The Big Picture

The banning of the film in which a nationally heralded youth icon is featured, is a manifestation of a myopic attitude.

The antagonism which spawns divisions along ethnic, religious and ideological lines is a scourge which has been rampant in the world since time immemorial. It has been a cause of great unrest and a precursor of grave injustices committed. The prevalence of this phenomenon is no different in our part of the world. I often see myself holding my head in frustration over the incessant bashing of Hindus, Jews and other cultural groupings.

Exactly what aspect of the Chinese 'model' does our President want us to copy - economic freedom and political repression?

Senior Middle East Editor for CNN, Octavia Nasr's forced resignation following a controversial tweet raises important questions about media freedom

The recent ban on the face covering veil should be worrying only if it triggers a series of bans. As long as Muslims are allowed to maintain mosques and practice and preach religion and women are allowed to use headscarf with faces open, their case, if they take it to the Europeans Court of Human Rights, would not have strong grounds. The ban reminds me of an incident in the Peshawar High Court where Chief Justice, Tariq Pervaiz, ordered female lawyers not to wear veil in the courtroom. He reasoned that female lawyers could neither be identified nor perform their duties properly

Let me be your guide to the walled city. I will walk with you to the narrow lanes of Lohari Gate through Lahore, the city I was born in. Walking towards the gate, we are surrounded by the Lahori bazaar. You can see outstanding ancient architecture, wooden balconies, beautiful carving on doors and windows but this architectural heritage has been brutally defaced.

Somali militant group Al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for twin blasts in Kampala -this represents the first time that Al Shabaab, a rebel group attempting to gain control of Somalia, has struck outside the country’s borders. However, it doesn’t warrant the descriptions of the group that have since been presented by certain members of the media.

While many are calling it a ‘psychic’ creature and are still astonished over its ‘powers’, others have called it a conspiracy of the bookies.I went to the extent of hearing far-fetched theories such as the entire teams being bribed with millions of dollars to go along with the octopus’s prediction so that bookies could make their share of billions!

Are people in relationships happier than those who are single? Many of my friends were happy when their relationships started but now just a few years after getting married, they are miserable. According to a psychologist men need to be in a relationship more than women.

Can any of us ever claim to have selflessly placed ourselves in someone else’s position?