14 Pakistanis freed from U.S. custody in Afghanistan's Bagram prison: lawyers

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Fourteen Pakistani detainees were released from U.S. custody in Bagram Prison in Afghanistan and repatriated to Pakistan on Saturday, a Pakistani legal firm representing some of the prisoners said.

Pope and Argentine president 'talk finance' in private at Vatican

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Argentine president Cristina Fernandez visited Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday, where she said the compatriots talked about the global financial system and Argentina's economy over lunch.

Are Islamic State Militants Araid Of Being Killed By A Woman?

ISIS militants are afraid they won’t go to heaven if they are killed by a woman.Photo: Reuters

ISIS Fighters Terrified Of Being Killed By Female Troops -- New York Post

WASHINGTON — Kurdish fighters battling ISIS desperately want more guns and armor, but they already have a secret weapon: The fanatics they’re fighting fear that if they get killed in combat by a woman, they won’t go to heaven.



“They have many female battalions, as you know who fought very bravely,” Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), who chairs the House International Relations Committee, told The Post of the Kurds.



Royce, who met this week with the foreign minister of Kurdistan, cited recent reports of young female Kurdish troops “laughing” at ISIS forces they had turned back.



“These ISIL soldiers apparently believed that if they were killed in battle, they went to paradise as long as they were killed by a man,” Royce explained, using another acronym for the terror group.



Read more ....



My Comment: I am always skeptical when I read reports like this one. How do they know that ISIS fighters are terrified of female troops .... did the spokesperson conduct a poll among ISIS militants .... I doubt it.

Spain's Catalan Parliament Approves A November Independence Vote

Catalan Parliament Approves Independence Vote -- BBC

Catalonia's parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of giving its regional president the power to call an independence "consultation".



Spain's government opposes the Catalan "consultation" vote and is taking the dispute to the Constitutional Court.



The move comes a day after Scotland voted against independence from the United Kingdom.



Catalan President Artur Mas said Scotland's referendum had "shown the way" for Catalonian independence.



He is preparing Catalonia for a similar vote on 9 November, with large-scale support for independence from Spain.



Catalonian lawmakers voted by a margin of 106 to 28 in favour of authorising the consultation.



Read more ....

More News On Spain's Catalan Parliament Approving A November Vote For A Consultation Process That May Lead To Independence

Spain’s Catalonia region up next after Scottish independence movement strikes out? -- AP

Catalonia's parliament paves the way for November vote on independence -- The Guardian

Catalonia Moves Closer to Clash With Spain Over Independence Vote -- WSJ

Catalan parliament approves November independence vote -- RT

Catalonia Will Defy Spanish Government, Hold (Non-Binding) Independence Vote -- Slate

After Scotland, Catalonia Pushes Vote for Independence From Spain -- Mashable

Catalonia's referendum: Getting to "si" -- The Economist



My Comment: I am very familiar with this news story .... Catalonians are feeling resentful of the Central government and of the ongoing economic crisis that has strangled the nation, and as a result there is overwhelming sentiment within the region to have such a vote. But unlike Scotland .... my prediction is that there will be an overwhelming Yes vote victory for a consultation process on independence in November .... but here is the kicker .... it will not be binding .... and that is going to be the problem after the vote.

French jets strike in Iraq, expanding U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State

BAGHDAD/PARIS (Reuters) - French jets struck a suspected Islamic State target in Iraq for the first time on Friday, expanding a U.S.-led military campaign against militants who have seized a third of the country and also control large parts of neighboring Syria.