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Friday, April 30, 2004
Macedonia faked 'militant' raid - BBC
"Macedonian officials have admitted that seven alleged Pakistani militants killed in March 2002 were in fact illegal immigrants shot in cold blood to "impress" the international community ... The Macedonians were apparently trying to show the outside world that they were serious about participating in the US-led war on terror, officials say."
Arab women lift the veil on business - BBC
"There has been a discreet but dramatic shift in Arab attitudes over the last two or three years. 'Now it is very politically correct to address women's issues,' says Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani, chair of the Arab International Women's Forum in London. 'It is like a competition between Arab governments to encourage women to enter business and the political process.' "
Muslim terrorists embrace a very secular heresy - Independent
"The new sort of Islam that directs the finger of blame outwards, rather than towards the self, has been with us for only a very short time. Thirty years ago, no one had heard of it. Yet it is a sterile hopeless primal scream of desperation that can do no good to religion or to the world. It compounds Muslim grievances against our neighbours, and can lead to forms of self-destructive terrorism that are historically unprecedented for us. The targeting of innocent bystanders is clearly a symptom of this."
Long-Ago Bets Leave Indians Without Vote - Mercury News
"For generations, the all-powerful kings of two neighboring realms met to play cards. When one would lose, he'd give a little piece of his kingdom to the other. Years later, this royal whimsy has created a geopolitical nightmare for hundreds of thousands of people - both Indian and Bangladeshi - who are stuck in tiny enclaves inside each other's country. These isolated residents don't have fire departments, or running water or schools. There are no policemen to call when trouble brews. And when it comes to selecting their governments, they can't vote."
'New Sharia law' in Nigeria state - BBC
"The northern Nigerian state of Zamfara has introduced a new package of Islamic, or Sharia, laws. All businesses in the state will have to shut down during the five daily Muslim prayers. The state government also says that all 'unauthorised' places of worship will be shut down under 'Sharia phase two'."
Google Files Long-Awaited I.P.O. - New York Times
"Just in case you missed the news: Google has filed for an IPO with the SEC, indicating its interest in raising more than $2.7 billion. In its S1 filing, Google offered a rare peek at its super-charged financial performance: in 2003, the company posted net income of $105.6 million on revenue of $962 million, and in 2004, posted a first-quarter profit of $64 million. The Google IPO - easily the "most highly anticipated event in years in Silicon Valley" -- could value the company at as much as $25 billion." (Corante's Summary)
Want to get your own Google shares? Here's how the process will work, How you can bid online for Google shares?
Thursday, April 29, 2004
Militant Mullah Meets Match in Comic at Norway Nightclub - NY Times
"How much weight does a bearded mullah carry in a freewheeling liberal society like Norway's? The country's well-known Muslim comic, Shabana Rehman, decided to find out Tuesday when she lifted the founder of Iraq's Ansar al-Islam terrorist group off the ground before a startled audience. The cleric, known as Mullah Krekar, did not find the stunt funny. He went up smiling but was sputtering with rage by the time Ms. Rehman set him back down."
The house that Jinnah built - Asia Times
"Far from the madding crowd of the Indian elections, away from the high-profile glare of the twin core issues of Kashmir and cross-border terrorism that more often than not divide India and Pakistan, a beautiful old house in Mumbai's plush Malabar Hill area patiently waits for the hammer of history to write yet another chapter in the relationship of the two nations ... Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf wants India to "give" Pakistan the house as an outright gift, or perhaps "lease" it in perpetuity, as a symbol of New Delhi's faith in the new peace initiative with Islamabad."
Pakistan amnesty for tribal outlaws shocks officials - FT
"Pakistan's decision to grant amnesty to a group of tribal outlaws has shaken Afghan and western officials' confidence in General Pervez Musharraf's resolve to purge the lawless tribal region ahead of a new deadline to hand over hardline militants today. Abdullah Abdullah, Afghan foreign minister, said he was "confused" by the amnesty offer, even though his government welcomed Pakistan's efforts to drive militants from the region, which borders Afghanistan."
ADB warns of banking crisis in Pakistan - Daily Times
"Pakistan, India and Taiwan are at risk of a banking crisis unless the authorities push through reforms in the industry, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) warned on Wednesday. Seven years on, India, Pakistan, and Taiwan ?Dmay face one if the authorities are unable to forestall a crisis using pre-emptive financial reforms,?D the ADB said in its annual economic outlook report."
France Struggles to Curb Extremist Muslim Clerics - NY Times
"France has long maintained one of the strictest antiterrorism programs in Europe, in part because the country was hit early by Islamist terror and because it has the largest Muslim population on the Continent. Many other countries in Europe have been far more tolerant in allowing radical discourse to flourish in their mosques. But making such a hard-line stance stick is difficult, even here in a country that has been more willing than most of its European neighbors to limit free speech in the interest of a calm and cohesive society."
A Pakistan book with a difference - Times of India
"Against the backdrop of improved Indo-Pak relations, noted journalist Dileep Padgaonkar released, 'Across the Wagah', a book by Maneesha Tikekar at Patrakar Bhavan here on Sunday. On the basis of his personal experience, Padgaonkar said the book gave an honest insight into the socio-cultural setting of Pakistan. "Much is written about the country but a majority of it is about trauma and nostalgia. However, this book overcomes stereotypes and gives the reader a different perspective," he said."
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Canadians Muslims will get sharia courts to settle disputes - Independent
"Canada is embarking on an unusual judicial experiment that will allow members of its Muslim community to submit to the teachings of the Koran to resolve a variety of civil legal disputes, ranging from divorces to business conflicts. The new model, which will be closely examined by other countries grappling with the place of growing Muslim communities in their populations, is to be administered by a body of imams and Islamic scholars, the Islamic Institute of Justice, which was created at the end of last year."
The story in Washington Post, Canadians Allow Islamic Courts To Decide Disputes.
Saudi presenter shows beaten face - BBC
"A TV presenter who says she was beaten by her husband has allowed newspapers to show pictures of her swollen face to highlight domestic abuse. Rania al-Baz said her husband, Mohammed al-Fallatta, beat her so hard earlier this week that he broke her nose and fractured her face in 13 places."
BBC catches an interview with the lady, Beaten Saudi woman speaks out.
Muslim actor speaks on misuse of religion - Seattle PI
"Shah Rukh Khan, a Muslim actor married to a Hindu, says his success as one of India's top movie stars proves India's inherent secularism, and urged his compatriots to oppose the misuse of religion. 'I am a walking, talking secular example,' said Khan. 'I am an Islamic hero. My wife is Hindu. My children - I always say this openly - they will learn both the religions. There is no difference at all. I would like to teach them Christianity, too.' "
"Jaws dropped, mouths drooled, and knees chattered -- hai! Ram!!, kya ho gaya yaar -- he'd done it again. Just when it seemed, that Pakistan was ready for friendly behavior, Musharraf threatened us with a deadline on Kashmir. 'Yet another U-turn' screamed the headlines; analysts overnight came up with well-adjudged reasons for it all -- 'the MNNA status given to Pakistan by the US has made them more confident,' they claimed."
This is the first article in the series which includes: Why are the jihadis targeting children? and The threat in the North East.
Send Jobs to India? Some Find It's Not Always Best - NY Times
"Even as the prospect of high-skilled American jobs moving to low-wage countries like India ignites hot political debate, some entrepreneurs are finding that India's vaunted high-technology work force is not always as effective as advertised ... As more companies in the United States rush to take advantage of India's ample supply of cheap yet highly trained workers, even some of the most motivated American companies — ones set up or run by executives born and trained in India — are concluding that the cost advantage does not always justify the effort."
Pakistan cancels telecoms licence - BBC
"Pakistan's telecoms regulator has cancelled a mobile phone licence issued to Space Telecom after the firm missed a deadline to make a 25% downpayment. The licence has now been offered to the next highest bidder, Al-Warid, a local-Dubai group. Al-Warid has agreed to match Space's bid, Reuters quoted a Pakistan Telecom Authority official as saying."
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
More Arab than the Arabs? - Straits Times
Why are Malays turning to Arabic customs, speech and outlook to define themselves? ... 'As they become more 'Muslim', they become less Malay. They discard old values associated with the Malays, and which are considered un-Islamic. They believe that cultural expressions like theatre and art forms like wayang kulit are un-Islamic because of their pre-Islamic origins."
Imran blasts Pakistan inquiry - The Australian
"Former Pakistan great Imran Khan today blasted the sport's authorities for conducting a medical inquiry over fitness problems following the home series defeats by India. "Nowhere in the world (has) a medical inquiry of fast bowlers ever been conducted. By doing so, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a mockery of Pakistan cricket," Khan, a former captain and renowned fast bowler, told AFP."
Muslims given handbook on dealing with CSIS - Toronto Star
"An Islamic group is distributing a pocket guide to Canadian Muslims advising them what to do if CSIS or the RCMP tries to interrogate them about terrorism. Almost 30,000 copies of the Know Your Rights guide are already in circulation across the country and demand is growing among Muslims left shaken by sensational headlines following recent anti-terrorism raids."
Musharraf approves reduction of 50,000 troops - Daily Times
"President General Pervez Musharraf has approved a plan to restructure the Pakistan Army with the reduction of 50,000 non-combat men to create more funds for the technological needs of the fighting arms. Gen Sultan referred to the defence budget that had not been increased for a couple of years and said this restructuring plan would create funds from within the already available resources instead of burdening the economy, and help the army respondmore quickly to the challenges of the battlefield."
Exiled politician Pakistan-bound - BBC
"The leader of the opposition PML-N party in Pakistan will return to the country from exile in Britain on 10 May. Shahbaz Sharif is the brother of former premier Nawaz Sharif, and has been in exile for than three years ... Some family members have tried to return to Pakistan but were forcibly put on flights soon after their arrival. The Supreme Court said Shahbaz Sharif could be arrested on his arrival."
Jewish 'wife' fights for Muslim's fortune - Guardian
"The drinking, gambling and smoking habits of a wealthy Arab horseracing enthusiast were played out before the court of appeal in London yesterday as a Jewish flight attendant laid claim to his £20m fortune, claiming she had been his wife. But while lawyers for Lesley June al-Bassam said that, as his widow, she was entitled to Abdulaziz al-Bassam's estate, his only surviving relative disputed that she had married him."
Monday, April 26, 2004
Computer Student on Trial for Aid to Muslim Web Sites - NY Times
"Today, that graduate student, Sami Omar al-Hussayen, is on trial in a heavily guarded courtroom here, accused of plotting to aid and to maintain Islamic Web sites that promote jihad. As a Web master to several Islamic organizations, Mr. Hussayen helped to maintain Internet sites with links to groups that praised suicide bombings in Chechnya and in Israel. But he himself does not hold those views, his lawyers said. His role was like that of a technical editor, they said, arguing that he could not be held criminally liable for what others wrote."
Madrasas Slowly Warm to Computers - Wired News
"Stung by their reputation as places of backwardness and militancy, Pakistan's madrasas -- traditional schools where Islam is taught in great detail -- are teaching computer and Web literacy as a way to gain respectability. Jamia Naimia in Lahore is one of those madrasas. Subjects like math, English and general sciences are not taught here. But the school has a computer science department that teaches Windows applications, Web design and Basic."
Muslim students call for sharia-friendly loans - Guardian
"Pressure is mounting on the Department of Education and Skills to provide a Muslim-friendly student loan. the Muslim community is split over whether student loans, which incur inflation-only levels of interest, are against sharia law. Student activists say that some Muslims are being asked to break their faith or forgo the opportunity for financial assistance during their studies."
India outsources Kashmir solution to the USA - Spoof
"In a dramatic turnabout to almost everything being outsourced to India, the Indian government of Shri Atal Bhari Vajpayee has publicly announced that in order to try and avoid a nuclear war between itself and Pakistan, it will pay handsomely for advice on the topic of fixing the Kashmir issue to none other than those epitomies of moderation, Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney." ;-)
Technology and Show Business Kiss and Make Up - NY Times
"The techies played so hard to the show business crowd, it was easy to forget the two industries were ever at war. It was just two years ago, that Michael D. Eisner, chief executive of the Walt Disney Company, and a top executive at the Intel Corporation screamed at each other across a packed Senate hearing room. Mr. Eisner accused the technology industry of encouraging the theft of music and movies over the Internet and of enabling Napster and its file-swapping clones to flourish. The Intel executive, Leslie L. Vadasz, fired back that Mr. Eisner needed to 'deal with the new digital world.' "
Top players to boost new Abu Dhabi stadium - Reuters
"Abu Dhabi stakes its claim to host one-day international matches when it unveils its new state-of-the-art cricketing facility with a game featuring leading Indian and Pakistan players on May 14. The 20,000-capacity Sheikh Zayed stadium in the capital of the United Arab Emirates has cost $22 million."
Sunday, April 25, 2004
Personalities override politics in Pakistan - Reuters
"When Pakistan's powerful military clashes with the country's great political families, things are bound to get personal. The cases this week of an opposition figure in prison and another in exile have underlined the schism between President Pervez Musharraf and former leaders Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif that has helped to stifle democracy, analysts say."
Treat me fairly: Javed Miandad - Hindustan Times
"Embattled cricket coach Javed Miandad has just one request to the Pakistani Cricket Board (PCB): treat me fairly. To blame him alone for the series loss to India would be unfair, and if Inzamam-ul-Haq is to continue as skipper, why the uncertainty about him, Miandad wonders. "When they can announce that Inzamam-ul-Haq is going to continue as captain, why not announce the same thing about me because I have another year of contract remaining with them?"
Erotica to erotic kya? - Times of India
" 'By the dawn of the 17th century, sex as a subject was not as overt as it was earlier,’’ says Sandhya Moolchandani who along with Pawan Verma has authored Love & Lust, a book dealing with erotica in India and its depiction in various art forms down the ages. The subjugation of sexuality, says Verma, 'happened because Muslim and Victorian influences introduced a sense of guilt to what was an enlightened role of desire.' While the late 20th century saw a resurgence of sexual expression in India, 'erotica had lost its sensuousness by then,' says Moolchandani."
Why it's time to invest in India - Toronto Star
"That outsourcing is just part of the rapid growth lately of the Indian economy. The growth is expected to continue, at a rate of around 7 per cent this year. India has a huge population of 1.05 billion people. It still has a lot of problems to overcome, but it has a stable democracy, an enormous English speaking population, and an education system that each year generates more than a million college graduates. India's economy is benefiting from rising exports and global services such as outsourcing. It's also responding to rising demand from consumers within the country."
Christians, Muslims, Jews told spirituality, not religion, is key - SF Chronicle
"U.S. troops attacked a mosque in Iraq, Muslim militants blew up a bus in Kashmir, and Israeli security forces ravaged a Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. In other news, nearly 100 Christians, Muslims and Jews sat down together in San Francisco, shared a meal, and tried to figure out why religion seems to be the problem rather than the solution. They gathered at a dozen round tables Sunday evening at the new Jewish Community Center in San Francisco and listened to three experts -- a Muslim, a Christian and a Jew -- tell them that the essence of all three religions is love."
You think you know them?
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Kuwait sex-change case upheld - BBC
"A Kuwaiti court has said a 25-year-old man who underwent sex-change surgery can be officially regarded as a woman. The unprecedented ruling came after the court was told of the plaintiff's physical and mental torment since childhood due to hormonal imbalances. Lawyer Adel al-Yahya told Reuters news agency the judges were guided by a religious edict allowing gender change if there are medical reasons for it."
Sex Kitten Brigitte Bardot speaks truth regarding Muslim - MichNews
"It's true. Where Muslims settle, they plan eventually to take over. When that happens, the Koran then mounts high as legit take on how a culture acts. The Koran, the unholy writ of a demonic religion, advocates its deity - Allah - demanding non-Muslims be slaughtered or used as slaves. Brigitte Bardot is incensed by what has happened in her France because of Muslim infiltration."
Saturday, April 24, 2004
Pakistan's tribal deal - who wins? - BBC
"The agreement between the Pakistani government and pro-Taleban tribesmen accused of sheltering al-Qaeda members is unlikely to have pleased the United States. But the end of the military operation near the Afghan border has certainly come as a relief for both the authorities and the tribesmen."
Indian film ban could close cinemas - Daily Times
"The Pakistan Film Exhibitors Association is thinking of closing down cinemas from the first week of May if they are not allowed to show Indian films. Cinema owners demanded they be allowed to screen Indian films following the Pakistan and India peace process. They said Pakistani films were too few and too poor to sustain them."
Defending democracy in Pakistan - Asia Times
"It may seem paradoxical to state that now the military in Pakistan will defend democracy. But that is exactly what is happening. The maxim that 'war is too important to be left to the generals' appears to have been redefined in Pakistan to read 'politics is too important to be left to the politicians'."
Muslim women exempt from ID card photos - Guardian
"Thousands of Muslim women will be exempted from having to show their faces on identity cards as the Government moves to allay fears among British Muslims that the new cards will be used to target them in the 'war on terror'. Instead of a photograph, there would be an exemption for certain people, who would only have to give fingerprint and iris-recognition data."
Call for travel boycott as Zanzibar bans gays - Guardian
"A gay rights group is calling for travellers to boycott Zanzibar after the East African island outlawed homosexuality. The Tanzanian island's parliament passed a bill earlier this month to jail people in same-sex relationships for up to 25 years. Ministers declared tourism had corrupted traditional values in the largely Muslim state, stating that in Islam homosexuality is prohibited."
Woman bailed over abandoned boy - BBC
"The mother of a child abandoned outside a butcher's shop in east London has been released on police bail. Abdul, who is aged between 12 and 19 months, has been in the care of social services since he was found on Tuesday. He was left in a blue pushchair outside the shop at about 1500 BST, but only started crying more than an hour later. A note found in the baby's pushchair stated that the boy was a Muslim and that his name was Abdul."
Friday, April 23, 2004
Pakistan can match India’s success with the right system - Daily Times
" 'I am a big believer that Pakistanis have the same DNA as Indians. There is absolutely no reason they couldn’t be as brainy, or aren’t as brainy, as anyone in Banglore. To me, it all about the system that you live in ... If Pakistan had the same system as India, I have absolutely no doubt Pakistan would be competing with India right now and it would have its own Infosys-es. But it doesn’t have that system. Why it doesn’t have that system is a long historical tale and I’m not going to go into that because people know it better than I do.' " - Thomas L Friedman, NY Times
Pakistan Leads Opposition on Terrorist Arms Ban - Reuters
"Pakistan led the opposition on Thursday to a key U.S.-drafted resolution banning the transfer of unconventional weapons to terrorists, saying the measure could be used to justify military action. Ambassador Munir Akram, whose country has been accused of proliferation, also said the U.N. Security Council was not the "most appropriate body" to oversee nonproliferation because its five permanent members all retained nuclear arms."
'Rock Star' Islamic Cleric Kicks off UK Tour - Scotsman
"An Islamic cleric dubbed “the rock star of the new Muslim generation” was kicking off his three-week tour of the UK today. Hamza Yusuf will speak about the challenges facing Islam and the war on terror at Scotland’s largest mosque ... The American scholar was one of the first Islamic figures to whom President George Bush turned for advice in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Although a fierce critic of western decadence and injustice, he has called on Muslims to recognise what is good about western society."
Exquisite Parts - Muslim WakeUp
" 'I don’t care if we’re halal, I barely know you, Mr. Muhammad Batinjani,” she goes. 'D’ya think I can get into bed with a man I barely know?' She buttons up her flannel pajama. What kind of girl wears flannel pajamas on her wedding night? 'We’ve been engaged for two months, Miss Maryam Rashid,' I say. 'We’ve been seeing each other every other night, double on weekends.' 'Yeah, and we’ve been alone two minutes of that. If it wasn’t my folks it was your brother and his wife. Your little nephew Zaki—' "
Latest installment of Sex & the Umma.
Pakistan embassy in Bangkok gets threatening letter - Hi Pakistan
"Pakistan's embassy in Thailand has received a letter from a mysterious group threatening terror attacks against countries supporting US-led operations in Iraq, Thai police said on Thursday. The letter, matching a similar warning sent on Wednesday to South Korea's embassy, from a group calling itself the "Yellow-Red Overseas Organization," was received at the Pakistan mission on Monday, police said."
"Google coddles even its engineers' zaniest ideas. In one project, techies were grappling with the problem of displaying information from the Internet on cell-phone screens, recalls a former Google employee. They went as far as pondering a laser that would scan the user's retina, creating the appearance of a larger screen. Ideas such as these are often included on the Top 100 list. An 'S' next to the project stands for 'skunkworks' and protects it from premature reviews and criticism.To foster a culture of creativity, the company's campus is a veritable theme park for propeller heads. Engineers unwind by playing roller hockey in the downstairs garage or racing remote-control blimps through the offices. Segway scooters, which retail at $4,000, are parked around campus, offering a novel way to navigate between buildings."
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Pakistan's tenacious president - Economist
"No retirement in sight. Pervez Musharraf has at last got what army chiefs before him have always coveted: a National Security Council (NSC). Before the bill became law on April 19th, the opposition walked out in protest following the government's refusal to allow scrutiny of the bill, which was passed in less than four minutes. General Musharraf, who argues that 'the military can only be kept out by bringing it in', insists that the NSC will be a consultative body only. But many fear it will entrench the political power of the armed forces—and of the general himself."The NSC bill has received a great deal of international press. Most are questioning (and rightly so in my opinion) the long-term ramifications of the change. Here are some other reports on the topic:
BBC, Where is Musharraf's Pakistan heading?.
Asia Times, In the grip of the military and Pakistani wine in Turkish bottle.
"An unfortunate fact of life is that most Muslim countries have bad systems of government. Before jumping to conclusions about why this might be, it is worth noting that the same could have been said of Roman Catholic countries about 35 years ago. A look at the world map then would have shown numerous countries, in Latin America, eastern Europe and elsewhere, that had predominantly Catholic populations ruled by authoritarian regimes."
France to train imams in 'French Islam' - Guardian
"The French interior minister, Dominique de Villepin, said yesterday that the country must urgently begin training Muslim clerics in a moderate Islam that respects human rights and the republican code. He said France had to 'face the issue of training imams. I ask you to help the Muslim faith get organised better and more quickly so that a real 'French Islam' can emerge.' "
Cyber wing in information ministry on cards - Asia Media
"The government is contemplating to establish a cyber wing in the ministry of information and broadcasting at a cost of Rs39.4 million to counter propaganda from across the borders, an official source told Dawn here on Monday. The hub of the wing, the source said, would be connected to all other departments, wings and corporations working under the ministry of information and broadcasting."
Pakistan brothers jailed over rape - BBC
"Four brothers from Pakistan have been given jail sentences of up to 22 years by a court in Australia after being found guilty of aggravated sexual assault. The court heard how the brothers had repeatedly raped two teenage girls at the brothers' home, in Sydney, in July 2002. The presiding judge dismissed arguments that the rapes could have been the result of cultural differences between the girls and the assailants. Another man found guilty with the brothers committed suicide last week."
Husain to release 'Meenaxi' again - New Kerala
"Trust M.F. Husain. After withdrawing his film "Meenaxi" following protests from some Muslim groups, he is now planning to release it again ... The film starring Tabu was withdrawn after some Muslim groups said a song in "Meenaxi" hurt their religious sentiments."
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Robert Fisk: Bush Legitimizes Terrorism - CounterPunch
"So President George Bush tears up the Israeli-Palestinian peace plan and that's okay. Israeli settlements for Jews and Jews only on the West Bank. That's okay. Taking land from Palestinians who have owned that land for generations, that's okay. UN Security Council Resolution 242 says that land cannot be acquired by war. Forget it. That's okay. Does President George Bush actually work for al-Qa'ida? What does this mean? That George Bush cares more about his re-election than he does about the Middle East? Or that George Bush is more frightened of the Israeli lobby than he is of his own electorate. Fear not, it is the latter."
Muslim leaders huddle in Malaysia, US condemned at Muslim conference, to fret over their helplessness.
Out-on-their-luck teens turn to prostitution - Daily Times
"Unable to find work or trust friends, Naveed, now 15, decided two months ago to adopt prostitution as his fulltime profession. He says he has already made regular clients and earns an average of Rs 500 each night. He is not alone. A whole slew of out-on-their-luck boys, many from broken homes, have become sex workers in the city. Many of these male prostitutes are in league with small motels, which take up to 50 percent of their earnings. Motels around the Railway Station have a large concentration of such sex workers, most not old enough to get a driver’s licence."
Musharraf whipping Pakistan into (US) line - Asia Times
"It is in the interests of the US, therefore, that Pakistan, with or without President General Pervez Musharraf, remains on side with Washington in its ongoing efforts to get to the source of radical Islam and anti-US jihadis in the region, and to maintain stability on the sub-continent. High-level officials familiar with government thinking have told Asia Times that both administrative and political restructuring will begin in the coming weeks to further bolster the country against "traditional forces". The immediate challenge is to spread Musharraf's pro-Western leanings deeper into society in general."
A report on similar lines, Pakistan army shedding generals.
Qadir demands Rs.200 million from PTV - Webindia123
"Former Pakistan leg spinner Abdul Qadir has demanded Rs.200 million from Pakistan Television (PTV) as damages for accusing him of ball-tampering. According to Qadir's lawyers, PTV signed a contract with Qadir to give expert analysis on the recent Pakistan-India cricket series. 'In the 20-day contract, PTV agreed to pay Qadir Rs.10,000 per day,' said Nasir. He said PTV unilaterally cancelled the agreement without prior notice after 12 days and did not pay him on the pretext that Information Minister Sheikh Rashid had ordered the contract be cancelled."
Has Qadir lost his mind? Does he have any clue how much Rs 200 mil ($4 mil) is? Give a man $2 mil, he can retire; make that $4 mil, his next generate can probably retire too.
U.S. rush for India back-office firms raises risks - Reuters
"Major U.S. companies are trying to leapfrog rivals by snapping up existing back-office companies in India to keep up with the outsourcing drive, rather than build their own operations from scratch. But consultants warn that in their rush they may run the risk of overpaying, do less homework on their target than they should, and could then find it difficult to mesh two disparate corporate, let alone national, cultures. Besides, the nagging issue of staff retention could only get bigger."
Oracle to set up centre for research - Daily Times
"Oracle Corpora-tion has shown keen interest in establishing a centre of excellence to conduct research for innovative initiatives in the textile and garments sectors. This was disclosed in a meeting between Oracle delegation led by Keith Budge, regional director for South Asia and Mr Leghari on Wednesday. The team of Oracle Corporation, a leading provider of database management systems in the world, is visiting Pakistan to evaluate the opportunities that exist within the country in the field of IT."
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Listen to Muslim silent majority in US - CS Monitor
"Studies confirm that the majority of Muslims living in the West don't share the fundamentalist agenda of their self-appointed leaders. Yet conservatives are still most likely to be called upon by the media and policymakers to represent the Muslim community because they fit a convenient stereotype of what a Muslim should look and act like. As a recent RAND Corporation study points out, 'They present a better photo-op, so the media tend to choose them when they need a pictorial illustration for a story about American Muslims.' "
The book mentioned in the article, Progressive Muslims: On Justice, Gender, and Pluralism.
Polio campaign targets Pakistan - BBC
"National polio immunization campaigns are underway in Pakistan and Afghanistan as part of the effort to rid the world of the virus by 2005. Programmes to reach every child under the age of five are being co-ordinated to reduce the risk of the virus spreading across the border. The Indian and Pakistani cricket teams lent their support to immunisation during their recent test series."
Pro-stoning imam faces expulsion - Guardian
"The French justice minister yesterday ordered the expulsion of an Algerian-born Lyon imam who declared he was in favour of women being stoned, wives being beaten and France becoming an Islamist republic. Dominique de Villepin said he wanted the repatriation order against Abdelkader Bouziane implemented immediately "as a public order measure aimed at protecting the national interest"."
Muslims Launch 'Hate Hurts America' Radio Campaign - Yahoo
"A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today announced a new campaign designed to counter anti-Muslim hate on radio talk shows. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the campaign, called "Hate Hurts America," is based on the premise that the increasing attacks on Islam by conservative talk show hosts nationwide is not only offensive to Muslims and other people of conscience, but also harms the United States by creating a downward spiral of interfaith mistrust and hostility."
Bin Laden's banker? - The Star
"He has been hounded through one country after another, but hopes to find peace and safety in South Africa. Libya believes that Ibrahim Tantoush has links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, and years ago stole a substantial amount of gold 'to finance terrorist activities abroad'. But Tantoush says the world after 9/11 is a hostile place for Arab Muslims and that South Africa is his last hope of finding a home. He says Libya has fabricated the gold-theft charge."
India's Tech Push Includes Focus on Entrepreneurship - EC News
"After building a reputation for educating graduates with world-class technical skills, India is now looking for ways to encourage innovation,risk-taking and entrepreneurial behavior. That means less government red tape for starting new ventures, more R&D spending and more access to VC financing. It also means a wholesale revamp of the educational curriculum in order to place more emphasis on entrepreneurship. If these efforts are successful, says the article, India could become a "knowledge superpower" capable of retaining its "best and brightest," some of whom have already co-founded world-class companies in Silicon Valley. Included - a look at some of the initiatives on tap at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB). [Credits: Corante]
Monday, April 19, 2004
Iraq's neighbours: We told you so, but what now? - Economist
"Amr Moussa, the Arab League's secretary-general, famously gave warning that an American invasion of Iraq would 'open the gates of hell'. Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president of Iran, predicted a quagmire. And on the streets of pre-war Baghdad, a Palestinian resident assured your correspondent that ordinary Iraqis would sit tight for the invasion, give the Americans six months' grace, and then start shooting them. Understandably, therefore, the region is chorusing 'we told you so'."
Beckham, sex and big business - Asia Times
"Every once in a while a scandal breaks out in the West that elicits as many opinions and remarks in India as anywhere else. Such is the case with the latest David Beckham infidelity episode that is occupying just as much media space in India as it is in the rest of the world. Nicole Kidman-Tom Cruise-Penelope Cruz, Elizabeth Hurley-Arun Nayyar and Salman Rushdie-Padma Laxmi also draw full attention in India, but the current alleged Beckham romps are in a different league altogether - interest is probably at the same level as that of the late Princess Diana's lovers, or the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky cigar talk. "
A Secret Weapon in the War Against Terror: Inclusion - LA Times
"Muslim extremism's increasingly present face in Western societies is largely the result of a political failure of governments that are losing the battle for the hearts and minds of those who find the message of Al Qaeda's leaders more appealing than that of Tony Blair, George W. Bush or Spain's recently unseated prime minister, Jose Maria Aznar. That Britons born and raised on British soil would plan the murder of their fellow citizens because of tape-recorded tyrannical rants emanating from a cave far away should be proof enough of how fast we are losing the battle."
Hiring Techies Is as Tricky as Ever - Business Week
"During the 1990s dot-com boom, hiring tech talent was as painful as getting your gums scraped. Things got so out of hand that English majors acquired the hubris of investment bankers, demanding signing bonuses, six-figure salaries, and stock options. Three years after the bubble burst, it should be a lot easier to hire techies. With the unemployment rate for computer scientists and electrical engineers at an above-average 6%, plenty of geeks are available for hire. Beyond that, the pool of talent is worldwide, what with U.S. companies tapping into workforces in India and China. Even so, tech recruiters say it still isn't easy to find good help."
Detroit suburb may OK Muslim prayer call on loudspeakers - Chicago Sun
"In a sign of the changes in this once predominantly Polish Detroit suburb of 23,000, the city council is expected today to pass a noise ordinance amendment that would permit mosques to issue the Islamic call to prayer over loudspeakers. In recent years, stores selling saris and halal meat have opened, and signs in Bengali, Arabic and Bosnian compete with signs in Polish and English. Only 23 percent of the city's residents specified Polish ancestry in the 2000 census."
Muslim gets 60 years for slitting throat of estranged Jewish friend - HC
"The son of a Saudi millionaire was sentenced to 60 years in prison today for slitting the throat of an estranged Jewish friend, and the victim's father told the killer, "You are the face of evil." Michel Sellouk, a Jew who moved here from Morocco more than 20 years ago, also described the fate that he wishes for Mohammed Ali Alayed in prison. While Alayed chose to attack 23-year-old Ariel Sellouk from behind, nearly decapitating him, the father said he hopes Alayed's throat is slit in prison by someone who is looking into his eyes."
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Kashmir Fence May Cement Divide - Los Angeles Times
"Unlike a similar barrier being built by Israel to separate it from the West Bank, which has provoked criticism from the Palestinians and other governments, India's fence has drawn little foreign attention. Even Pakistan has been more severe in its public attacks on the Israeli barrier than the Indian one. As they prepare for the start of landmark peace talks over Kashmir and other issues next month, India and Pakistan are keeping their argument over the fence civil."
"Indians start voting next week to choose a new government. Its first priority should be Aids. One subject not being discussed in India's current election campaign is AIDS. Yet, on the most conservative of estimates, 600,000 Indians already have the disease and 4.58m are infected with HIV, the virus that causes it. That means India ranks second only to South Africa in terms of its number of infections—and that with only about 0.9% of the adult population HIV-positive, compared with over 20% in South Africa."
Pak poised to achieve 8% GDP growth: ADB - PakTribune
"Pakistan is poised to achieve eight percent GDP growth over the medium term due to a dramatic change in its economic potential during the past four years. This was announced by the Director General of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Iwasaki at a joint news conference with the Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz after their meeting here Saturday evening."
Pakistani Ships to Join Western Navies - Guardian
"Pakistan, a key regional ally in the U.S. fight against terrorism, plans to join an international fleet policing the Arabian Sea, a newspaper reported Saturday. The joint patrols will include ships from the United States, Britain, Japan, France, Canada and Australia."
Botswana sends Muslim beauty to EU pageant - Mmegi Online
"Botswana has been invited to compete in the first Miss EU pageant to be held on May 2 to mark the admission of 10 states into the European Union in Budapest, Hungary. First time entrant to represent Botswana, Sumaiyah Pandor Marope, told Showbiz that this was a great opportunity to educate people about Botswana ... Even though Marope is Muslim, Shunda said that her parents have given her their approval and support. 'We are anticipating some opposition against Marope participating because the Muslim community is known to disapprove of beauty pageants,' Shunda stated."
Indian-Promoted Firms Dominate VC Deals in US - CB Review
"Indian-promoted technology companies are taking a lion's share of US venture capital (VC) money according to recent research by Chennai-based VC tracking firm TSJ Media. During the last quarter (ended March 2004) US VCs dished out over $470m in private equity placements to 43 companies set up by individuals with Indian roots, including CipherTrust Inc, Redback Networks Inc, 3PAR Inc, Ipolicy Networks Inc, and Maranti Networks Inc."
More on India(ns) and Venture Capital, Israeli venture capital mission for India.
Saturday, April 17, 2004
Incurious George W. can't grasp democracy - Toronto Star
"No better example can be found of Bush the incurious than his joint declaration this week with Israeli leader Ariel Sharon. 'Sharon Got It All,' headlined the Israeli daily Haaretz the next day. An entirely accurate summation. Sharon got rid of what he didn't want — bedraggled Gaza with its 1 million Arabs for the minimal price of moving 7,000 Jewish settlers whom most Israelis agree should never have been there in the first place. In exchange, Sharon got everything he wanted. Approval of his "security wall"; that no Palestinian refugees could ever return and that most Jewish settlers in the West Bank could stay. In practical terms, "reality," as Bush put it at their joint appearance at the White House, always ensured that most Jewish settlers would stay and that almost no Palestinian refugees would ever return."
A good compilation on the recent announcement, US and Israel abandon peace and International Law.
Pakistani Girls Forced to Settle Men's Disputes - Reuters
"Afsheen was just nine years old when she was married to a man four times her age to pay for a crime she did not commit. Her father had killed someone and she had to marry a member of the victim's family as compensation under a centuries-old custom of Pakistan's ethnic Pashtun tribes. Known as swara, the custom calls for a girl to be given away in marriage to an aggrieved family as part of settlement for murder perpetrated by one of her relatives."
"Many of Europe's 12.5 million Muslims are feeling increasingly like second-class citizens. Peter Fray examines the social and political repercussions. Leila feels stigmatised by the French society she was born in for wanting to wear her headscarf to school. Arif can't understand why his group has been denied use of The Hague's town hall when another religious community has access. Mohamad fears his workplace — Madrid's biggest mosque — has become a target for reprisals. And Inyalat says he's just tired of saying sorry to Britain."
Inzamam: from pariah to praises - Guardian
"With the captaincy has come revelation. His ostensibly relaxed and laidback demeanour has too often been eagerly misinterpreted, variously, as stupidity or apathy. A buffoon, albeit lovable and talented; his willingness to avoid the media has not helped dispel the image. But captaincy has brought with it an unfamiliar, and often harsh, glare, and one which Inzamam has adapted to surprisingly well. At press conferences, questions are answered with a bewildering but endearing mix of wit and languid confidence. Often as he ponders a question, like his desperately slow trudges back to the pavilion, a leisurely smile will emerge across his face and he will allow a carefully guarded intelligence to come through in his reply."
Eton to appoint imam to help understanding of Islam - Telegraph
"Eton College is to become the first top public school in the country to appoint an imam to help pupils gain an understanding of Islamic culture and thought. The school, which has taught 18 British prime ministers, is also to offer Arabic as a language for the first time from this September to increase better understanding of the Muslim world. The imam, who is a trained Muslim cleric will also attend to the needs of around 20 Muslim pupils who attend the exclusive £21,000 a year school."
Archaic philosophy on sex - Malaysia Kini
"Kelantan Chief Minister Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat none too ingeniously has stated that the recent spate of violent crimes directed at women (including young girls and children) was caused by the mass media. He contended that images of women with exposed body parts have caused titillation and male sexual anxiety, thereby arousing lust. The result is the inevitable sexual crime against women."
Friday, April 16, 2004
Bolly babes rate Pakistan's hottest - Times of India
"While the general public and cricket buffs rate the cricketers on performances, statistics and success, only the 'image conscious' beautiful actresses of Bollywood can rate them on the 'hot' scale. Read: Sex appeal, stamina, looks, assets (we mean the Mercedes, the bikes, the hospitality, etc...). Read on as the bevy of Bollywood beauties rate the Pakistani hunks..."
'Muslim cowgirl feminist' articulates American Muslim experience - ST
"Asma Gull Hasan cannot keep her secret any longer. The 29-year-old daughter of Pakistani immigrants has just published her second book designed to educate non-Muslims about Islam and present the religion in a way that clarifies the basics and provokes discussion about the world's second-largest religion ... She has dubbed herself a 'Muslim cowgirl feminist,' a moniker that fits her background of a religious Muslim upbringing -- in 'cowgirl' country in Colorado -- and her later education at Wellesley College, which Hasan describes as a 'hotbed' of feminism."
The book at Amazon, Why I am a Muslim: An American Odyssey.
Rise of mosques worries some - Chicago Tribune
"Germany's 3 million Muslims--second only to France among West European nations--are making their presence felt in ways that not all Germans find reassuring. The past decade has witnessed a surge in the number of mosques across Germany and other European countries. Germany has about 2,400 mosques, but more significantly, Germany's mosques have been emerging from nondescript storefronts and inconspicuous basements into more visible and recognizable quarters."
Is the Muslim head scarf a threat to democracy? - Centre Daily
"Unfortunately and incomprehensively, the head scarf has been stolen away from the Muslim woman as the vehicle of her modesty in today's society. Inappropriately and unabashedly, the West has assigned the head scarf meanings that it simply does not have for the Muslim: extremism, oppression and inequality. In reality, this lack of appreciation for the meanings and purposes of objects from other traditions indexes the West's own ignorance of Islam and the Western desire to marginalize it and exclude it from its rightful place in a pluralistic society."
"Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar has dismissed criticism of his attitude during the 2-1 home Test series defeat by India ... Inzamam was also angry about phone calls Shoaib reportedly made to former captain Rashid Latif to complain he was not being given the field placing he wanted ... Former skipper Imran Khan, meanwhile, said Inzamam's captaincy left a lot to be desired and repeated recent calls for Pakistan to employ a bowling coach."
Pakistani cricket gets down to finger-pointing. I personally think someone should be fired; we can't let our cricketers get away with a defeat of this magnitude without a severe penalty. They should know we do not like to be defeated, and that consequences for losing are extreme.
HIV Chills a Hot Skinflick Industry - Washington Post
"Southern California's multibillion-dollar pornographic-film business was thrown into turmoil this week after a health advocacy group disclosed that two actors had tested positive for HIV. The Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation, a nonprofit organization that each month screens about 1,200 actors in skinflicks for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, confirmed yesterday that the actors, who work under the names Darren James and Lara Roxx, had tested positive for HIV and that 65 other actors so far had been placed on a 'quarantine list.' "
The Corporation - 47th S.F. International Film Festival
"In a landmark decision after the Civil War, the courts applied the 14th Amendment to corporations—giving them all the rights of a citizen—and conglomerates’ power and influence have mushroomed ever since. As this inspiring, infuriating documentary spells out, many corporations’ sense of social responsibility has not kept pace ... This far-ranging film, by turns funny and heartbreaking, encompasses the exploitation of Third World labor by multinationals, environmental destruction and the complicity of Big Media."
The book behind the movie, The Corporation : The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power.
Thursday, April 15, 2004
Sex? Aankhon aankhon mein - Times of India
"They are glamorous, no doubt. But they have no airs, no illusions, no grandiose plans of reaching stardom and then heading for Hollywood. Just a plain acceptance of the fact that their job is to act. We are talking of the filmstars of Pakistan. Wearing trousers and tank tops is the only concession Veena Malik — who debuted with Yeh Dil Aapka Hua and is currently one of Pakistan's hottest stars — gets as a result of her stardom."
A Subcontinental Rivalry Where Tolerance Wins - Los Angeles Times
"The Indian performance in Pakistan may have important consequences for Hindu-Muslim relations within India as well. Few events have been as emblematic of the deterioration between the two major religious communities of the subcontinent as the horror of the Gujarat massacres in 2002, when upwards of 1,000 Muslims were murdered in retaliation for the burning alive of 59 Hindus on a train by a Muslim mob. Now, just two years later, one of the newest stars of the Indian team in Pakistan is a 19-year-old Indian Muslim from Gujarat, Irfan Pathan, playing only his second tour at the senior level."
New Target and Tone - Washington Post
"Osama bin Laden's psychological operations campaign against the United States took a surprising turn yesterday with the release of an audio message that is modern, tactical and nearly diplomatic in tone, and that addresses Europeans rather than Muslim devotees, counterterrorism experts and intelligence officials said. In doing so, experts who have analyzed his previous audiotapes and videotapes said bin Laden is employing a powerful weapon in psychological warfare: an adaptable propaganda machine that understands the nature of Western democracies, seeks to exploit political dissent and knows how to disseminate its message worldwide without being caught."
India didn't win, Pakistan lost - Economic Times
"If one looks at the whole state of affairs, one will realise that Pakistan have also themselves to blame for having caved in to the Men in Blue. More than their skills on the field, the Indians have been able to defeat the Pakistanis mentally at the very onset of the tour. The body language of the bowlers and the fielders, the resilience of the batsmen and the tough talk from the captain all pushed the Pakistanis against the wall from which they could very rarely push back."
Hopes rise for tanker 'hostages' held by Pakistan - Financial Times
"Hopes are growing that Pakistan will soon release eight foreign sailors, held as virtual hostages for the payment of $7.7bn (£4.6bn, ?6.4bn) in compensation for coastal pollution damage - claims that the insurers say are largely bogus. The demand for the money was made in a letter from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Greek ambassador in Islamabad. It says the men, seven Greek and Filipino crew members of the Tasman Spirit, which went aground outside the port of Karachi last July, and a salvage expert, will only be repatriated if the ship's owner promises to pay for all the pollution damage."
Shoaib in an ad with Shah Rukh? - Midday
"Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar is planning to visit India after the present series to shoot a commercial for a top Indian company. Shoaib is scheduled to shoot for Videocon India with top filmstar Shah Rukh Khan. Shoaib is scheduled to leave for India on Sunday. Sources said the fast bowler had also signed up another lucrative endorsement contract with Hero Honda for which he would also soon shoot commercials."
Another one with Sachin, Shoaib, Sachin to ride together.
Poland to build monument in Pakistan - PakTribune
"A monument will be built as a token of Poland’s gratitude to Karachiites for giving shelter to the Polish refugees during the World War II, Consul-General, Republic of Poland, Irensusz Makles announced this during a press conference held to introduce Anna Pietraszek, a popular journalist of Polish State Television."
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Pakistan mobile phone licences make $580m - Financial Times
"The Pakistani government on Wednesday sold licences to two new mobile phone companies for more than US$580m. Space Telecom, whose partners include Syriatel, a Syrian telecoms company, and Telenor, the Norwegian telecoms operator, will pay US$291m each for a licence to operate a mobile phone network in Pakistan for a 15-year period. The sums were considerably higher than analysts' forecasts of no more than US$100m, giving the first indication in years of renewed interest in the country's telecoms sector."
Channel News Asia, Singapore Telecom withdraws from bidding for Pakistan mobile license.
BBC, Pakistan in $600m telecoms sale.
International Herald Tribune, Pakistan hopes auction will spread the (text) message.
Daily Times, $1b to $2b expected in telecom investment.
How Pakistan Does So Much With So Little - Strategy Page
"Pakistan has been one up on its military strategy versus the rest of the world during the last few decades. This small nation has been able to subdue not only its big neighbor India but also subdue the mighty United States. Since the early 1980s, Pakistan has adopted a clever military strategy that entails adopting un-conventional warfare and acquiring strategic position. Since its humiliating defeat in the 1972 at the hand of India, leading to the dismemberment of the country and creation of a new nation – Bangladesh, Pakistan has decided to cleverly avoid conventional warfare."
HSBC offers Islamic pension fund - BBC
"HSBC is launching an Islamic law-compliant pension fund targeted at the UK's two million Muslims. The HSBC Life Amanah Pension Fund will hold shares in companies that comply with the Sharia, or Islamic law. Individuals cannot invest in the fund directly - they must sign up through an employee scheme."
Pakistan gives the military a formal role in government - FT
"Pakistan's upper house of parliament yesterday passed a controversial bill to create a national security council giving a permanent forum to the chiefs of the powerful armed forces to influence national decisions. The members of the council, to be chaired by General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's military ruler, include the prime minister, senior ministers, the leader of the opposition in parliament and chiefs of the army, navy and air force."
Muslim's Treatment Assailed - Washington Post
"A Muslim security guard at the Madison Hotel was told to stay away from the 10th floor of the hotel during a recent stay there by a senior Israeli official, a Muslim advocacy group said yesterday. Stephen Bello, the general manager at the Madison, confirmed that the guard, Ahmed Kadi Haji, was asked to avoid the floor. But he said the request was made by security units guarding the visiting foreign dignitary, whose name and nationality he declined to disclose."
Muslim teens, peers grapple with outward shows of faith - Tribnet
"The Nickelodeon cable network's Nick News program means to address that fear-of-the-unknown factor. Its next installment, 'Keeping Faith: Muslim Teens in America,' packs plenty into half an hour. While the show, presented Sundays at 8:30 p.m., is written for kids, any grownup will find it light but edifying viewing. Besides, it's fun to peek in on host Linda Ellerbee's discussion with a slew of teens, Muslim and non-Muslim. The multihued group of high school students talk with candor about what they're allowed or not allowed to do."
Pakistan board says no money for central contracts - Reuters
"Pakistan's cricket board says it does not have the funds to introduce central contracts for its players. Pakistan vice-captain Yousuf Youhana had urged the board on Tuesday to introduce a contract system to stem a surge in injuries among top players. 'Introducing a central contract system means a payment of approximately $320,000 per year to each player,' Ramiz Raja, chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) told Reuters on Wednesday. 'We're not in a position to do that.' "
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Islamic pride and prejudice - Independent
"The broadcaster Aminul Hoque spent three months gauging the mood of young Muslims on the streets of Britain. The attitudes he encountered ranged from the inspiring to the deeply troubling. The attack on the Twin Towers; the train bombings in Madrid; the discovery of ammonium nitrate: these are just three of the reasons why Islam is being demonised by sections of the British media. But, as I've discovered over the past few months, pride in their Islamic identity is stronger than ever among young British Muslims."
UK kisses and makes up with Pak - Times of India
"Britain has bent over backwards to restore relations with an angry Islamabad six months after Tony Blair’s government was alleged to have bugged the Pakistani High Commission in London. According to reports gleefully made public by Islamabad, Prime Minister Blair’s senior foreign policy advisor has allegedly written a grovelling letter to General Musharraf’s government, underlining the importance of cordial Anglo-Pakistani ties. The letter, by Sir Nigel Sheinwald, has been described by some commentators as "a highly unusual move" by a very senior Downing Street official."
Is burqa a security threat? Pakistan says yes - Express India
"Amid security concerns in the aftermath of the recent crackdown against foreign militants, Pakistan's national Assembly Speaker, Chaudhry Amir Hussain said veils worn by some women legislators were turning out to be a security problem due to difficulty in identification and sought advise of the Islamic scholars to deal with it."
Turkey showcases itself as mostly Muslim democracy - SF Chronicle
"Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-rooted governing party says it is on a mission: to prove that Islam is compatible with democracy. So, Turkey appears to be an ideal host for a two-day summit that began Tuesday at which political and civil leaders from Muslim countries are addressing the struggle for democracy in the Islamic world. Yet, even within Turkey the idea of combining democracy and Islam is a tense issue."
Exclusive: Bhutto on Pakistan nuclear history - Space Daily
"Pakistan's nuclear bomb never had an Islamic character, said the country's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto whose father used the term "Islamic bomb" from his death cell. In an exclusive written response to United Press International's questions, Benazir Bhutto provided this and other information on Pakistan's nuclear arms development."
Good Muslim, Bad Muslim - Bella Ciao
"In this brilliant look at the rise of political Islam, the distinguished political scientist and anthropologist Mahmood Mamdani brings his expertise and insight to bear on a question many Americans have been asking since 9/11: how did this happen? Mamdani dispels the idea of "good" (secular, westernized) and "bad" (premodern, fanatical) Muslims, pointing out that these judgments refer to political rather than cultural or religious identities."
Youhana asks Pakistan board for player contracts - Reuters
"Vice-captain Yousuf Youhana has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to introduce a central contract system for players in order to stem the recent surge in injuries. Youhana, who has played 51 tests and 164 one-day internationals, said the increasing number of injuries were a result of non-stop cricket in a bid to earn money during the off-season."
Monday, April 12, 2004
Pak actress to produce Bollywood movie on her life - Sify
"Noted Pakistani actress Meera plans to produce a Rs 60 million Bollywood movie based on her real life for the Indian audience. The Lollywood actress claimed she is teaming up with Director Karan Johar to make a movie based on her life and the film may not be released in Pakistan where Indian films are banned."
Conspiracy theorists give 3rd Test to Pak - Times of India
"As the cricket caravan enters its final leg, the conspiracy theorists (CTs) are back in action. Just like they had jumped into the limelight during the One-day series. As India and Pakistan sharpen their strategies for the final Test, beginning here on Tuesday, they have no hesitation in declaring the result: victory to Pakistan . They are not really bothered by the apparent holes in the Pakistani attack with the injury-forced exit of Umar Gul and Shabbir Ahmed; they are not worried that India are bolstering their batting lineup either."
Maleeha role model, modern face of Pakistan - Hi Pakistan
"Dr Maleeha Lodhi is a 'role model' and modern face of Pakistan in Britain, said a leading British daily, while carrying an usual half-paged profile of Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Britain on Monday. 'Dr Maleeha is the modern face of Pakistan. She has become a role model for women in the 800,000-strong Pakistani community in Britain, since becoming High Commissioner in September last year,' said daily The Independent."
Berkeley lecturer urges 'uprising' against U.S. - WorldNetDaily
"A University of California at Berkeley lecturer speaking at an anti-war rally Saturday called for a Palestinian-style intifada, or uprising, against the United States in response to American actions in the Middle East. Hatem Bazian, a native Palestinian with a Ph.D. in Islamic studies, stirred up the San Francisco crowd, asking three times, to resounding affirmations, 'Are you angry?' "
Pakistan should hire Waqar as bowling coach - Daily Times
"Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan led a chorus of glowing tributes to fast bowler Waqar Younis, who announced his retirement from cricket on Monday. 'He was a thinking cricketer and at his peak he was the most destructive bowler the game had seen,” said Imran, described by Waqar himself as his 'godfather and mentor'... 'Waqar’s retirement has brought the curtain down on one of the game’s greatest fast bowlers,' said Akram. 'It was an honour for me to bowl with him. He was a fighter to the core and we enjoyed bowling in tandem.' "
The above is our tribute to the pioneer of the swinging yorkers.
Sunday, April 11, 2004
Sidewalk cradles take in unwanted babies - Straits Times
"The baby's cradles lined up on the pavement outside a welfare organisation's office are empty. The sign above reads: 'Do not murder, lay them here.' It is a plea against infanticide. 'We've installed the cradles to motivate parents who might choose to kill their babies because they're born out of wedlock or for other reasons,' explained Mr Anwar Kazmi of the Edhi Foundation, Pakistan's largest charity organisation."
Jihad-Beating Stocks - NY Post Online
"It was 14 months ago, on the eve of the invasion of Iraq, when we unfurled our official 'Beat Osama Now!' investment portfolio, and the results are in. Maybe things aren't going so great militarily at the moment, at least in Iraq. But financially, it's a different story, with our four-company portfolio of Big Board-listed 'Beat Osama Now!' stocks up a bunker-busting 51 percent vs. just 30 percent for the Dow."
Head Scarf Ban Key at Muslim Conference - Mercury News
"Tens of thousands of French Muslims flocked to Le Bourget airport over the weekend to pray, shop - and vent their frustration over a new law banning girls from wearing Muslim headscarves to school. With the ban set to take effect at the start of the next school year in September, the 21st annual gathering of Union of Islamic Organizations of France became a forum for denouncing the measure and raising money to help young Muslim women stay in school."
'Would I ever want to come back to Pakistan?' - Sify
"God has given me and family another chance to live!" says Sonu Nigam hours after the bomb blast that almost took his life in Karachi. It’s a huge setback to the Indo-Pak peace process, and one that would have far-reaching repercussions on cultural relations between the two countries. But for super-singer Sonu Nigam the bomb attack in Karachi where he had gone to perform at a peace concert has been a shattering experience on many levels."
Facts trump Muslim myths - The Star
"When grilling Muslims in terrorism-related probes, police often ask about the suspect's religiosity and politics: 'How often do you pray?' 'What do you think of America?' Measured that way, most Malaysians and Indonesians would be deemed dangerous. They are very religious and very anti-American. Yet both have just overwhelmingly rejected Islamic parties in separate elections."
Pakistan, Afghanistan: Close but not quite - San Francisco Chronicle
"Suddenly I found a new degree of understanding for the numerous challenges Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai face in their struggles to strike a domestic balance in the post-Sept. 11 world, and simultaneously overcome 57 years of bilateral hostility in an effort to defeat their common enemies. Combating their mutual foes -- poverty, illiteracy and militancy, to name a few -- presents a daunting task for the two leaders."
Saturday, April 10, 2004
The New 'Arab' Playwrights - New York Times
"People who came to Layla Dowlatshahi's play 'The Joys of Lipstick' last December at the Producers Club thought they were lining up to see a comedy about pretty Iranian women and makeup. What they got was a drama about an Iranian lesbian who goes to visit relatives in Los Angeles so she can get a sex change and return to Tehran to live with her American girlfriend as a man."
Indian cricketers floor Lahore university students - Newindpress
"These three Indian cricketers (Dravid, Pathan and Balaji), alongwith the diminutive wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel, batted for their country on another wicket -- the Lahore University of Management Sciences -- where they had a lively interactive session on Friday night with the students who asked a wide variety of questions ranging from Indo-Pak relations to films."
Another report on the session at LUMS, Image of a new Pakistan.
The account on Cricinfo is well written (read, check it out), Bowled over by Balaji.
A knot tied in many ways - Los Angeles Times
"Anthropologists and historians point out that the history of matrimony is quite fluid. The constant? Economics. Throughout most of human history, a man married a woman out of desire — for her father's goats, perhaps. Marriage was a business arrangement. The bride was a commodity, her dowry a deal sweetener. And the groom was likely to be an unwitting pawn in an economic alliance between two families."
Bosnia takes international approach to stem corruption - CS Monitor
"Fewer than a dozen foreigners - five judges and five prosecutors, selected by the Office of the High Representative - are working alongside Bosnians in the court's special department for organized crime, economic crime, and corruption, to end the stranglehold that sex traffickers, money launderers, and crooked politicians have had over the country since the war ended nearly nine years ago. The idea is that foreigners are less likely to be influenced or scared off by domestic criminals. They are also immune to nationalism."
"Spain, France and Britain have all scored successes in their hunt for Islamic terrorists. But the real battle for Europe’s governments will be to win the hearts and minds of the wider Muslim community ... Across the European Union, governments have been trying to involve leaders of their Muslim communities in the fight against terror ... The difficult task for governments will be to guard against terrorism while avoiding swelling the ranks of disgruntled Muslims. Opinion polls suggest there is still a long way to go in eradicating sympathy for terrorists."
"The Freedom House report has alleged that countries like Pakistan, Jordan and Uzbekistan are violating basic human rights of their citizens ... Slamming the growing military involvement in Pakistani society as a "major obstacle" to democracy, the report described the country as a semi-authoritarian state. It also decried President Pervez Musharraf's governance as a 'veneer of constitutional democratic rule.' "
The press release and link to the report from Freedom House, Survey: Corruption and weak judiciary are key obstacles to democracy.
Friday, April 09, 2004
Muslim women talk sex - New York Daily News
"Never mind the question - Mohja Kahf and Asra Q. Nomani are the American Muslim world's answer to 'Sex and the City.' And if they're hoping to shock, they just might get their wish. Today, in the online magazine muslimwakeup.com, the Syrian-born Kahf, a literature professor at the University of Arkansas, launches the mag's first Islamic sex column, "Sex & the Umma." ("Umma" means "Muslim community.") Her subject: 'Do women get to have sex in paradise, too?' "
Muslim Wakeup's sex page, Sex and the Umma.
Dawood fights' the mafia in Pakistan! - Mid-day
"In India, he is most wanted, but in Pakistan, Dawood Ibrahim is not a don or demon. He is Robinhood reincarnate. Pakistanis are not interested in the trail of blood he has left behind in India. They are just glad he has not caused any destruction in their country but has instead helped them fight their own mafias — the tanker mafia, the military mafia and the firearms-carrying mafia."
Cricket drama hits the big screen - BBC
"A new Bollywood film depicting the tensions of an India-Pakistan cricket match was released on Friday. The film, 'Silence Please... the Dressing Room', tells the story of a goodwill cricket match being played in Srinagar, summer capital of Indian-administered Kashmir. The twist in the tale is provided by a threat made by a militant group to blow up the stadium."
A related one on Bollywood, Pakistani actor to work in Indian film.
Vajpayee's Muslim citadel - BBC
"India's Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, is seeking re-election from Lucknow, a city with a strong Muslim identity. Mr Vajpayee has represented this northern Indian city for four straight terms and is looking to maintain his winning record. At first glance, Lucknow appears to be an odd choice for the leader of a party with strong Hindu nationalist roots. The city was famed as a centre for Islamic learning and culture in the 18th century."
Chinese demand pushing oil price: IEA - The Age
"Chinese demand for oil products, seen as one factor behind high oil prices in recent months, continues to exceed expectations, the International Energy Agency says. Apparent internal and external demand for refined products rose to a new high point of 6.38 million barrels per day in February, according to provisional data from the Chinese national statistics bureau. This increase accounts for most of the increase of world demand for oil products this year as estimated by the IEA."
Wanderer In Lahore - Financial Express
"As I watch the second test match currently being played between India and Pakistan in Lahore, I recall the city I experienced when I went for the 5th and final one day international (ODI) recently. We may have won the ODI series but the Pakistanis beat us hollow with their gracious manners and customs. Though my friends and I had gone there with a lot of trepidation, each one of us has come back as a self-appointed ambassador for the people of Pakistan."
International Herald Tribune, When India and Pakistan play ball, the planet smiles.
U.S. scholars' writings inspire hatred in India - MSNBC
"Folklore has it that elephants never forget, and Paul Courtright has reason to believe it. A professor of religion at Emory University, he immersed himself in the story of Ganesha, the beloved Hindu god with the head of an elephant. Detecting provocative Oedipal overtones in Ganesha's story -- and phallic symbolism in his trunk -- he wrote a book setting out his theories in 1985. Nineteen years later, thanks to an Internet campaign, the world has rediscovered Courtright's book."
The book at Amazon, Ganesa: Lord of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings.
Thursday, April 08, 2004
Not A Billionaire? Blame Mom - Forbes
"The study of entrepreneurship in business schools is all the rage, but a new film released by Babson College suggests that business school may be too late. The nursery is where it's at ... Lemonade Stories, a film focusing on how mothers have contributed to the entrepreneurial spirit of their sons and daughters, suggests that much of what entrepreneurs need to know they learned well before, perhaps from the hand that rocks the cradle."
Imports may dent Pakistan car firms - IHT
"Shares of Pak Suzuki Motor and Indus Motor, Pakistan's biggest automakers, may extend their declines from January peaks as the government prepares to allow imports of used cars for the first time in 10 years ... Sales of used cars from overseas haven't been allowed since 1994, when they were halted to protect local producers."
India is 'missing' 35 million girls - Kerala News
"While politicians hold out the promise of a vibrant India this election season, activists debate the grim reality of India's declining sex ratio -- that the country is short by 35 million girls. The latest census results, presented at a workshop on 'Sex selection and female foeticide' Tuesday, revealed that girl children were fast becoming "endangered" in India."
Pakistan fans indifferent to win - BBC
"Gone are the days when people in Pakistan used to distribute sweets, chant slogans and set off fireworks to mark a cricket match victory over India ... "How can it happen that a team lost by one inning in Multan and now has won the other test by nine wickets?" asks Sohail Raza, 35. But others view things differently and say perhaps Pakistan's cricket fans have become more mature."
CNN, Media lauds Pakistan's effort against India.
Islamiat, Pak Studies can’t be ignored, says Musharraf - Daily Times
"Addressing the meeting, President Musharraf said Islamiat and Pakistan Studies could neither be ignored nor relegated, as they had primacy in the country’s education curricula. 'There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind on that score,' he said. He said Pakistan was a state founded on Islam and it was irresponsible for anyone to suggest that the government relegated Islamiat and Pakistan Studies."
Dish Network Adds Three New Pakistani Channels - TMC.net
"EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) announced today that its DISH Network(TM) satellite television services recently added GEO TV, ARY Digital and ARY One World to its Urdu-language programming schedule ... GEO TV, ARY Digital and ARY One World give DISH Network's Urdu-speaking customers even more choices in Pakistani television, including immediate access to news, events and entertainment."
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
Kiss, but Dont Tell - Egypt Today
"In late January, two teenagers were arrested for smooching at the Merryland gardens. The culprits were hiding behind a bush when an ameen shorta (beat cop) discovered them. Never before had the judicial system worked so fast. The kids (they were 15 years old, for Gods sake!) were taken to the police station and later to the prosecutors office, where they were then bound over for trial. The judge promptly sentenced them to a months imprisonment in a juvenile penitentiary. A month for kissing? What have we come to?"
Banned Saudi novels thrive abroad - and at home - CS Monitor
"Outlawed works of fiction, which address topics like sex and politics, still make it into the hands of Saudi readers. The two latest bestselling novels on Neelwafurat, an online bookstore based in Lebanon, are by Saudi authors. But "Cities of Salt" by the late Abdul-Rahman Munif and "The Insane Asylum" by Ghazi al-Gosaibi - the Saudi Minister of Water and Electricity - are not available in Saudi bookstores."
I found the following mentioned titles at Amazon, Cities of Salt, An Apartment Called Freedom, Adama.
Pakistan coach Miandad may quit after test series - Reuters
"Pakistan coach Javed Miandad might quit following the test series against India after criticism of his team's performances during the 3-2 defeat in last month's one-day series, he said on Wednesday. 'I have a two-year contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) but I'll review my future with the team once this series is over,' Miandad told Reuters."
America's Faustian Embrace of Pakistan - Rediff
"There is understandable unhappiness in India over the United States designation of Pakistan as a Major Non-NATO Ally and the circumstances under which the announcement was made. This status makes Pakistan eligible for new weapons from US army stockpiles, besides new loans and grants to beef up its military capability. This will impact India's security... The manner in which Colin Powell made the announcement in Islamabad after completing his trip to Delhi, without giving advance notice to the Indian government, showed great insensitivity."
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
For model Muslim state, cultivate Pakistan - CS Monitor
"The challenge of militant Islam seems rooted in the Arab lands of the Middle East. From such countries come hard-line terrorists committed to killing Westerners and overthrowing their civilization. But also significant to the ultimate direction of Islam are Pakistan (population 130 million) and Indonesia (at 216 million, the world's fourth most populous nation), whose culture and religion may be Islamic but whose people aren't Arab."
Pakistan's Untamed Frontier - Washington Post
"The Pakistani offensive and its aftermath have brought into sharp relief the perils of intervening in Pakistan's rebellious tribal area and opened a volatile dispute over whether the system of semi-autonomous, federally administered tribal agencies -- a rugged, 10,000-square-mile area described by one Pakistani newspaper as a 'museum flush with Stinger missiles' and smugglers -- should even continue to exist."
Which Islam is best? - Jerusalem Post
"The global war on terror cannot be won through counterterrorism alone; it also requires convincing the terrorists and their sympathizers that their goals and methods are faulty and failing. But how is this to be done? By focusing on the ideological and religious sources of the violence. The immediate war goal must be to destroy militant Islam and the ultimate war goal the modernization of Islam."
Pakistan-India cricket series boosts Pakistan’s economy - Daily Times
"Pakistan Cricket Board’s professional attitude to the series against India has not only helped boost the country’s economy, it has also helped allied industries, experts say. Anand Sharma, an Indian industrialist and economist, said there was now a tremendous interest in India to explore business opportunities in Pakistan, following the hospitality they have received from the people of Pakistan."
Why Uzbek women opt for bombs? - Muslim Uzbekistan
"Angry and hopeless, Latifa Nabieva threatens to set fire to herself - like an increasing number of frustrated Uzbek women - unless her men are released. Ms. Nabieva says she has had enough, following the arrest on terrorism charges of two sons and a nephew - all devout Muslims - since 2000. The final straw came in January, when police smashed in her front door, beat her husband bloody, and imprisoned him, too."
Devolution in Pakistan – fact or fiction? - Daily Times
"One expects its reports to be objective and fair. However, its Asia Report No 77 ‘Devolution in Pakistan: Reform or Regression?’ is unfairly critical of the Pakistan government’s efforts to restore democracy at the grass roots level ... The report fails to take into account the socio-economic and political milieu of Pakistan in which several systems have collapsed. It does not provide any cogent reasoning to support its claims of the current devolution plan’s failures."
A reaction to the report we pointed out in the earlier post.
Monday, April 05, 2004
Seeing Iraq through the globalization lens - CS Monitor
"It may be hard for Americans to understand the occupation of Iraq in the context of globalization. But Iraq today is clearly the epicenter of that trend. Here, military force was used to seize control of the world's most important commodity - oil. And corporations allied with the occupying power literally scrounge the country for profits, privatizing everything from health care to prisons, while Iraqi engineers, contractors, doctors, and educators are shunted aside."
Cosmopolitan Karachi - Hindu Business
"In many ways Karachi reminds you of Mumbai... .and as many cricket fans who crossed over the border to witness the first one-day Indo-Pak cricket match found, the people of Karachi bowled them over with their hospitality. The place is a haven for shopping and holds out immense promise on the food front for hard-core non-vegetarians."
It seems the media just can't enough of Karachi. This one follows Scandal on Tariq Road in Outlook India and Karachi hustle, Lahore stroll in Daily Times.
'Odds stacked against Indian women' - BBC
"Men behaving like barbarians, the sex explosion in the media, humiliating judicial rules for women - it's all too much for Bollywood's Preity Zinta. In her latest column for BBC News Online she writes about why she wants a better deal for India's women."
Here's Hindustan Times' coverage of the above piece, Streets not safe for women: Preity.
New Book Calls Europe 'Province of Islam' - Newsday
"A new book by controversial journalist Oriana Fallaci that hit bookstores here Monday accuses Europe of having sold its soul to what she describes as an Islamic invasion. Entitled 'The Strength of Reason,' ('La Forza della Ragione' in Italian), the book also accuses the Roman Catholic Church of being too weak before the Muslim world. 'Europe becomes more and more a province of Islam, a colony of Islam. And Italy is an outpost of that province, a stronghold of that colony,' the book says."
Muslims go the whole hog to root for Team India - Express India
"The day began with a gathering of 7,000 Muslims in Jama Masjid, where they prayed for India’s success. Maulana Shabbir Ahmed Siddiqui called upon the gathering to cheer for the Indian team. 'Hindustan is our land and it's the duty of each Muslim to be faithful to it,' he said, and added that 'the impression that Muslims are not loyal to India has to change. We will have to prove this by supporting the team openly.' His clear message was: don’t burst crackers after Pakistan’s victory."
Peer Demands English Tests for Muslim Leaders - Scotsman
"Muslim clerics should be forced to take tests in English language and culture, a Labour peer said today. Lord Ahmed said some imams were teaching a distorted view of Islam which led impressionable youngsters to join extremist groups. He said they taught irrelevant lessons and were not able to communicate properly with their congregations."
Sunday, April 04, 2004
India's Tech King - Business Week
"Wipro has grown from a small producer of cooking oil founded by his father in 1945 to a colossus by Indian standards: 23,000 employees, $902 million in revenues, and $170 million in profits for the fiscal year ended in March. Sales have increased by an average of 25% a year and earnings by 52% annually over the past four years ... Premji's track record suggests no one should doubt his ability to fulfill his strategic vision. He was dispatched by his father to Stanford University, where Premji studied engineering in anticipation of taking over the family business, Western India Vegetable Products Ltd., or Wipro. In 1966, while Premji was in his senior year, his father died. So the 21-year-old undergrad returned home to the dreary task of marketing cooking oil to tiny retailers."
Pakistan Struggles to Put Army on Moderate Course - Washington Post
"In some respects, the army would seem to be the least of Musharraf's worries. Most of its senior commanders owe their jobs to the president, who has taken pains to ensure that the military's upper ranks are filled with officers who share his moderate, pro-Western outlook. Even before Musharraf seized power in a 1999 coup, the army had instituted procedures to sideline officers seen as overly sympathetic to radical groups. 'The joke in Islamabad is that the drinking generals are back, which is not a bad thing,' said a Western-educated academic who is close to the military establishment. He spoke on condition of anonymity."
2000 Muslim women face ostracize threat - The Hindu
"Close to 2000 Muslim women were "threatened to be ostracized from the Dawoodi Bohra community" and thronged a mosque to protest against the trust's decision to charge annual fees amounting to thousands of rupees to offer prayers or be removed from the sect in Dahod district of Gujarat here on Sunday."
Mixing oil and US politics - BBC
"US gasoline prices have risen sharply after Opec decided to cut output. The consequences might be felt in the Presidential election ... Mr Kerry's main chance of unseating Mr Bush is by challenging his management of the economy ... 'This administration has one economic policy for America: 3 million jobs lost and driving gas prices towards $3 per gallon,' Mr Kerry said in a recent stump speech."
Six killed in raid on police station in Pakistan - Guardian
"Gunmen stormed through a police station in Karachi yesterday, killing five policemen and wounding another, after ordering them to recite Islamic verses. One of the assailants was killed in the raid, which occurred shortly after dawn close to the international airport of Pakistan's most populous and most violent city."
Afghanistan: Passing the hat round for the rebuilders - Economist
"Hoping to persuade their foreign benefactors to think beyond the immediate future, Afghan officials came to Berlin armed with a seven-year development plan—and a bill of $27.6 billion. Donors gulping at that figure might bear in mind that this means about $164 a year per Afghan. Although this is more than double the $77 received last year, it pales in comparison with the $256 per head contributed to East Timor after its conflict and the average $336 Iraqis should receive over the next four years."
Saturday, April 03, 2004
Scandal On Tariq Road! by Frieha Altaf - Outlook India
"My dad, an airline pilot, thought Karachi was to become the next Beirut. Live bands such as Attitude played the Rolling Stones, and hipster saris revealed flat bellies. Babs Chinoy was the ‘it’ girl. Horseshoe, 2001 and the Hut were the popular disco joints. There was also the notorious Key Club where couples would leave their keys in a hat and go home with different partners ... Pakistan has become more tolerant than what it used to be in the past. It’s now cool to be bisexual, as it is to be in touch with your feminine side. Genetics or failed relationships with men has prompted ven some women to find solace with members of their own sex."
Why Muslims Hate America - Arab News
"Last week, an American reader fired a question at me: 'I need to know why in hell people would murder in the name of Islam and take such apparent joy in it.' I felt the man was innocently puzzled, maybe because he was caught up in the mood of the moment. He must have just watched a news story about a Palestinian suicide bomber avenging the Israeli air 'bombing' of Hamas' elderly leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. He could be one of those fast-food, fast-lane news-biters who don't have time for backgrounds, observing the world via flash news, probably on Zionist Fox News and the Wall Street Journal."
Bush's Credibility Now Rests on Her Shoulders - New York Times
"It has become a political cliché of Washington to say that Condoleezza Rice's upbringing at the hands of ambitious parents who pushed her to excel - as a concert pianist, a competitive ice skater and a young girl tutored in Spanish and French - created a woman who has lived on stage for most of her life. It is not a cliché to say that on Thursday, when Ms. Rice publicly testifies to the commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks, she will have to turn in a show-stopping performance as the woman on whose shoulders the credibility of the Bush administration now rests."
Saudi Arabia: The limits of reform - Economist
"If you thought that change was coming soon to Saudi Arabia, think again. Consider the six prominent Saudi liberals who have spent the past week in jail. Their crime is that, unlike seven colleagues arrested at the same time but freed soon afterwards, these recalcitrants refused to pledge that they will stop pestering the country's rulers to reform."
Pakistan ranks 56th in Scientific Publications - Pakistan Link
"The Higher Education Commission has described it as alarming for Pakistan’s higher education sector, the country’s ranking, currently 56 in the world in terms of scientific research and publication of scientific articles in international journals. According to HEC, as compared to 547 scientific articles published in international journals from Pakistan in 2001, the number in 2003 had risen to 789 publications, showing a 44 per cent increase during a two-year period. The data was collected from 44 international scientific databases worldwide."
Probe eyes key concept of physics - Boston Globe
"Since the project was conceived by three scientists after a naked midday swim at Stanford University's pool, more than 1,000 people have worked on the satellite. Two of its founders are dead. More than 90 people have earned their doctorates working on the project. Gravity Probe B has been on the chopping block so many times that its bespectacled lead scientist has become a fixture on Capitol Hill for his successful lobbying to keep it funded."
Friday, April 02, 2004
Arab democracy: Freedom calls, at last? - Economist
"There is a different word for it in every Arab country, but the principle is much the same. When Algerians speak of le pouvoir (power), Saudis “the family”, Egyptians al-hukm (“the decision”) and Lebanese their “political elite”, all describe a tight circle of people linked by shared background and common interests, who have monopolised power for as long as anyone can remember. But this enduring construct, which may be described as “l'état, c'est nous”, is coming under increasing strain."
Indian film festival to screen anti-Pakistan films - Daily Times
"An Indian film festival is due to be held in Washington from 5 to 10 April, which will include both screenings and a seminar devoted to the 'Hindi cinema’s representation of Pakistan.' The films chosen to be shown at the festival, being organised by the Johns Hopkins University’s Paul H Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), all relate to Pakistan and, without exception, can be said to be hostile in content to Pakistan and Pakistanis. The country is depicted as a hotbed of terrorism and intolerant proselytising Islam which has pitted itself against a secular, porogressive and democratic India."
Pakistan fail marketing test - BBC
"What do the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, Formula One motor racing and any match involving Manchester United have in common? They all have an effective commercial arm, worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. Many Test cricket boards are also investigating new ways to project their name and earn much-needed revenue. But looking around this Test ground in Multan, there are no souvenirs. Surely a small match programme, badges or pens could have been marketed, particularly to mark such a special tour as this one."
Express India reports, Inzi, Youhana and Shoaib threatened Test boycott over fixing charges.
Free E-Mail With a Steep Price? - Wired
"Google's plan to offer free Web-based e-mail has raised worries among privacy advocates that the service could make it easier for law enforcement to conduct surveillance of its users. Google said Wednesday it plans to offer an e-mail service, called Gmail, that would give account owners 1 GB of free storage. size of the storage would blow away offerings from rivals like Yahoo and Microsoft's Hotmail. But Google said it would use automated technology to scan the content of incoming e-mail for keywords and place related text ads inside the mail."
Pakistan media bows to India - New Straits Times
"Pakistan’s media yesterday put aside the prevailing sombre mood over India’s maiden cricket Test win on its soil to hail the arch-rivals as the "best Indian team ever." Lambasting the home side following India’s innings and 52-run victory in the first Test at Multan on Thursday, the media unanimously declared Rahul Dravid’s men a better team."
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Algeria's restless youth in liberal city - Reuters
"Oran is known as Algeria's most liberal city and famous for its entrepreneurial spirit. Streets are lined with shops selling the latest mobile phones, CDs, DVDs and fashions. 'The joke of Oran is that there are more cabarets than mosques,' said Anis, a construction worker. Oran has bars, restaurants, nightclubs and cabarets, with music shows and women selling sex. More are due to open this year, a sign that Algeria that is returning to normality and foreign capital is coming back after the so-called dark years."
All eyes on Muslim Friday prayers - BBC
"Some imams are expected to follow a plea from the Muslim Council of Britain to urge vigilance against terror during their Friday prayers. But other leaders are thought to be angry that their religion has been linked with terrorism and there could be public demonstrations of anger. The moves come as a ninth man was held as part of anti-terror raids in south-east England."
Social Problems Linked to Mental Illness in Pakistan - Newswise
"In Pakistan, relationship problems and financial difficulties are linked to anxiety and depression, whereas supportive family and friends may protect against the development of these disorders, finds researchers in this week's BMJ. Pakistan's population has been exposed to sociopolitical instability, economic uncertainty, violence, and conflict for at least the past three decades. These are risk factors for psychiatric disorders and may help explain the findings of this review."
India's Brain Drain; Stocks' 'Offshoreability' - WSJ
"Outsourcing is shaking up the curriculum at a number of U.S. business schools, the NY Times reported Sunday. Indiana University's Kelley School of Business sent 21 students to India over spring break to see firsthand how call centers in Banglaore operate. Cornell, Stanford, MIT and Bentley College have also added outsourcing to their course lists ... This week we're sending you to eBay to bid on your very own graphics development team. The self-titled eDreamTeam, a group of animators and software engineers, say they decided to auction off their services after their jobs were outsourced. Going once…"
'The Koran according to the Jews' sparks Muslim anger - Asia News
"The Jewish organization Yad Lahim ('Hand held out to Brothers') has published a 222-page work on the 'New Koran'. The text is dedicated to spreading the 'new message of the Koran' to whoever wants to know the Islamic verses and hadith 'in their correct forms'. The text of the 'New Koran' does not acknowledge that Islamic doctrine (according to which the Muslim sacred book was written) had 'descended from heaven' as is traditionally claimed. Rather it asserts the Koran was directly written by Mohammed himself."
Parties are wooing non-Muslim voters - Straits Times
"The candidate was Protestant, but the final prayer closing the political rally was Islamic. Ethnic Chinese faces dotted the 500-strong crowd in Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra's second largest city. A vocal group of women wearing party-sponsored tee shirts with the slogan 'Fight injustice against women, we demand equality' were standing visibly up front."
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