile a document has been found in which the head of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb criticises militants’ “wrong policies” and “the extreme speed with which you applied Sharia [Islamic law]”. (source)](http://24.media.tumblr.com/0db96c33e4741be4eb4263220ae2a183/tumblr_miucrfr2AC1qzcqmxo1_500.jpg)
A Malian army soldier patrols in Gao. Meanwhile a document has been found in which the head of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb criticises militants’ “wrong policies” and “the extreme speed with which you applied Sharia [Islamic law]”. (source)
Recent victims of the Hazara ethnic cleansing in Balochistan are now being buried in Quetta after their representatives reached some agreement with the authorities. Earlier today the blockades by protesters around the country were removed. Will be leaving for Lahore myself in next few minutes but here are some more pictures from the one in Islamabad. I sincerely hope this sends the strongest message to the terrorists that no one is willing to stay silent on this anymore no matter what sect they belong to. #Pakistan #Islamabad #politics #Religion #Quetta #news #terrorism #activism
