By Francesco Sisci BEIJING – Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s press conference with foreign media at the end of the National People’s Congress on Sunday delivered a slap in the face to those in the United States who are calling for the appreciation of the yuan against the dollar to help stem the ongoing global economic crisis. Wen reiterated China’s position on the thorny issue: Beijing will keep the exchange rate stable. The value of the Chinese currency is an extremely sensitive topic for Beijing. The central government has already raised the possibility of revaluing the yuan by about 10%. With … Continue reading China rejects siren song on yuan

The rights and wrongs of halal Calls to outlaw halal and schechita slaughter are a diversion from the truth – that killing animals is never pleasant Nesrine Malik guardian.co.uk, I remember vividly the first time I saw an animal slaughtered at our home in Sudan. The hapless sheep was brought to the house and tethered in the garden days before the Eid festival. My sisters and I fed it, watered it and giggled at its silly bleats outside our bedroom windows at night. I was vaguely aware that this sheep was to provide food for us, but as a five-year-old … Continue reading A new attack on Muslims (and Jews) BAN HALAL AND KOSHER!

Indian cinema looks to up game and hit foreign jackpot dawn.com In a file picture taken on February 12, 2010, Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan poses for photographers as they arrive on the red carpet at the premiere of the film “My Name is Khan” during the 60th Berlinale Film Festival at Potsdamer platz in Berlin. — AFP Photo MUMBAI: Bad scripts, flimsy characters and poor-quality production are hindering Indian cinema as it attempts to capture new global audiences, leading industry figures say. Top actors, film-makers and executives said India needed to raise its game if it was to replicate … Continue reading Shahrukh Khan takes Indian Cinema global 🙂

dawn.com By Jawed Naqvi India’s chief military scientist V.K. Saraswat speaks during a press conference in New Delhi, India. Saraswat says the country will test a new long-range nuclear-capable missile, the Agni-V with a range of 5,000 kilometers, within a year. –AP Photo Nuclear outrage on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was carried out by a people whose hands were covered with the blood of countless black slaves, indigenous American tribes and with the internecine carnage of their own in what they called a civil war. Do Indians and Pakistanis have the stomach for a galling nuclear war? Given the bloodletting of … Continue reading Uncle Baniya and his Boyfriend – The Nuclear Bomb!

Acronymious Posted by Amber Rahim Shamsi  The late afternoon sun gilded our white tea cups. We were talking about stories of National Importance. It’s what some journalists do to feel Nationally Important. I often nodded my head because I was thinking of things of Domestic Importance, rather than National Importance. “Yes, and how about a story on Necta?” said my friend. “Right, that is a story of National Importance,” I said, doing the nodding thing again. If only I had a Blackberry, I could’ve surreptitiously Googled it under the sleek conference table. I did, later, in the comfort of my … Continue reading Quiet! Don’t tell anyone but NCTA will simply be a THINKTANK!!!

Iran Braces for Fire Festival Crackdown Traditional pre-Islamic celebration could be occasion for opposition protests. By Sahar Sepehri in Washington (MR No. 28, 15-Mar-10) Iranian officials are warning the opposition not to turn an ancient fire festival this week into a protest against the government. The celebration of Chaharshanbe Soori, Red Wednesday, on the evening March 16 marks the last Wednesday of the Iranian year and is rooted in pre-Islamic Zoroastrian tradition as a rite of the arrival of spring and is thus rejected by the country’s ruling Muslim clerics. But this will be the first time the occasion has … Continue reading Chaharshanbe Soor Mubarak!

Iran and Syria look to closer ties By an IWPR-trained reporter DAMASCUS – The busy historic market of Damascus is a familiar sight for Siya Shahidi. The Iranian housewife and mother of three has been going there from Tehran at least twice a year for years with her family to shop and visit holy sites. “When I walk in this market, it feels like walking in Tehran,” said Shahidi, whose head is only partly covered by a black scarf as she browses colorful dresses in a small store at the Hamidiyeh souk in old Damascus. Shahidi, who considers Damascus “the … Continue reading Iran and Syria move closer!

Iraq, seven years after By Brian M Downing It’s been seven years since United States and coalition forces invaded Iraq. The principal rationale for the war – Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction – was based on poor if not manipulated intelligence, but there were ancillary rationales of building democracy in the Middle East and increasing US national security. These other rationales might be usefully assessed now as the passions of the conflict have eased and an exit is near. Democracy in Iraq Many of the architects of the war envisioned a swift transition to a democratic government in Iraq. … Continue reading Free Iraq?

By Syed Fazl-e-Haider KARACHI – Islamabad and Tehran have signed an operational agreement on the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project, a month after the signing was delayed because Pakistan was unable to arrange funds for the project. The countries signed a “heads of agreement” and certain “condition precedents” to make the gas sales purchase agreement (GSPA) signed last June effective. The signing of these agreements was required for the flow of Iranian gas towards Pakistan to begin in three to four years. The pipeline as initially mooted was to carry gas from Iran to Pakistan and on to India. India … Continue reading Iran-Pakistan pipeline inches nearer reality