By Jian Junbo SHANGHAI – China and Germany are moving toward a closer and friendlier partnership, a process that seemed highly unlikely just three years ago and which could provide Beijing with an influential ally on the world stage. In mid-July, German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid a four-day visit to China to boost economic and political ties; this was her fourth trip since taking office in 2005. Notably, German President Horst Koehler paid a state visit to China two months ago. Merkel’s delegation, which included cabinet ministers and bussinesspeople, secured contracts worth billions of euros for leading German corporations such … Continue reading China finds a friend in Germany

Zombie Neocon Strategy Behind Israel’s “Bomb Iran” Campaign by: Gareth Porter, t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed Reuel Marc Gerecht’s screed justifying an Israeli bombing attack on Iran coincides with the opening the new Israel lobby campaign marked by the introduction of House resolution 1553 expressing full support for such an Israeli attack. What is important to understand about this campaign is that the aim of Gerecht and of the right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu is to support an attack by Israel so that the United States can be drawn into direct, full-scale war with Iran. … Continue reading Neocons in Israel’s “Bomb Iran” Campaign

Supping with the Taliban By Irfan Husain The British prime minister would probably not have used the same words had he been in London. –Photo by AFP Recently, the Guardian carried a story on the alleged ISI links with the Taliban based on the Wikileaks bombshell. Written by Declan Walsh, the report bore the headline: ‘Whose side is Pakistan on?’ I doubt if the reporter — a friend and a very well-informed journalist — wrote the headline because the answer to the question is self-evident: Pakistan is on its own side, as is every country in the world. While Wikileaks … Continue reading Tea with the Taliban?

Imam ‘X Factor’ reaches finale Malaysia’s television search for its next religious leader using an X Factor style format came to a conclusion on Friday night. By Barney Henderson in Kuala Lumpur telegraph Muhammad Asyraf Bin Muhammad Ridzwan performs during the grand finale of “Young Imam” Photo: REUTERS “Young Imam” has taken the country by storm and the production company is now in talks with television channels in several other Islamic countries, including Egypt and Turkey. In the show, 10 aspiring young imams aged 19 to 27 have been given various tasks each week, such as reciting the Koran, washing … Continue reading Imam ‘X Factor’

By Cyril Almeida dawn.com The homepage of the WikiLeaks.org website. –Photo by AFP The gods must really hate us. There is no other explanation for the tough few days Pakistan and Pakistanis have suffered. Floods, rains, plane crash, another indispensable in uniform, Wikileaks, Americans wondering yet again whether we are friend or foe, Cameron suggesting we are foe after all — and all the while the usual tamasha continuing in the background, what with fake degrees still doing the rounds and judges still hung up over a system of appointment. Oh, and Karachi and Balochistan are in the throes of … Continue reading Chasing shadows

VIEW: Your turn, Mr Pillai —Naeem Tahir Mr Pillai must have yielded to the Hindutva pressure. He rushed to embarrass his own external affairs minister by blaming Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence of being behind the Mumbai terror attacks This comes as no surprise for those who have studied the strategies of the Indian Sangh Parivar. Once again India and Pakistan wanted to talk sense, look at ways to improve relations and behave as civilised neighbours. But would the Hindutva groups let it happen? Of course not! Their agendas have nothing to do with those of the foreign ministers. They have perfected … Continue reading Your turn, Mr Pillai