Mel Gibson: Discrimination Witness?

The sheriff who arrested Mel Gibson for his suspicion that Mel Gibson was driving under the influence now wants his help when it comes to his discrimination trial. The sheriff is claiming that after he arrested Gibson he was discriminated against. Another possible witness for James Mee – the sheriff – is said to be another Los Angeles County Sheriff by the name of Lee Baca.

So why was James Mee discriminated against?

James Mee feels that he was discriminated against back in 2006 because he was Jewish. Supposedly he was discriminated against by his superiors because they forced him to remove references to an anti- Semitic tirade by Gibson from a report and then later down the line that even ostracized him.

James Mee has had a hard time getting an attorney to even look at his case according to our sources. As you may have noticed this event took place years ago and they are just now getting it brought to trial. Many attorneys turned down the case stating that James Mee did not endure discrimination yet obviously he has found someone who believes him and is willing to help him fight for his rights now.

Be sure to visit trendpk.com where this article was originally published for more celebrity gossip and celebrity news.

US endorses Taliban headquarters in Qatar

The United States has endorsed plans for the Taliban to open political headquarters in the Gulf state of Qatar by the end of the year, British newspaper The Times reported on Monday. The move is designed to allow the West to begin formal peace talks with the Taliban, Western diplomats told the paper. The office of the self-styled Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan would be the first internationally recognised representation for the Taliban since it was ousted from power by the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

Western diplomats told The Times it was hoped that opening a Taliban office in Qatar would push forward the prospect of talks intended to reconcile insurgents with the Afghan government and bring an end to the decade-long war.

Washington is believed to have insisted that the office be located “outside Pakistan s sphere of influence”, the report said.

“It will be an address where they have a political office,” one Western diplomatic source, who was not named, told The Times. “It will not be an embassy or a consulate but a residence where they can be treated like a political party.”

 

The diplomat stressed that the Taliban would not be allowed to use the office in the Qatari capital, Doha, to raise funds.

The Times reported that the Taliban was seeking assurances that its representatives would be free from the threat of harassment or arrest. Britain, which has the second largest contingent of troops in Afghanistan, declined to say whether it supported the creation of a Taliban office in Qatar. “This is a matter for the United States,” a Foreign Office spokeswoman said.

The US ambassador to Kabul said last week that the Taliban must feel “more pain” from increased military pressure before progress can be made in peace talks.

“The Taliban needs to feel more pain before you get to a real readiness to reconcile,” Ryan Crocker said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

US supports democracy in Pakistan: Grossman

In an interview, Grossman said Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries all around the world extend cooperation to defeat al-Qaeda.

He said US supports democracy in Pakistan, adding that every time increasing the influence of democracy would decrease the influence of extremism.

To a question, Grossman said obviously, the way Pakistan organises its own government is its business. As far as I’m concerned, I think that the increased amount of democracy in Pakistan, more political parties, more integration of that part of Pakistan into the rest of that society has got to be a positive thing.

We’ve supported the civilian government there and the efforts they’re making politically, economically, democratically to move Pakistan forward. That decision is really for Pakistanis to make. But I think every time you can increase the influence of democracy, you decrease the influence of extremism.

The US special envoy said he was optimistic that Pakistan would support reconciliation process in Afghanistan, adding that over the past few months Pakistan has supported Afghan reconciliation process.

About the kidnapping of US national Weinstein, he said the idea that anyone would come and kidnap him I think is just outrageous. “We have not heard anybody claim responsibility for this. But what I can tell you is we have received excellent cooperation from the Pakistani authorities.”

Locals, tourists celebrate Christmas on Bondi beach

SYDNEY: Locals and tourists flocked to Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Saturday to spend Christmas Day surfing and soaking up the sun.

Tens of thousands of people hit Australia’s most famous beach every year to celebrate.

Before mid-afternoon on Saturday, the sand was already packed with sunbathers wearing festive costumes.

“When people finish their lunch today it’s going to get massive. Probably anywhere between 50 and 100 thousand people will be down here,” local lifeguard Drew Lambert from North Bondi Surf Club told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Alcohol is banned on Bondi Beach, but lifeguards still have to warn revelers against swimming under the influence.

Bondi has become a popular spot for tourists and backpackers to meet with fellow travelers.

Barbara Walters Interview with Oprah

Barbara Walters Interview with Oprah: Oprah Winfrey is the most powerful woman in entertainment, but watching her Barbara Walters interview, she almost seems accessible, like a person you might want to be your best friend. And for 25 years, for many women, she was just that. Next spring that all ends.

It is impossible (unless you are a male), to really dislike Oprah. You can dislike her influence over women or think her new age power is weird, but watching her, it is impossible to deny her sincerity and her heart.

As a person who has watched her show only a handful of times, I still find her fascinating. Here is a woman who was born in a home in Missisippi where she had no running water who is now worth $2.7 billion.

Her topics were often female-centric over the years, the books she chose for her book club almost all the kind of books women wanted to read more than men and sometimes that got her ridiculed. But to those snobs one might say: $2.7 billion, in your faces!

The Babs interview did not reveal any major secrets, but it did give insight into Oprah’s own thoughts on leaving and the future.

Fake voter cards seized ahead of Afghan vote: officials

KABUL: Election officials in a troubled Afghan province said Tuesday thousands of fake voter registration cards have been seized ahead of this week’s parliamentary vote, raising concerns about fraud.

Intelligence agents “seized 3,000 forged voting cards printed in Pakistan” on Tuesday, Waheedullah Osmani, head of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) in south-central Ghazni province, told AFP.

Ghazni has come increasingly under the influence of Taliban-led insurgents, who have been making good across the country on threats against candidates and their supporters.

Afghanistan is due to go to the polls on Saturday to elect 249 members of parliament’s lower house, the Wolesi Jirga, with more than 2,500 candidates standing in the 34 provinces.

The poll follows last year’s presidential election which was marred by massive fraud — much of it in

Sri Lankan Team Also Approached by Bookies

Sri Lankan team sources told that Sri Lankan Team was also approached by the person with suspicious character. Sri Lankan Players usually avoid these kinds of meetings. During World cup T-20 in England players found suspicious person around them and they immediately report ACSU.

Nishantha Ranatunga also confirmed the reports that suspicious person was reported by the players. The act of Sir Lankan team was appreciated by the management. It was not the first time that Sri Lankan team was approached by this kind of person many time but every time they report to ICC and ICC had all the records.

Team Sources said that the players want to make game clean and they never come under the influence of these people. It is also said that ICC and Sri Lankan board will try its best to protect players from these influences.

Pakistan team is under allegation of spot fixing scandal and one player is found involves in discussing teams matter with unknown person. Sri Lankan team issued this statement at a time when three Pakistani Players are under investigations of ICC and Scot Land Yard teams. Players should avoid meeting unknown persons to avoid controversies.

World Father’s Day today

ISLAMABAD: Father’s Day, a beautiful festive occasion that acknowledges and appreciates the important role played by a father in raising the child and consequently building a stronger society is being celebrated today (Sunday).

Father’s Day is a day honouring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society.

It is celebrated on the third Sunday of June in 55 countries of the world and on other days elsewhere. It complements Mother’s Day, the celebration-honouring mothers.

Historians have recorded that there was a tradition to celebrate Father’s Day even thousands of years ago. Their study say that 4,000 years ago in Babylon a son called Elmesu carved a father’s day message on a clay card. In his message Elmesu wished his father a long and healthy life.

The tradition of celebrating Father’s Day as seen today originated in the twentieth century. Father’s Day festival is considered extremely important as it help acknowledge the contribution of fathers to individual families and to societies as large.

Besides observance of Father’s Day provide children an opportunity to express love and respect for their fathers. The sentiment goes a long way in strengthening father-child relationship and consequently in the emotional development of a child.

My Sweet Dad

Whenever I am angry whenever I am sad

Nobody cares for me except my dad

He reads my mind he stands by my side

There is no doubt that he is my proper guide

Whenever I make a mess or something goes wrong

He asks me not to worry and to be strong

He has all the qualities that a father should have

He is just perfect and he has no match

‘Best’ is the only word that describes his personality

This is the truth and the only reality

— Priscilla Ambrose

IMF programme helped avert bankruptcy: Dr. Shaikh

ISLAMABAD: Finance Advisor Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh presented Federal Budget for 2010-11 with a total outlay of Rs3.259 trillion with 685 billion deficit before the parliament on Saturday.

In his budget speech at special budget session of the National Assembly, Dr. Hafeez Shaikh announced ad hoc allowance at 50 percent of basic salaries for government employees; raise in GST from 16 to 17 percent; 10 percent cut in Federal Cabinet salaries; capital gains tax of 10 percent on stocks held for six months or less, 7.5 percent on stocks held between 6 months to a year; reduction in customs duty on 29 items; raise in pension by 15 percent for employees retired before 2001 and 20 percent for those retired after 2001.

He said the budget deficit will be around 685 billion, which is 4 percent of GDP.

Tax revenue is targeted at 1.78 trillion rupees out of which the Federal Board of Revenue will collect 1.667 trillion rupees, about 9.8 percent of GDP.

Non-tax revenue is targeted at 632.2 billion rupees. Revenue from direct taxes is targeted at 657.7 billion rupees and revenue from indirect taxes is targeted at 1.12 trillion rupees. Subsidies will be reduced to 126.68 billion rupees from 228.99 billion rupees.

Development spending or the public sector development spending is targeted at 663 billion rupees, with 373 billion rupees allocated for provinces, and 280 billion rupees as the federal component.

Inflation is targeted at 9.5 percent in 2010/11 fiscal year, down from the central bank”s forecast of between 11.5percent and 12.5 percent for the year ending June 30.

The defence budget is set at 442.2 billion rupees, a 17percent increase from last year.

The general sales tax will be reformed to a uniform rate of 15 percent. GST will not be imposed on health, education, food items and on those merchants whose turnover is less 7.5million rupees.

This reform will be effective from October 1, 2010.

Development spending or the public sector development spending is targeted at 663 billion rupees, with 373 billion rupees allocated for provinces, and 280 billion rupees as the federal component.

Medical Allowance for employees of Grade-1 to 15 increased by 100 percent. While the raise in medical allowance for employees of Grade-16 to 22 is 15 percent of their basic pay.

Dr. Shaikh said Rs 1 CED will be imposed on manufacturing of each cigarette while 30 million energy savors will be provided in a bid to conserve electricity.

He stressed upon self-reliance and resource mobilization.

Talking about unemployment, he said jobs are created when the whole economy grows.

He held flawed policies and influence of some government departments responsible for energy shortage in the country where people are willing to pay for the utility but cannot get it due to unavailability.

We have to make our policies right and rise above the petty issues.

He said there is burden of 235 billion on the country’s budget due to losses being incurred by state owned enterprises including PIA, Pakistan Steel Mills and PEPCO.

He said three dams will be built in 2010-11.

He said PEPCO wants subsidy of Rs 180 billion.

All non-developmental federal expenditures will be frozen while 40 billion will be distributed among the poor under Benazir Income Support Programme.

Baitul Maal to continue functioning with Rs2 million.

ADP is being fixed at 603 billion out of which 52 percent will be given to the provinces.

Minimum taxable income for salaried class being raised from Rs200,000 to Rs300,000.

Capital Gains Tax of 10 percent being imposed on gains from stocks held for less than 6 months; 7.5 percent on gains from stocks held for 6 months to 1 year and; no tax on capital gains from stocks held for more than a year.

Pension raised by 15 percent for the employees who retired before 2001 and 20 percent for those retired after 2001.

200,000 unemployed youth will be provided employment for 100 days under Youth Scheme.

Federal Budget with outlay of Rs3.259 trln presented

ISLAMABAD: Finance Advisor Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh presented Federal Budget for 2010-11 with a total outlay of Rs3.259 trillion before the parliament on Saturday.

In his budget speech at special budget session of the National Assembly, Dr. Hafeez Shaikh announced ad hoc allowance at 50 percent of basic salaries for government employees; raise in GST from 16 to 17 percent; 10 percent cut in Federal Cabinet salaries; capital gains tax of 10 percent on stocks held for six months or less, 7.5 percent on stocks held between 6 months to a year; reduction in customs duty on 29 items; raise in pension by 15 percent for employees retired before 2001 and 20 percent for those retired after 2001.

Tax revenue is targeted at 1.78 trillion rupees out of which the Federal Board of Revenue will collect 1.667 trillion rupees, about 9.8 percent of GDP.

Non-tax revenue is targeted at 632.2 billion rupees. Revenue from direct taxes is targeted at 657.7 billion rupees and revenue from indirect taxes is targeted at 1.12 trillion rupees. Subsidies will be reduced to 126.68 billion rupees from 228.99 billion rupees.

The general sales tax will be reformed to a uniform rate of 15 percent. GST will not be imposed on health, education, food items and on those merchants whose turnover is less 7.5million rupees.

This reform will be effective from October 1, 2010.

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