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Geopolitics

US Drone Kills Seven Militants In Pakistan

BBC NEWS (UK), PAKTRIBUNE (Pakistan), REUTERS

Worldcrunch

ISLAMABAD – At least seven militants have been killed in two U.S. drone attacks close to the town of Mir Ali in northwestern Pakistan, a region along the Afghan border that is a key stronghold of the Taliban.

According to the news service Paktribune, unmanned aircraft fired three missiles on a compound in the Haider Khel area of Mir Ali in North Waziristan, killing four people, before a second drone fired missiles in the Khaso Khel area, killing three people.

A foreign tactical trainer for al-Qaeda was reportedly among those killed -- although reports differ on his nationality, some intelligence officials saying he was from Somalia, others saying he was from the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reports.

Also among the militants killed were two other foreign fighters, said to be from Uzbekistan, BBC News reveals.

Last week, Taliban commander Mullah Nazir was killed in a drone strike in neighboring South Waziristan.

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Society

Tales From A Blushing Nation: Exploring India's 'Issues' With Love And Sex

Why is it that this nation of a billion-plus has such problems with intimacy and romance?

Photo of Indian romance statues

Indian romance statues

Sreemanti Sengupta

KOLKATA — To a foreigner, India may seem to be a country obsessed with romance. What with the booming Bollywood film industry which tirelessly churns out tales of love and glory clothed in brilliant dance and action sequences, a history etched with ideal romantics like Laila-Majnu or the fact that the Taj Mahal has immortalised the love between king Shahjahan and queen Mumtaz.

It is difficult to fathom how this country with a billion-plus population routinely gets red in the face at the slightest hint or mention of sex.

It therefore may have come as a shock to many when the ‘couple-friendly’ hospitality brand OYO announced that they are “extremely humbled to share that we observed a record 90.57% increase in Valentine’s Day bookings across India.”

What does that say about India’s romantic culture?

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