Blasphemy laws are darkening Pakistan's skies | Salman Hameed

a school for girls in Lahore "has been reduced to ashes and arrested the family of an astronomer, because this tool intolerance

Umair Asim met 15 years ago, after an interview I gave astronomy in Lahore, Pakistan. I was bombarded with questions about telescopes, astrophotography and the physics of stars. In the following years, completed a master's degree in astronomy and Asim has come to create a sophisticated observatory on the roof of his house.

But what really lights Asim is his passion for public education. During the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) in 2009, Asim helped lead and organize many public comments in Lahore, as well as in public schools in small towns and villages of Punjab. Wherever he went, he brought with him his telescope. During the AMA, was a rare sight to see Asim standing before an audience of 500 people, first by explaining the basic principles of astronomy and entertainment long lines of people - between the ages of eight 80 - to show the craters on the moon and the rings of Saturn.

not difficult to explain where his passion for public education comes. His parents settled School Girls' High Farooqi 34 years ago. Today, he is considered one of the major private schools in Lahore. Asim is also Deputy Director and I get emails from him when a student or school students take top positions in provincial tests.

October 31

But the school was burned by a mob who had heard he was accused of blasphemy. Laboratory equipment and computers were looted. Hundreds of books in the library - obviously with little use for the crowd - into the fire. Some have even tried to remove the marble tiles.

blasphemy charges are not related to astronomy. Instead, focus on a school teacher, Iftikhar Arfa. In the race to the start of the Eid, he accidentally missed a page to copy a task for the class. His mistake was merged line of the Prophet of Islam and the lines of a chapter on the beggars. The father of one of her class completed, and the discourse of blasphemy spread quickly.

Whatever it was an honest mistake. In the current climate, it's awfully easy to accuse someone of blasphemy in Pakistan. In fact, in this case, the fault has been extended school administrators, including Asim.

• Teacher accused has absconded and the police arrested the director of 77 years of school. It also happens to be the father of Asim and his call for bail was rejected by the court. Asim and the rest of his family are now in "preventive detention".
• would be easy to blame religion here. But this is not a battle between freethinkers and religious fanatics. Asim and his family are devout Muslims. Students begin the day with the name of God. Professor accused does not know, but it probably also belongs to a middle class family religion. Intentionally committing blasphemy against the prophet would be terrible for all participants.

Burning

school is probably a clash between the rise of the educated middle class and the kind of frustration, poor poor and uneducated. The success of the school and the resources - and also for the girls' school - that envy caused. The mistake by the teacher provided the pretext to use the blasphemy law to express their frustration.

The blasphemy law is devouring from within Pakistani society. It is a universal tool in the service of intolerance. It is often used against religious minorities, but Muslims also pay the price. The repeal of the law, unfortunately, is unlikely. Some critics of the law have been silenced by intimidation and violence, including the murder of Governor Punjab Salman Taseer in 2011.

Maybe the school will recover, and the damage will be covered by donations from interested persons. There were demonstrations against-. Two days after the fire at the school, about 2,000 women - most of the current and former students - gathered near the school, holding banners demanding the release of the capital and the reopening of the school

But what is the future of Asim, his family and the accused teacher? Loaded with emotions on blasphemy, once loaded, it is virtually impossible to always be safe when, even if the court gives its name. As the era of witch hunts in Europe, Pakistan is experiencing its dark phase.
If you're lucky, the accused teacher should be able to find shelter outside Pakistan. Asim father, who now slept on the floor of a prison cell, must deal with the fact that all the efforts that he and his wife have poured the last 34 years has disappeared.

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The Orphan of Zhao - review

Swan, Stratford-upon-Avon

Chinese classical

This production has already sparked controversy because three players on a cast of 17 are from East Asia. But even if there are serious questions about the situation of East Asian actors to deal with, it would be sad if it hid the fact that it is a recovery act theatrical impressive. Gregory Doran, as the new Head of CSR, has uncovered a tragedy that most of us do not know and given the fantastic production.

James Fenton has created a new version of a story that originated in China in the fourth century. He later became a famous revenge tragedy and gradually infiltrated the west. Voltaire wrote his own version in 1753 and the Irish dramatist Arthur Murphy, made another in 1759. Meanwhile in China, the legend continues to inspire operas, plays and movies as recent Sacrifice. Often described as the hamlet Chinese remember the parables of light Brecht, who probably borrowed some aspects of the creation of the Caucasian Chalk Circle.

So what is it? Revenge, loss, sacrifice. And even if his story may sound complex, in the version of Fenton magically becomes clear. A decadent emperor wantonly killing his own people with the help of a corrupt court. But one of his ministers, Zhao Dun, protested vehemently and pays with her life. Zhao wife, daughter of the Empress, shortly after giving birth to a son who is smuggled to safety by a country doctor. And when Herod as an edict calling into the slaughter of all newborn infants, it prevents the doctor says he knows where missing son of Zhao is hidden. The following is an orphaned baby to the exchange of survival.

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Theatre of the absurd: when accidents take over

We used to complain about interruptions unscripted - but sometimes the outside world can affect a game in the sense

In summer, just at the end of the devastating DruidMurphy A whistle notes in dark and light synthetic began to bleat to the front of the auditorium, dissipate anger on stage, encouraging seats. Another game killed by mobile phone.

Similarly, the performances were marked by broken heating systems, failing, CA customers chatty, texting spectators, and a well-dressed woman who looked as if she could not resist kicking my seat difficult - to say nothing of mishaps on stage. Each performance is, of course, a live event in real time, most often seen in a crowd rather than in the comfort of your couch alone. Therefore, the chance is constantly threatening the integrity of the event.

But what about the happy accident, disaster friendly scene or the sky or the seat is simply a game instead of Mars? I remembered that piece to attend the Panoply Performance Laboratory, an ambitious company continues to work to distill a group of sophisticated ideas by word and action. In a prequel rainy streets, joining the local bizarre animated opera. Horns honked, children gawped, and part of the public participation in a youth shouted: "What are you doing Simon Says?"

• But an hour later, he began to tire a little, looking like he was about to end and then passing. When there is a long pause, everyone seemed to cheer terrible fear, anticipate closing. While we were waiting, a baby (which was very good throughout) was released to his mother and got into the game space Then he sat down, stammered and began to beat her wrists together chubby. A minute later, an adult took the tail and soon everyone was laughing and applauding - a silly finish, soft and triumphant

Also, I saw a Broadway revival Dozy temporarily powered single helpless laughter and a much better actor when chivalrous man to my left and noticed my fatigue I had a handful of chocolate covered raisins. And I do not know how I would have done by Punchdrunk felt like a chivalrous kiss if others did not let me grab his arm around a little scary. (Mari, if you read just cling to strange men within the theater ... promise.)

both timely intervention is not human. I live in hope that the couple once lived experience raccoons outside Shakespeare Theatre Delacorte representation. In the same space, Romeo and Juliet were saved once by a cruel fate timely storm that canceled the last act. And a frequent companion to the theater happily recalls the sounds of thunder outside external dynamic scene in Lear broom and horse defecate remarkably apt in Die Walküre.

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Planet with four suns discovered by 'armchair astronomers'

Planet

considered six times the size of Earth called planet hunters after PH1 website used by two American volunteers

A planet with four suns was identified by two astronomers "chair".

The bright new world, nearly 5,000 light-years, is believed to be six times larger than the Earth. It revolves around a pair of stars and is in turn surrounded by a few seconds, which means four stars illuminate the night sky.

A handful of known planets orbiting binary star pairs, but the new finding is said to be unique.

"It is fascinating to try to imagine what it would be like to visit a planet with four suns in the sky, but this new world is to confuse astronomers - is not entirely clear how it formed in such a half occupied environment, "said Dr Chris Lintott of Oxford University.

• The planet was discovered by two American volunteers who use the site Planet hunters led by scientists, including Lintott. It allows visitors to identify the decline in production in stars, because the light is blocked by "transit" of the stars they orbit.

Jek Kian
, San Francisco, and Robert Gagliano, Cottonwood, Arizona, discovered the effect that the new planet passes in front of their suns.

A team of professional astronomers have confirmed your search using the Keck telescopes on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The planet was named after the site of PH1 Planet hunters.

Arfon Dr. Smith, the Adler Planetarium in Chicago and a member of the planet hunters team, said: "This is an amazing discovery, but what is even more exciting is that, with more data than currently add to planethunters. org for anyone to explore, do not know what our next chair Astronomers discover. "

Details of the discovery were presented Monday at the Division of Planetary Sciences in Reno, Nevada.

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Israeli jets fly mock raids over south Lebanon

Israeli warplanes swooped down low over

Swedish broadcaster banned for racist reference

. Bo Hansson prohibited AIK press box for the rest of the season

. What he has done is contrary to our values??, said AIK ®

A veteran broadcaster was excluded from the newsroom Swedish AIK football club after having been heard referring to black players as "niggers" in a radio box.

Bo Hansson

, not knowing what is broadcast, I watched the match against AIK Gefle the position of Sveriges Radio commentary. Web Game Review, listeners heard a voice - later identified as Hansson - made ??several references to "niggers"

"Bo Hansson is no longer allowed in the newsroom of the season, he has done is contrary to our values ??- we have a zero tolerance for racism", said the director General AIK, Thomas Edselius newspaper Sportbladet.

Sillen

Jacob, head of sport at Sveriges Radio, said in a statement: "These observations can not be admitted into our programs is deeply regrettable.".

Sportbladet Hansson said. "I was talking to myself in my corner was never intended to be published had no idea.".

AIK Solna
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Are British universities really destined for long term decline?

predictions of a collapse of the United Kingdom in mediocrity may be premature and miss the point, says Ferdinand von Prondzynski

. Top 200 QS World University Rankings 2012

The latest ranking of colleges has led to a new series of questions about the future global distribution of excellence in higher education and strength. There was a change in the position of some universities in the Western Hemisphere, with Ireland and Scotland, both the experience of this phenomenon. Ireland no longer has any university in the top 100 universities in the world, Scotland has always, Edinburgh, in the top 100 (or more), but other Scottish institutions have declined, in some cases, significantly

"Out of the golden triangle of London, Oxford and Cambridge, England world-class universities face a collapse of the general mediocrity, while investments in research universities Asia is beginning to bear fruit "editor Phil Baty ranking told the Guardian.

Although there is some drift, predicting a fall in mediocrity UK can be a bit premature. It is absolutely true that some emerging countries have made significant investments in higher education, as might be expected. But it produced no immediate challenge for global leadership. It contains only one top 20 in the U.S. non-university or the United Kingdom and Switzerland.

addition, the success of universities in China, Singapore, Korea and Japan (and only a very small number of the thousands of Asian universities do so at any university rankings) is mainly based on "Westernization" of these institutions and their teaching and research remit money. It did not start last year - was a phenomenon of the last decade, and although the results are there, not alarming

is clear that some countries make a transition to a more developed economy, universities benefit from increased investment and higher levels of ambition. But in reality, it is quite surprising that this has had a much greater impact on the ranking. This does not mean that there are no problems here treated. The uncertainty of university funding in these islands has certainly had an impact, but if other factors, such as inconsistencies and improbabilities of migration policies that affect the student movement, and the tendency for large companies to try university links outside of the classic series.

What can be more interesting, however, is the following: a track in the classification that the future university is no longer necessarily the oldest institution of classic blue-sky research. The new leader, ranked consulted or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the California Institute of Technology, perhaps a more targeted approach, university network and translation. Other institutions that reflect this profile rose in the rankings. Trying to find out what is the role of higher education is to be in the future, it may be the most interesting trend.

For

Top 200 QS World University Rankings, the analysis and the issue of failure
• visit our rank Website

Ferdinand von Prondzynski is Vice-Chancellor of the

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