US courts India in the Indian Ocean By Balaji Chandramohan At the end of the 10-day joint naval exercise Malabar 10, conducted between India and the United States in the Arabian Sea, it became clear the two countries would further cooperate in the Indian Ocean to counter the rise of China in the years to come. The naval war games were held from April 23 to May 2, with these being the 14th in a series of exercises that began in 1992 after the end of the Cold War. Unlike last year, this month’s exercise was a bilateral rather than … Continue reading Courting India in the Ocean (not the dazaart!)

Muslim blowback? By M Junaid Levesque-Alam It is hard to overstate just how deeply unpopular the United States is in the Muslim world. A 2008 poll of six majority Muslim countries found that overwhelmingly large portions of the population, ranging from 71% in Morocco to 87% in Egypt, held unfavorable opinions of the United States. A 2009 poll in Pakistan revealed that 64% of the public views the United States as an outright enemy. So it is a curious paradox that, despite the antagonistic and sometimes violent relationship between the United States and the Muslim world, Muslims in America have … Continue reading Just how deeply unpopular the United States is in the Muslim world?

Terror roads lead back to Pakistan By Syed Saleem Shahzad ISLAMABAD – The arrest of an American citizen of Pakistani origin in connection with the failed attempt to explode a car bomb in New York fits a pattern that international intelligence agencies had specifically pinpointed as an emerging threat – the involvement of individuals with no established connections with Islamic or militant groups in terror attacks. On Tuesday, United States federal prosecutors charged Faisal Shahzad, 30, on five criminal counts, including committing an act of terrorism and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. The complaint filed in a … Continue reading Muslim nations should help Pakistan deal with Mullahism

UK ‘blocking’ Mossad return to London Official reportedly prevented from taking up embassy post after Israel refuses to commit itself not to misuse British passports Ian Black, Middle East editor The Guardian The father of Palestinian militant Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, who was assassinated in Dubai, with his photograph. Israel has never admitted any role in the killing Photograph: Hatem Moussa/AP Britain has refused to allow Israel‘s Mossad secret service to send a representative back to the country’s London embassy following the row over the killing of a Hamas operative by agents using forged UK passports. Israel’s Yediot Aharonot newspaper reported yesterday … Continue reading UK ‘blocking’ Mossad return to London as Anjem Choudary denies he is Mossad!

Let there be sex ‘Christian sex toys’ isn’t a phrase I ever thought I’d hear. But seek and ye shall find – just make sure you’re married Cath Elliott guardian.co.uk A screengrab from ChristianLoveToys.com When Abdelaziz Aouragh first thought up the idea of an online sex shop for Muslim couples, I bet he didn’t imagine for a moment the amount of interest his new venture would generate. But the site actually attracted so many visitors (70,000 hits within the first four days) that eventually it crashed, and Aouragh was forced to find a new web host to deal with the … Continue reading Sex Toys and Christian Mullahs!

Who is fanning the flames of this campus conflagration? After a Jewish-Muslim initiative to defuse student tension was thwarted, critics of Israel are liable to be vilified as ‘extremist’ Azzam Tamimi guardian.co.uk I still vividly remember the evening of Thursday 12 September 2002. It was a unique experience. Never before had I been to such a gathering. I was, perhaps, the only gentile in the packed hall of the reputed Jewish centre in central London. It had been a year since the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington. To mark the first anniversary of those atrocities, the organisers deemed … Continue reading Critics of Israel are liable to be vilified as ‘extremist’

Saudi women get in the driver’s seat With changes under way within the kingdom, it looks likely that female motorists will finally return to the roads <!–Topsy–> Fahad Faruqui guardian.co.uk Saudi Arabian women may be allowed to start driving soon. Photograph: Hassan Ammar/AFP The issue of women driving in Saudi Arabia resurfaced recently with a headline in the Saudi-run Elaph website predicting they will be allowed to drive within two months. Such predictions have appeared in the past without being fulfilled – much to the dismay of many women who would like to drive their own cars. But with recent … Continue reading Letting loose women on Saudi roads!

BNP leaflet to black Christian voters branded ‘obscene’ Far-right party mails 24,000 ‘black’ electors in Barking and Dagenham urging them to vote against ‘unchristian’ Labour Sam Jones and Matthew Taylor guardian.co.uk Nick Griffin, leader of the British National party, poses for photographers in the Barking and Dagenham constituency. Photograph: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA A BNP leaflet designed to woo the black Christian vote in Barking and Dagenham has been branded “obscene” by one of its recipients. The targeted leaflet, which accuses Labour of undermining Christian values and promoting “ungodly lifestyles”, was sent to 24,000 people in the borough. It features a picture … Continue reading BNP seeking House Niggers – apply to Nick.Griffin@bnp.org.uk!

Calling on Super Sahib Posted by Murtaza Ali Jafri I will always love Superman: he fights for peace, justice, and the American (err… Pakistani?) way. I think he embodies all that we wish for in today’s corruption- and violence-ridden world. He is that rare individual who is unflappably decent (severe lack of grey moral areas), courageous (well not really, given that next to nothing can hurt him), and unstoppably awesome (like an earthquake, tsunami, or other national disaster). But given the wave of anti-Americanism sweeping Pakistan, I think it’s time we coined a realistic desi Superman. What would he be … Continue reading What would a Pakistani Superhero be called?

Berlin looks at superheroes’ Jewish roots dawn.com People walk past a Superman figure by German artist Marcus Wittmers displayed in front of Berlin’s Jewish Museum, to advertise the museum’s current exhibition “Heroes, Freaks and Super rabbis — the Jewish Colour of Comics”. The exhibition, which runs from April 30 to August 8, 2010, looks at 45 of the most successful comic artists, overwhelmingly children of European Jewish families who had emigrated to New York. – Photo by AFP. Culture Next Batman film to swoop into theaters in 2012 Next Batman film to swoop into theaters in 2012 BERLIN: If Superman … Continue reading Germans – All superheroes are Jews!