The sheer magnitude of the disaster makes providing relief to flood victims a monumental task. The challenges confronting the state are considerable and have overwhelmed Pakistan’s already fragile infrastructure. Yet just worrying about the problems will not ease the sufferings: the issues have to be identified and effective solutions need to be found and implemented.
Take the example of conditions at relief camps across the country. The major challenge is the provision of food, shelter and medical care. But as reports have made clear, even the provision of these basic needs …

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi can certainly be put in the ranks of politicians and leaders with a penchant for making absurd remarks – a group that includes Bush Jr and our very own President Zardari and his predecessor Musharraf, to cite just the tip of the iceberg. Given how the whole international community has failed to deliver on flood aid because of the lack of credibility of the government, it was incredible to hear Qureshi state his “horror” over the fact that the issue of transparent use of aid …

A US drone strike killed five militants in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt near the Afghan border. The strike hit the Dandey Darpa Khel area, about five kilometres from Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan district, a known hub for Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked militants.
“The US drone fired three missiles and hit a house used by militants. Five militants have been killed,” A senior security official in Peshawar said. An intelligence official in Miranshah also confirmed the attack and the toll. The Monday attack is the second in three days, …

A dramatic hostage-taking in the Philippines capital ended with six bus passengers dead Monday after shots rang out and police stormed the vehicle. The hostage-taker also died, police said. Five hostages were brought to the Manila Hospital, two of them dead on arrival and three alive without injuries. The Manila Doctors Hospital reported it received four dead and one woman in critical condition.
The incident started when a dismissed policeman armed with a M16 rifle seized the busload of Hong Kong tourists to demand his reinstatement in the force. Police officer …

Floods in Pakistan have destroyed or extensively damaged crops over 4.25 million acres of land, Food Minister Nazar Muhammad Gondal said. The total areas under cultivation is about 23 million hectares, food ministry officials say.
“The floods have destroyed or extensively damaged crops, including cotton, rice, sugarcane, maize and others over an area of 4.25 million acres,” the Food Minister said.
According to an estimated breakdown of losses prepared by the food ministry, rice was the worst hit with an area of 1.51 million acres destroyed by the floods.
Industry officials say that …

More than 7,200 children in Gaza on July 22, 2010 simultaneously bounced basketballs, putting them on track to set their second world record in as many years, as part of an annual summer sporting event organized by the United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees. The record of 7,203 balls dribbled more than doubles the previous record set in 2007 in the United States, where just over 3,000 balls were bounced.
John Ging, Director of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), took a cautious approach, noting that a final verdict …

South Nepean Muslim Community SNMC provided the opportunity for the Muslim community like the previous years to socialize, have fun and taste some delicious grilled food on July 24, 2010. The venue for the picnic was the Claudette Cain Park, Manotick which has water features to beat the heat, play structures for kids and playgrounds for those who wants to enjoy the football or cricket games.
The president of SNMC said that this is opportunity for the community to socialize in multicultural Islamic environment. SNMC also has program to donate …

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has called plans to build a build a $100 million, 13-story community center including the prayer space near the site of the 9/11 terror attack in New York City an “unnecessary provocation.”
Sarah Palin wrote in a tweet, “Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it stabs hearts, Pls reject it in interest of healing.”
She also tweeted a plea asking “peaceful New Yorkers” to “pls refute the Ground Zero mosque plan if you believe catastrophic pain caused @ Twin Towers site is too …

The 10th Ottawa Muslims Summer Festival will be held on Saturday July 31, 2010 from 11 am to 7 pm at Britannia Park Ottawa. The visitors will be able to taste traditional cuisine, enjoy and learn from country exhibitions and participate in a number of other fun activities for the whole family.
There will be colouring contest for children and top 3 winners will be awarded prizes. Click here to download the picture for contest, and then submit the coloured drawing by 2:30PM on July 31st, 2010.
It is an exciting event …

The Ottawa Turkish Festival 2010 will be open to general public free of charge and will display Turkish art, folk dance, music and gourmet food, where visitors will get an opportunity to celebrate, learn, and savour Turkish hospitality, culture, heritage and cuisine.
Visitors will be able to browse and buy Turkish products, souvenirs and handcrafts, participate in activities for children, view many authentic demonstrations and performances, sample Turkish cuisine, and do much, much more at the Festival.
Following is the schedule of a various number of activities of the Ottawa …