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Firm that made Iraq's Abu Gharib wants to run UK prisons too

       London: The American prison company whose director set up Iraq's infamous Abu Ghraib jail for use by the US military is reportedly bidding to run a number of prisons in Britain. The Utah-based Management and Training Corporation (MTC) has set up a London headquarters and is in advanced negotiations to operate at least one prison in Britain. It is also planning bids to build and manage a number of other jails, including the extension of Belmarsh in south-east London, Britain's maximum security prison, where terrorist suspects are being held without trial. According to a 'Sunday Times' report quoted by The Nation, the disclosure has raised the hackles of several British MPs and prison groups. Brian Caton, general secretary of the Prison Officers' Association, said: 'Serious questions have to be asked about a British prison being run by a company whose director was in charge of setting up a system that led to the atrocities and torture of Iraqi detainees by prison personnel.' After Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled, John Ashcroft, the US attorney general, put MTC director Lane McCotter in charge of reopening Iraq's prison system. He helped to rebuild Abu Ghraib and trained Iraqi citizens to work in prisons. McCotter left Iraq to resume his executive job at MTC in September 2003, a month before the worst documented atrocities against Iraqi prisoners occurred. In a statement, he insisted he had nothing to do with training military personnel to run the prison and had no involvement with Abu Gharib after handing it over to the US armed forces. He said he was 'offended and sickened' by the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. Last week US Staff Sergeant Ivan Frederick was sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually and physically abusing detainees at Abu Ghraib.

Female GIs in Iraq feature on porn website (Go To Top)

       New York: The Pentagon has reportedly launched investigations into nude photos of three female GIs in Iraq being displayed on a porn website. The inquiry began last week after Army personnel officials were informed that several provocative photos of the three women were posted on a Web site and that the women were identified as soldiers serving in Iraq. However, the officials have not yet confirmed that the women on the Web site are actually GIs. According to the New York Post, one of the women, whose name and photos were published by the porn site, also featured on a Pentagon public-relations Web site while she was on an R&R trip to Kuwait. One of the others was also identified on the porn site; the third was not. "We seem to be pretty popular with soldiers overseas. At least 30 percent of my registered users are soldiers," Chris Wilson of Lakeland, who runs the website, was quoted as saying. He also revealed that the women involved might be victims and the photos on his Web site might just have become public without their consent or knowledge. He also revealed that one set of photographs was reportedly sent by a lonely female GI to her boyfriend or husband back home over a computer that is shared by other soldiers at their base in Iraq.

UK's minority celebrations (Go To Top)

       London: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) are launching a booklet to highlight the achievements of ethnic minorities in the UK, at a reception to celebrate Black History Month on October 27. The reception, to be held between 6 and 8 p.m.London time, will see over 600 representatives from a cross section of the black and minority ethnic communities being invited to celebrate both Black History Month and the booklet launch. Minister of State Mike O'Brien, will speak at the event along with Trevor Phillips, Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality. Black History Month (BHM) is held every October in Britain. The aims are to: Promote knowledge of Black History and experience Disseminate information on positive Black contributions to British Society Heighten the confidence and awareness of Black people in their cultural heritage The Ethnic Minorities Booklet highlights the successes of people from different ethnic backgrounds in a wide range of sectors, including, film and drama, media, public services, community, diplomacy, sports, innovation, politics, international development and business. Entertainment at the joint FCO and CRE reception will be provided by an Anguillan Steel Band 'Les Flambeaus' and London Community Gospel Choir.

I see light at the end of `Kashmir' tunnel: Musharraf (Go To Top)

       Islamabad: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that if relations between his country and India is to improve, both must consider a fresh set of options on the Kashmir issue and give it the direction that it deserves. Asking the Pakistani media to play its role in debating the various options available for reaching an acceptable solution on the Kashmir issue, Musharraf was quoted by various Pakistani papers, including the Daily Times and the Dawn as saying that "I see light at the end of the tunnel. We are at a stage where options acceptable to Pakistan, Indian and the Kashmiris ought to be considered."

      Firmly stating that both countries were still wary about giving in on their respective status quo positions on the issue i.e. India's stance that Kashmir was an integral part of its territory and its refusal to hold a plebiscite in the region and Pakistan's non-acceptance of the Line of Control (LoC) as a permanent border, Musharraf said: "So, let's talk about it in geographical terms."

      Explaning the geographical status of Kashmir further, he said that it was divided in seven regions - five with India and two with Pakistan. "The beauty of these regions is that they are still religion based even if we consider them geographically." Musharraf offered "food for thought" by suggesting a three pronged discourse. First, identify the region at stake. Second, demilitarize it. Third, change its status. He suggested there were many options which could then be considered, and legal experts on both sides could then look at the pros and cons of ideas for joint control, UN mandates, condominiums, and so on. Musharraf said there were some people in whose opinion it was not possible to find a solution of the Kashmir issue. "But I strongly believe there are options and solutions, and now is the time to consider these options."

Recuperating Clinton campaigns for John Kerry (Go To Top)

       London: Following major heart surgery, a thin and gaunt Bill Clinton joined Democrat Presidential John Kerry's election campaign and tried to pull maximum support for Kerry. The former US president who has recently had a quadruple bypass, put on a brave smile as he drummed up support for George Bush's chief opponent.emocrat presidential hopeful John Kerry. "From time to time I have been called the 'comeback kid'. In eight days John Kerry is going to make America the comeback country," he Was quoted by the Sun, as saying.

New US bill to aid Pak in 'war on terror' (Go To Top)

      Islamabad: The United States has reportedly introduced a new bill titled "To win the war on terror" in a effort to continue US aid to Pakistan for preventing terrorist activities on its soil as well as helping it in the global 'war against terrorism'. According to The News, the bill introduced in the House of Representative by Jim Turner, states that the US should, considering Pakistan's commitment in the fight against terrorism, make appropriate efforts to provide fulsome aid to support Pakistan with a comprehensive effort that extends from military aid to support for better education, with particular emphasis on improving the quality of education in Pakistan. "It is the sense of Congress that the United States should make a long-term commitment to assisting in ensuring a promising, stable, and secure future in Pakistan, as long as its leaders remain committed to combating extremists and implementing a strategy of 'enlightened moderation'." "The endemic poverty, widespread corruption, and frequent ineffectiveness of government in Pakistan create opportunities for Islamist recruitment. Therefore, a stable Pakistan, with a government advocating 'enlightened moderation' in the Muslim world, is critical to stability in the region" the paper quoted the bill as saying. As per the report, the bill also allows the US President to submit a report to the Congress not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, on the efforts made by the US government to support Pakistan and encourage moderation in that country.

Aussies send India on leather hunt (Go To Top)

      Nagpur: Damiem Martyn slammed his second consecutive century as Australia recovered from an early scare to take control of the crucial third cricket test in Nagpur against an injury-hit India today. Martyn struck a rollicking 114 to lead an Australian fightback and steer the visitors to 362 for seven at close on the opening day which saw India claw back to some extent with three quick wickets in the last hour's play. Michael Clarke was batting on a quickfire 73 and Jason Gillespie (4) gave him company at stumps on a day which saw the Australians scoring at a brisk pace of four runs an over on what appeared to be a good batting track at the VCA stadium. The 33-year-old Martyn, who hit a match-saving 104 in the Chennai Test, recorded his ninth Test century to not only pull Australia out of an uncertain 86 for three but put the team on course for a healthy first innings total. The stylish right hander found an able ally in Darren Lehmann (70) as the duo put on a breezy 148-run fourth wicket partnership to torment the Indians who had to go into the match without the services of captain Sourav Ganguly and spinner Harbhajan Singh. The hosts managed to scuttle the Australians from laying the foundation for a mammoth total by snapping up the wickets of Martyn, dangerman Adam Gilchrist (2) and Shane Warne (2) in the span of six overs late in the day with Murali Kartik doing the bulk of the damage. The mini middle order collapse began with the dismissal of Martyn who, after hoisting Kumble over long off, tried a similar shot only to top edge it for a simple catch to Ajit Agarkar at long off. Kartik, who had dismissed Darren Lehmann for his first wicket of the match before tea, then induced a return catch of Gilchrist before Shane Warne was deceived in the air and stumped.