Major leap for faster computers

Super-fast quantum computers are now a step closer to becoming a reality, thanks to a breakthrough by scientists.

Edinburgh and Manchester University researchers have created a molecular device which could act as a building block for super-fast computers.

They have created components that could be used to develop quantum computers, which can make intricate calculations faster than conventional machines.

The academics used molecular scale technology instead of silicon chips.

They achieved the breakthrough by combining tiny magnets with molecular machines that can shuttle between two locations without the use of external force.

The manoeuvrable magnets could one day be used as the basic component in quantum computers.

'Major challenges'

Conventional computers work by storing information in the form of bits, which can represent information in binary code - either as zero or one.

Quantum computers will use quantum binary digits, or qubits, which are far more sophisticated as they are capable of representing not only zero and one, but a range of values simultaneously.

Their complexity will enable quantum computers to perform more quickly than conventional machines.

Professor David Leigh, of Edinburgh University's school of chemistry, said: "This development brings super-fast, non-silicon based computing a step closer.

"The major challenges we face now are to bring many of these qubits together to build a device that could perform calculations, and to discover how to communicate between them."

The study, by Edinburgh and Manchester university scientists and published in the journal Nature, was funded by the European Commission.

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Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry restored as Chief Justice of Pakistan

Monday, March 16, 2009

Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry restored as Chief Justice of Pakistan ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani early Monday morning announced reinstatement of the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and other judges.

“I restore the deposed chief justice and others according to the promise made by me and the President,” Gilani said in a televised address to the nation.

The announcement, in light of the directive of President Asif Ali Zardari, met the main demand of the political parties and the lawyers’ community.

He said, “A notification to this effect is being issued now.” He said Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry would replace Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, who retires on March 21.

Gilani said and pledged to “continue the politics of reconciliation.” The deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was removed from service by former President Pervez Musharraf on March 9, 2007, sparking a wave of protest that led to his resignation from his office on August 18, 2008.

The prime minister also announced reinstatement of other judges of the Supreme Court and said the number of judges for the apex court has already been increased through legislation to accommodate the reinstated judges.

The prime minister also announced that the federal government would file a review petition in the Supreme Court seeking reversal of the order of disqualification of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, and addressing all issues in light of the Charter of Democracy.

“I invite them to move forward along with all political forces for the implementation of the Charter of Democracy,” Gilani said.

He asked the provincial governments to lift the Section 144 immediately and release the arrested persons. He said the PPP had made a lot of contribution to the lawyers’ movement and rendered numerous sacrifices. He said shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had pledged to reinstate the deposed Chief Justice.

Gilani said President Asif Ali Zardari also pledged to do the same.

Gilani recalled that soon after securing a heavy mandate from the parliament he had announced the release of the detained judges and also restoration of their emoluments.

The prime minister said the decision was taken in consultation with the allies.

Gilani also greeted Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, lawyers, political workers, and civil society on this auspicious occasion and asked them to celebrate the occasion in a befitting manner.

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Timeline of CIA Drone Attacks on Pakistan

United States of America is continuing a campaign of drone attacks in tribal areas of Pakistan against suspected Al-Qaeda members. Government of Pakistan at that time (Musharraf-2004), in a secret agreement, allowed USA to take actions inside the territory of Pakistan. Now the "so called" democratic government of Zardari is continuing the same policy of Musharraf regime. These attacks are happening on regular intervals since then. Many of precious innocent civilian lives have been destroyed, their businesses have ruined, schools are closed and trade is greatly affected.

Here is the time line of those attacks.

June 18, 2004: 5 including Nek Mohammad killed in a strike near Wana .

May 14, 2005: Haitham al-Yemeni killed .

November 30, 2005: Al-Qaeda number 3 Abu Hamza Rabia killed .

January 13, 2006: Damadola airstrike kills 18 in Bajaur but misses Ayman al-Zawahri.

April 26, 2007: 4 killed in village Saidgi in North Waziristan.

June 19, 2007: 20 killed in village of Mami Rogha in North Waziristan.

November 2, 2007: 5 killed in an attack on a madrasah in North Waziristan.

January 29, 2008: Abu Laith al-Libi killed in a strike in North Waziristan

February 27, 2008: 12 people killed in a strike near Kalosha village in South Waziristan.

March 18, 2008: 16 killed in a strike in South Waziristan

May 14, 2008: 12 including Abu Sulayman Al-Jazairi killed near village of Damadola.

July 28, 2008: Midhat Mursi and 5 other Al-Qaeda operatives killed in South Waziristan

September 8, 2008: 23 killed in Daande Darpkhel airstrike.

September 12, 2008: 12 killed in Miranshah airstrike.

September 30, 2008: 6 killed in a strike near Mir Ali, Pakistan.

October 16, 2008: Senior Al-Qaeda leader Khalid Habib killed .

October 22, 2008: 4 killed in a village near Miranshah by missiles fired from suspected US drone.

October 26, 2008: 20 killed in a strike in South Waziristan.

October 31, 2008: 20 killed including Al-Qaeda operative Abu Akash after 4 missiles hit Waziristan.

November 14, 2008: 12 killed in a strike near Miranshah.

November 22, 2008: British Al-Qaeda operative Rashid Rauf and 4 others including Abu Zubair al-Masri killed in a strike in North Waziristan.

December 22, 2008: atleast 8 killed in south Waziristan .

January 1, 2009: 2 senior Al-Qaeda leaders Usama al-Kini & Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan killed .

January 23, 2009: In the first attacks since Barack Obama became president atleast 14 killed in Waziristan in 2 separate attacks by 5 missiles fired from drones.

February 14, 2009: more than 30 killed near town of Makeen in South Waziristan.

February 16, 2009: Strike in Kurram Valley kills 30.

March 1, 2009: Strike in Sararogha village in South Waziristan kills seven suspected militants.

March 13, 2009: Air strike by two unmanned Aircraft killed 24 in Kurram agency near Afghanistan border.

March 16, 2009: A missile fired by a US drone killed 5 in Bannu district in North West Frontier Province, near the Afghan border late Sunday night.

March 25, 2009: 7 killed in attacks on 2 vehicles by two missiles in Makin area of South Waziristan.

March 26, 2009: 4 killed in Essa khel area in North Waziristan.

April 1, 2009: 14 killed in Orakzai Agency tribal area.

April 5, 2009: 13 killed in North Waziristan.

April 9, 2009: 4 killed in attack on a vehicle in Gangi Khel in South Waziristan.

April 20, 2009: at least 3 killed and 5 injured in an attack in South Waziristan.

April 29, 2009: 6 people killed in two missile strikes at a house in South Waziristan.

Total number of casualties = 375

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The Non-Existent Tourist’s Guide To Pakistan

By Nadeem F. Paracha

The country

Officially called the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, it is a country in South Asia bordering the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the People’s Republic of China and the Bollywood Republic of Hindustan. In the north it also shares a dubious border with the mountainous and scenic Holy Divine United Taliban Emirates of Dhamakaistan.

The climate

Pakistan has a moderate climate most of the year, but extremes can be found in the north where summers can get terribly hot due to the infamous, counter-monsoon winds called the Wrath of God blowing in from the Holy Divine United Taliban Emirates of Dhamakaistan. Men in the north are known to keep beards to protect themselves from these winds whereas the women wear long top-to-toe sheets of cloth called burqas for the same purpose. Sometimes tanks, trucks and barbed wire are also used to counter these winds, even though some politicians advise dialogue to lessen the harmful effects of the wind. Many people find this strange, asking how can one have a dialogue with a dusty, hot gust of wind? But since the climate around the country’s politicians is usually composed of hot air, it is believed that this hot air can very well compliment the extreme winds.

So, tourists with sensitive white skins should avoid travelling to the north, unless they are looking for a blast.



The people & religion

Pakistan is a multi-ethnic and multicultural society, where 103 per cent of the population is Muslim, while the rest are animals. So in case of a medical emergency, the non-Muslim tourist is advised to visit a vet instead of a doctor. The 103 per cent Muslims are broken up into various sects with each sect claiming their version of Islam being 104 per cent correct and other interpreters of Islam being 107 per cent wrong and thus deserving death.

Pakistani society is generally conservative, but tiny pockets of liberalism can be found in posh, urban drawing-room theme parks. The themes of these parks can range from “Little Milan,” “Small Beverly Hills,” “Tiny London” and “Cleaner Bombay.” Non-English speaking tourists may struggle in these theme parks even if they have managed to learn a bit of Urdu. Only English is spoken here, preferably in an odd American accent. However, a tourist can visit a vet and get his or her jaw readjusted to be able to speak accented English in these theme parks.

Pakistan is composed of four to five to six to four ethnic groups. The largest group resides in central Pakistan and are called Maula Jats. The second largest resides in the south and are called the Bhuttos. The third largest resides in the north and are called Askareeyat Pasand. The smallest ethnic group can be found in the West and are called Sui Gas. There are two more ethnic groups. The first one mostly resides in Karachi and are called Martians. The other one resides in South Punjab and are called nothing. Both are not officially recognised because people who divided Pakistan into four provinces couldn’t count beyond the number 4.

The male-female ratio of the population is 50-50, even though, according to local traditions in the north, women do not exist. Only men and goats. Certain NGOs operating in the north want to change this perception and the locals have agreed only if the government of Pakistan declared women to be satanic abominations engineered by Hindu Fanatics, Christian Crusaders, Wily Jews and Hamid Karzai.

The culture

The main plank of culture in Pakistan is asking “what is the culture of Pakistan?”

But if you believe in the official history text books taught at local schools, the culture of Pakistan is very Islamic, very pro-army, very anti-India, and had it not been for some malicious Hindu historians distorting history, Pakistanis would have been known for their true cultural and genetic origins: Arabic!

That’s why most Pakistanis behave as if they all arrived from ancient Arabic kingdoms and had nothing to do with India. They were the true Aryans until the British came and started to build railway networks. Of course, this doesn’t make much sense, but who cares, as long as one is an Aryan and is genetically connected to Mohammad bin Qasim. Just like Shahrukh Khan who should actually have been a Pakistani had it not been for socialists like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to have nationalised banks, factories and colleges in the 1970s. Of course, this doesn’t make much sense either, but who cares. You’re just a tourist. About to be kidnapped and beheaded.

The politics

Pakistan is a feudal fiefdom jokingly called a republic. The most democratic sections of the country are the army and fat feudal lords. Also very democratic are members of the clergy and the bureaucracy. The most undemocratic and tyrannical are the country’s common people who do not appreciate the feudals’, the army’s and the clergy’s vision, passion and efforts for a progressive, democratic and rich Pakistan. This is because the common people choose to remain illiterate and prefer to watch a Sharhrukh Khan flick instead of reading their official history books that clearly state that had Mughal Emperor Auranzeb Alamgir created Pakistan in 1747 AD, the people of Pakistan would have gladly watched reruns of Ayub Khan, Ziaul Haq and Mushharraf’s speeches instead of Shahrukh Khan films and there would have been much joy and happiness and love and understanding, and no India and no PPP and instead of being a pesky politician, Nawaz Sharif would have become the Ameer of the United Islamic Emirates of Dhamakaistan. Of course, this doesn’t make much sense, but who cares when you have Ahmed Ali Kurd to keep you entertained.

How to get there

You can reach Pakistan without a visa by either sneaking in from the Afghan border in the north or getting shipwrecked in the south!

How to get out

You don’t!

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