DAMASCUS – In a bygone era, cinema-going in Syria was a popular event, shared by young and old. Men would dress in full attire, women in evening gowns, and children with bow ties, to attend blockbuster films in Damascus. That came to an abrupt end in the 1960s when the importation of foreign films fell under the strict monopoly of the government, which then practiced a radical brand of socialism. All films from the United States were banned and replaced with those cranked out by the Soviet Union. The only American films in the country were those smuggled in on … Continue reading My Name is Khan too, say Syrians

By Syed Fazl-e-Haider KARACHI, Pakistan – A deal potentially worth US$25 billion for French firm GDF Suez to import to Pakistan 3.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year has been cancelled after the country’s top court declared the contract null and void on the grounds that the award process was not transparent. The Supreme Court held in its verdict that the contract process was awash with irregularities, hence the contract awarded to GDF Suez on February 9 has been declared not binding. The court also directed the government to fix responsibility on persons involved in the “process … Continue reading Pakistan cancels US$25bn energy deal

By Sudha Ramachandran BANGALORE – China’s dam-building spree has lower riparian countries worried. There is concern in India’s northeast and Bangladesh that its construction of dams on the Yarlung Tsangpo River (known as the Brahmaputra in India) and possible storage and diversion of its waters will leave little water for them, rendering the region parched. The dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo is at Zangmu in Tibet. The project is being executed by Gezhouba Corporation, one of China’s biggest engineering and construction companies and is expected to be complete by December 2015. The Yarlung Tsangpo begins in the Jima Yangzong glacier … Continue reading India sweats over China’s water plans

By M K Bhadrakumar Two veteran diplomats, one from China and the other an American, trudge their weary way from their respective capitals to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan to witness as “observers” a gathering of eight leaders from South Asia agonizing over the stasis of their 25-year old regional forum. And then they retire to Beijing to exchange notes. One year ago, such a scenario would have been considered implausible – even illogical. Yet, when Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya receives the United States Assistant Secretary of State Robert O Blake Jr at Beijing on Monday for … Continue reading China breaks the Himalayan barrier

Nick Clegg: we have taken Labour’s place in UK politics Exclusive: Liberal Democrat leader rejects tactical voting, and says the race for PM is between him and Cameron Patrick Wintour, Allegra Stratton and Aida Edemariam guardian.co.uk Nick Clegg campaigning in Derby. Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters Nick Clegg today makes a bold pitch to Labour voters, claiming that the Liberal Democrats have supplanted Gordon Brown’s party to become the natural home of progressive politics in Britain. In a Guardian interview, Clegg accuses David Cameron of having no agenda for progressive reform of the country, and says the Lib Dems and Labour come … Continue reading Nick Clegg: either I or David Cameron will be Prime Minister on Friday!

Khalid Khawaja, a former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officer.—AFP/File Pakistan Ex-ISI official Khalid Khwaja found dead in Fata PESHAWAR: The body of Khalid Khawaja, a former Inter-Services Intelligence officer, was brought to Bannu’s DHQ hospital for post-mortem by unknown people. According to the officials of DHQ Bannu, no government official was present during the post-mortem of the body. The body of Khawaja has been handed over to the men and is now on its way to Islamabad for his funeral. Meanwhile, the funeral prayers of Khwaja will be offered by Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz on Sunday morning at Lal … Continue reading Khawaja’s body sent to Islamabad for funeral

Chasing the UK vote in Pakistan’s ‘Little Britain’ By Aleem Maqbool BBC News, Mirpur, Pakistan Mirpur, in Kashmir, is known to many as Little Britain British accents can be heard throughout the Azad Mega Mart, one of the main shopping centres in the town of Mirpur in Pakistani-administered Kashmir. “Most of the customers come from England,” says Imran Javed, the mall’s manager. “They especially need food items which they use there, but can’t usually get here – like baked beans, Ribena, Red Bull,” he says. “They buy them here, and pay in pounds sterling.” Some in Pakistan call Mirpur “Little … Continue reading UK vote in Pakistan’s ‘Little Britain’

Election 2010: Woman in Brown ‘bigot’ row not to vote Gordon Brown said he “profoundly regretted” his remarks The woman at the centre of a media storm after being called “bigoted” by Gordon Brown has said she will not be voting for Labour or any party. bbc.co.uk Gillian Duffy told the Mail on Sunday she felt sorry for Mr Brown after he made the unguarded remark, minutes after she confronted him in public. Mr Brown later visited Mrs Duffy’s home in Rochdale to express his regret. Mrs Duffy said she accepted his apology but declined his invitation to shake hands … Continue reading Woman in ‘Crash Gordon’ Brown ‘bigot’ row not to vote

Political Soldiers and the New Man – part one April 26th, 2010 by Dave Rich This is the first in a three-part series of blogs Edmund Standing wrote a while ago about a BNP member, Edith Crowther, who had posted a blog comment claiming that: I realised long ago that the BNP is the British equivalent of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, whom I admire and respect and who have great courage. That is why I joined. There was some bemusement at the idea that a BNP activist could make this claim. However, these ideas are not new on the British far … Continue reading Nick Griffin – A White Nationalist or A White Race Traitor?