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Indian Song ‘Munni’ Rocks Pakistan

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Download There is widespread distrust and hatred in Pakistan towards its neighbor, India, however, when it comes to music it’s a very different story.

Indian artists are hugely popular in Pakistan.

At the moment it’s this song “Munni badnam hui” a song from the Indian movie Dabang that is creating a storm in Pakistan.

It figures sexually explict lyrics about a girl and her disgraced boyfriend or ‘darling’.

As Yasser Khan reports it’s having an impact in some unusual places.

Last Updated ( Monday, 31 January 2011 11:41 )
 

Punjabi Music Makes Everyone Dance

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Download Bhangra music from the Indian state of Punjab has gain international popularity in recent years, both in traditional form and mixed with genres such as hip-hop, house, and reggae...like this...

Bhangra lyrics, which are always sung in Punjabi, mainly talk about love and dancing.

But there are also many Bhangra songs dedicated to Punjabi pride.

Ashok Masti is a Bhangra musician who is well known for creating new arrangements for traditional songs.

Our correspondent Jasvinder Sehgal recently met the star when he hosted a Punjab music night.

Last Updated ( Monday, 31 January 2011 11:28 )
 

Getting Ready for a Tough Job

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Download An Indonesian house maid who has accused her female Saudi employer of stabbing, beating and burning her appeared in court for the first time this week.

23 year on Sumiati Bint Salan Mustapa showed the Saudi judge her wounds: broken bones, burns to her head from a hot iron and cuts from scissors.

There are six million Indonesian women working as nannies, cleaners and cooks in wealthier countries like Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

And despite frequent horrific cases like Sumiati’s more women leave daily.

To try and better prepare these women for the tough job ahead of them training centers have been set up in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.

Esther de Jong went along to one of them called Amri Margatama in the satellite suburb of Bekasi.

Last Updated ( Monday, 10 January 2011 12:03 )
 

South Asia Eunuchs Turn Prejudice into Cash

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Download Last month on Asia Calling we heard how Eunuchs in Pakistan have finally been recognized as legal citizens of the country.

They now can get national identity cards that give them access to state health care and other benefits.

And they are also for the first time been given the opportunity to work for the government.

As Naeem Sahoutara reports they are doing a very usually job.

Last Updated ( Monday, 10 January 2011 17:55 )
 

Eunuchs in Pakistan to be Recognized as Legal Citizens

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Download When we think of the socially conservative country Pakistan, we probably don’t think of eunuchs.

But eunuchs are in the news there, because they have finally succeeded in being listed as a separate gender on the National Identity Card of Pakistan.

The new forms will take effect from January 1, 2011.

Thousands of eunuchs in the country will now be able to benefit from the new ID cards, as Shahab ur Rahman reports from Peshawar.

Last Updated ( Monday, 20 December 2010 11:05 )
 

Indonesia Migrant Workers: Why do They Keep Going Back?

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Download This week we mark International Migrant Workers’ Day with an Indonesian story, that is at its heart, a global story.

There are six million Indonesian women working as nannies, cleaners and cooks in wealthier countries like Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

Despite the horrific stories that appear almost weekly in the Indonesian media more women leave daily.

Rebecca Henschke profiles one former migrant labor who experienced the trauma of work abroad.

Her story begins in a village dominated by men and children.

Last Updated ( Monday, 13 December 2010 11:25 )
 

HIV Infections on the Rise in Bali

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Download Indonesia has one of the fastest growing rates of HIV/AIDS infections in Asia.

On the resort island of Bali, the number of people living with the virus has almost doubled in the last three years.

One of the most vulnerable groups is sex-workers, who fight a constant battle with their clients to use protection.

To mark the passing of World Aids Day our reporter Katie Hamann met with some past and present sex workers to find out more about the dangers they confront each day.

Last Updated ( Monday, 06 December 2010 11:18 )
 

Delhi Music Makers Indian Ocean Take on the World

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Download For 20 years the Delhi based band Indian Ocean has been setting the pace for crossover music in India.

With a mix of Indian classical music, fusion and jazz-rock they continue to attract both young and old.

Our reporter Ric Wasserman caught up with them at a recent performance in Stockholm, Sweden and he sent this report.

Last Updated ( Monday, 06 December 2010 11:32 )
 

Analysts Examine the Image of North Korea’s Heir Apparent

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Download Little is still known about North Korea’s heir apparent Kim Jong-un.

A week ago he was promoted to high positions in the military and government.

But most people inside and outside the secreative state didn’t even know what he looked like until photos and video were released of the young general, thought to be in his late 20s.

Some observers say you can learn a lot about Kim by studying those images.

And it’s his round, chubby face that might say the most about what kind of leader he may become.

Jason Strother has more from Seoul.

Last Updated ( Monday, 11 October 2010 11:08 )
 
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