The Dawn Martin Scorsese, Roman Polanski & Garry Marshall.–File Photo. Culture ”Hurt Locker” producers sued before Oscars ”Hurt Locker” producers sued before Oscars LOS ANGELES: Want to be an actor, but you are beyond your 20s. Perhaps a career as a screenwriter, but you heard about age discrimination. Try directing, filmmakers are having all the luck these days – at any age. “Shutter Island” from 67-year-old director Martin Scorsese, reigned atop U.S. box offices for the second straight week this past weekend. It dethroned former champ “Valentine’s Day” from 75-year-old Garry Marshall, and 76-year-old Roman Polanski’s “Ghost Whisperer” is performing … Continue reading Too old for Hollywood but can try film directing?

Women take prominent role in Iraqi vote The Dawn In this photo taken Friday, Feb. 26, 2010, Jenan Mubarak, a candidate with the Iraq Unity Alliance, speaks at a campaign event in Baghdad, Iraq. — AP World Baghdad printers working flat out ahead of Iraq polls ELECTION CAMPAIGN Baghdad printers working flat out ahead of Iraq polls BAGHDAD: The minute Friday prayers are over, a crowd of women worshippers clothed in long black cloaks swarm around parliament member Maha al-Douri, peppering her with questions and requests. She is their access to power. Under a US-backed quota requiring that at least … Continue reading The rise of women as equals in Iraq?

By Muhammad Ali Siddiqi The Workers Party Pakistan should refrain from playing the role of a traditional opposition party which considers it obligatory on its part to oppose every government move. — Photo by AP Pakistan The dawn The formation last week of a new alliance of progressive parties in Islamabad must arouse interest in us all, irrespective of how we feel about the word ‘Left’. The very fact that such a merger should take place serves to underline the long overdue need for progressive forces to assert themselves and come out of the depression that has been their lot … Continue reading Pakistan’s New Left standing up for the masses or running away from mullahs?

Irfan Husain dawn.com Turkey’s Minister for EU Affairs Egemen Bagis (R) and Latvia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins attend a news conference in Riga. The one thing that has united both sections of Turkish society is the burning desire to become members of the European Union. –Reuters Photo I first went to Turkey as a young student in the early Sixties, and have returned many times to meet old friends, and explore this fascinating country. And while it has much to offer tourists, my attachment to it goes far deeper than the interest a casual visitor takes in a … Continue reading Turkey takes on its ‘deep state mullahs’

By Mahir Ali It is hardly likely that Bashir’s description of a previous dossier as ‘literature’ rather than evidence went down well among his hosts. –Photo by Reuters There is precious little risk of anyone putting too much store by last week’s talks between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan. Although Nirupama Rao and Salman Bashir parted on a vaguely civil note by agreeing that the channels of communication would remain open, there has thus far been little indication of plans for further meetings. It has been speculated that Rao could visit Islamabad this month, ahead of the opportunity … Continue reading Mature Diplomacy in the subcontinent?

Dawn Editorial It is condemnable that bureaucratic hurdles are preventing more than 3,000 jackets from reaching the NWFP police; who are targeted on a regular basis. –Photo by AP Dawn.com It is unfortunate that matters have come to such a pass that the lackadaisical attitude displayed by Pakistani officialdom does not take anyone by surprise. But when this approach puts lives at risk then those guilty of inaction must be taken to task. The NWFP police force has been among those at the forefront of the battle against militancy. From suicide attacks to bombings of schools to assaults on convoys … Continue reading Bullet-proof jackets lie unused at Islamabad Airport whilst Mullahs kill

Land mafia and the law By Rafia Zakaria If success against the collusion of land mafias, political conglomerations and capitalist profiteering is solely at the discretion of Pakistan’s Supreme Court, then chances of ordinary citizens prevailing against the domineering tactics of land mafias are minimal. –File Photo In the outskirts of Lahore lies the village of Bagriyan, a once rural enclave of farmland and livestock that was of little interest to developers. This has changed in recent years as the population of Lahore catapulted to nearly 10 million and the village became part of the city district of Lahore. Property … Continue reading The vermin that is called The Land Mafia!

Want to seduce a man? Smile at him 35 times every hour: The bizarre but true secrets of attraction By Andrew Trees Relationships should be so simple. You meet someone, you fall in love. If all goes well, you live happily ever after. But finding Mr or Ms Right is rarely that straightforward. As author ANDREW TREES reveals in his new book Decoding Love, science and statistics can offer the best help with our quest for romance. HOW TO GET AN ELIGIBLE MAN TO COME AND TALK TO YOU You’ve seen a man you like across a crowded room – … Continue reading How to seduce!

Murder most fowl: Three hens and cockerel named Dude peck fox to death after it breaks into coop By Luke Salkeld Last updated at 12:48 AM on 03rd March 2010 Being chickens, they probably didn’t put too much thought into it. But somehow a flock of four birds managed to kill a fox that had slunk into their pen hoping to gobble them up. Their owner Michelle Cordell, 43, had the shock of her life when she went to collect the eggs on the weekend and instead found a heavily pecked pile of fur lying dead in the corner. Dude … Continue reading Chickens kill fox in UK!