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20 killed, 100 prisoners freed in Iraq attack
Unclaimed bodies of Indians in Bahrain Nuclear proliferation to figure in talks
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| Marriage success test found Seattle, February 14 A Seattle psychologist and two mathematicians have written an algebraic equation they say can be used to predict whether a marriage will last or end in divorce, the Seattle Post- Intelligencer reported. Kissing marathon in Manila
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20 killed, 100 prisoners freed in Iraq attack Fallujah (Iraq), February 14 The same compound was attacked two days earlier during a visit by US General John Abizaid. Around 50 attackers went from room to room of the Iraqi Civil Defence Corps compound in Fallujah, throwing grenades and firing automatic weapons, said a police officer. The attackers freed around 100 prisoners held in the compound, the officer said on condition of anonymity. It was not known if the prisoners included suspected members of the anti-US insurgency. The gunmen also attacked the local Mayor’s office, about a kilometre away, the police said. Iraqi security forces traded fire with the attackers in the streets, taking cover behind concrete blocks amid a hail of gunfire. No American forces could be seen. US command has said US troops could be quickly dispatched to trouble spots to help Iraqi forces as America hands over security to the Iraqis. Abdul Hamid al-Janabi, a security official at Fallujah hospital, said at least 18 police and civilians were killed, along with two attackers. Of the 30 wounded, most were policemen, though two women and a child were among the injured, al-Janabi said. Two wounded attackers brought to the hospital were arrested, he said. “Ambulances are still bringing more people,” al-Janabi said.
— AP |
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Unclaimed bodies of Indians in Bahrain Dubai, February 14 Indians who could help in identifying the bodies are not coming forward because they might be staying in the country illegally and fear jail or deportation if caught by the local police. An embassy official quoted by The Gulf Daily News said initially some people had come to the mortuary but were scared to leave their phone numbers fearing prosecution for violating visa rules. The embassy explains that the bodies, five of those who had committed suicide, can be sent back home only after completion of legal formalities that require identification. Officials have been visiting jails and labour camps assuring those who are willing to identify the dead all assistance in getting emergency out-passes or sorting out their labour problems. “Of the six Indian bodies in the mortuary, we have been successful in tracking the backgrounds of three,” said an official adding that the embassy could arrange cremation or return of the bodies only with the permission from their relatives who may not even be aware of the deaths.
— UNI |
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Nuclear proliferation to figure in talks Islamabad, February 14 He will hold two days of parleys from Monday with Jaleel Abbas Jilani, Director in Foreign Office for South Asia.
— PTI |
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Kerry focuses on fundraising Washington, February 14 Mr Kerry raised $ 22 million last year besides raising a personal loan of $ 6 million, the Washington Post reported, adding that much of that had already been spent in primary campaigns. Since the New Year, Kerry had collected $ 7 million, including $ 3.3 million via the Internet, Mr Peter Maroney, Kerry’s national finance director, told the Post. He added that much of it had been spent. However, after his recent string of successes, money was pouring into Kerry’s kitty. The maximum legal contribution an individual can make to a candidate is $ 2,000 but this is easily got over by raising “soft money,” i.e. for boosting not a particular candidate by name but saying that it is for political education and so on. It is a loophole that both the Democratic and Republican parties have deliberately left in the law. Mr Kerry’s wife, Ms Teresa Heinz Kerry, heiress to the Heinz ketchup fortune has the option of contributing unlimited amounts to finance “independent” expenditures on behalf of her husband’s candidacy as long as she does not
coordinate the effort with his campaign, the Post points out. — PTI |
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Marriage success test found Seattle, February 14 The researchers developed their mathematical model of marriage by watching and listening to 700 married couples fight. Those who had a sense of humour when they were disagreeing are the couples with the most staying power, the researchers said. The couples destined for a lifetime of bliss share about five times more affectionate, teasing and mutually interested moments during their talks. John Gottman, a psychologist and executive director of the Gottman Institute, a couples counselling and research centre in Seattle, teamed up with two professors at the University of Washington to conduct the research.
— DPA |
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Kissing marathon in Manila Manila, February 14 Thousands of onlookers cheered as the couples, with some women covering their faces, occupied a 2-km stretch of a boulevard beside Manila Bay and kissed for at least 10 seconds at the stroke of midnight yesterday. “Some wouldn’t let go,” city spokesman Armand Sebastian said. The kissing marathon, in which only married or engaged couples were allowed to take part, beat the previous world record of 4,445 smooching couples set last month in Santiago in Chile, Sebastian said. “Let’s take a break from the troubles we have been having, from our work, from political bickerings,” Mayor Lito Atienza said. “After all, it’s Valentine’s Day.”
— Reuters |
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