Free Republic

A bookstore in Texas has sparked some comments – and criticisms – for having displayed a number of books about Barack and Michelle Obama under a "Religion" sign in the children's section of its facility.

New Delhi: The nation saw shocking pictures of moral policing from the same cops who were expected to check such incidents on Valentines Day. This sub-inspector publicly beat up a couple in Haryana's Jind and even dragged the girl to the police station by her hair. Later, on reaching the police station he could not figure out what charges to press, so he meted out more punishment. The cop has now been suspended. “The SI has been suspended, Dept enquiry is opened to be conducted by the DSP, complaint was filed for abuse of power and misbehaviors with the woman...

Bangalore Unfazed by the outrage over its attack on a Mangalore pub, the self-styled moral brigade of Sri Rama Sene on Thursday threatened to forcibly ‘marry off’ couples dating in public on Valentine's Day. Sri Rama Sene founder Pramod Muthalik said that his activists would hold protests at hotels, hostels and colleges where Valentine's Day celebrations are held. "Those found dating, expressing their love, cosying up to each other would be married off," Muthalik, who has been released on bail in the Mangalore pub attack case, said. He said at a meeting of the Sene held on Wednesday it was...

NEW YORK — Women throughout the world — 13,000 at latest count — will be sending Pramod Mutalik a pair of pink panties for Valentine's Day. But these undies won't make his heart go pitty-pat. Mutalik is the leader of Sri Ram Sena (Lord Ram’s Army) — an extreme right-wing organization in India that purports to be the “custodians of Indian Culture.” Members of Mutalik's group are suspected of being behind a widely publicized incident last month in which a group of men brutally attacked women in a bar in the southern city of Mangalore — beating them, and kicking...

Former President George W. Bush's first public speaking engagement since leaving office will be a lunch speech in Canada next month.

WASHINGTON – More jobless workers would get fatter unemployment checks longer in the massive economic recovery package moving forward in Congress. Helping the nation's jobless has not been a controversial part of the stimulus package. Both the House and Senate versions offer an extra $25 a week in jobless benefits to millions of workers through the end of the year. The current average weekly benefit is roughly $300

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Sporting a dragon tattoo on his forearm and skulls on both biceps, Cliff Cornell looks tough. But he dissolves into tears as he reflects on his return to the Army four years after he fled to Canada to avoid the war in Iraq. "I'm nervous, scared," Cornell said, wiping puffy eyes beneath his sunglasses Monday at a Savannah hotel after a three-day bus ride from Seattle. "I'm just not a fighter. I know it sounds funny, but I have a really soft heart."

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India's Congress Party on Saturday said the international community should consider declaring Pakistan a terrorist state in light of the latter's release of a scientist who sold nuclear secrets around the globe.

Corporate America's drive to cut costs by moving jobs offshore has hit Robert Poulk hard. A veteran of the defense, aerospace, and computer industries, Poulk never had trouble finding work -- until 2003. That year, his job as a senior troubleshooter for a major software manufacturer was moved offshore to Bangalore, India. During a yearlong period of unemployment, Poulk sent out five to seven resumes a week and got only four responses. Eventually, he was hired by a temp agency and assigned a job at his old company, which he asked not be identified, where he now works as a...

WASHINGTON – The Army is investigating a stunning number of suicides in January — a count that could surpass all combat deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan last month. According to figures obtained by The Associated Press, there were 24 suspected suicides in January, compared to only four in January of 2008.

WASHINGTON – You'd hardly know George W. Bush is spending his days relaxing down in Texas. It feels like he's still right here in Washington, given the current president's almost daily repudiation of his predecessor's policies.

Bejan Daruwalla is excited looking at a print of America’s new President Barack Obama’s hand impression. Over hot cups of chai at his Colaba residence, he shares his predictions about Obama, Indo-Pak relations and more. Daruwalla starts, “Like Oprah (Winfrey) and Osama (Bin Laden), Obama’s name starts with an O. And all three are powerful in their own way. The letter O is the combination of the letters A and U. A means position and power, U means strength and stamina. Moreover, Obama took office on January 20 which adds up to 2 (2+0=2). 2009 is number 11 (2+0+0+9=11). Since...

We know a lot more about Barack Obama than we did on Election Day. He wastes little time making big decisions. He was serious about surrounding himself with seasoned people, even if they are outsized personalities likely to jostle one another and unlikely to salute on command. He intends to move quickly to put his personal stamp on government and national life. Yet much about how the 44th president will govern remains a mystery—perhaps even to Obama himself.

MUMBAI (AFP) – Indian police on Wednesday discovered and defused explosives at Mumbai's main railway station, left by militants who struck the city last week. "This is part of the same consignment which the terrorists had brought on Wednesday night when they were attacking and running helter-skelter, some of the material had been left behind," anti-terrorism chief K.P. Raghuvashi said.

NEW DELHI: Home minister Shivraj Patil resigned on Sunday, saying he felt obliged to take "moral responsibility" for the brutal Islamist attacks in Mumbai, an official government source said.

MUMBAI, India – This seaside city of 18 million known for its resilience has bounced back from wrenching tragedy before, but after the most brazen terror attack in India's history, the people of Mumbai are worried. In crowded trains, corner stores, office buildings and neighborhood parks, residents ask each other the same questions. "Is anyone safe?" and "Could it happen again?"

to get a gun licence after months of running around, he couldn’t believe his luck. Given the tedious gun licence procurement procedure, he was almost certain that his request would be turned down. Seven months on, the man who has got both the licence and the gun, is still frustrated. “In the last seven months, I have taken the weapon to the workshop three times,” rues Dhamija. “And it’s supposed to be one of the better guns,” he says.

MUMBAI, India – Indian news reports say five hostages have been killed in the Mumbai headquarters of an ultra-orthodox Jewish group. Two Americans were also confirmed dead in the Mumbai attacks that began Wednesday night. A spokeswoman with the Synchronicity Foundation in Virginia said Friday that Alan Scherr and his 13-year-old daughter were killed while they were in a cafe in Mumbai. In Jerusalem, the Israeli rescue service said five hostages and two gunmen were killed at the center.

HUNTING FOR KUBER 2302 [ Cover Story ] http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/15/2008112820081128032820980832e0a8d/HUNTING-FOR-KUBER-2302 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Terrorists partied before mayhem near Leopold http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/20081128200811280337003717ea28dbb/Terrorists-partied-before-mayhem-near-Leopold _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Cabbie says youth who shot 7 of his kin seemed keen to make every bullet count . http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/20081128200811280336089961c5e98dd/Cabbie-says-youth-who-shot-7-of-his-kin-seemed-keen-to-make-every-bullet-count _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Colaba couple peeping out of balcony shot dead http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/20081128200811280336047927723c245/Colaba-couple-peeping-out-of-balcony-shot-dead?pageno=1 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Cops fall victim to faulty helmets, useless bulletproof jackets http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/2008112820081128033558667bdbe87d2/Cops-fall-victim-to-faulty-helmets-useless-bulletproof-jackets?pageno=1 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________