Taliban kills four ‘US spies’ in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Taliban militants have killed four tribesmen they abducted 10 days ago in Pakistan’s north Waziristan tribal region after accusing them of spying for the US, officials said Sunday.

Their bullet-riddled bodies were found Sunday, DawnNews quoted the officials as saying.
A note near one of the victims said in Pashto: “Spies are spies, and … Read more : Taliban kills four ‘US spies’ in Pakistan.

India has told US about Pakistan’s link to Mumbai: Krishna

NEW DELHI – India has conveyed to friendly countries like the US that it has evidence of Pakistani state actors’ involvement in the Mumbai terror attack, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna has said.

“In our own way we conveyed to friendly countries,” Krishna told Karan Thapar in The Devil’s Advocate Programme. He was asked if India …. Read the original article  : India has told US about Pakistan’s link to Mumbai: Krishna.

India not being squeezed out by US in Afghanistan: Krishna

NEW DELHI – Denying reports of India being marginalised in the emerging US strategy in Afghanistan at Pakistan’s behest, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna has said the US has never pressed New Delhi “directly or indirectly” to cut its presence in the violence-hit country.

“We have in our interactions with the US administration at various …. Read the original article  : here.

Four killed in suicide attack in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – At least four people were killed and a dozen injured Sunday when a suicide bomber riding on a bicycle hit a police van in Quetta, capital of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province.

Five injured policemen were in critical condition, Xinhua reported.
The bomb exploded near the residence of a senior political leader, Mehmood Khan Achakzau, …. Source  : Four killed in suicide attack in Pakistan.

Virtual stonewall around Headley’s former ‘connections’

CHICAGO – Even as the Department of Justice (DoJ) continues to dismiss as “absurd” the freshly mounting claims in India that Mumbai terror plotter David Coleman Headley was a double agent gone rogue, there is now a virtual stonewall around what his covert connections might have been.

If US authorities are worried at the persistence … Read more : Virtual stonewall around Headley’s former ‘connections’.

China to begin trial of 4 Rio Tinto employees on commercial secrets, bribery charges

China to begin trial of 4 Rio Tinto employees

SHANGHAI – An Australian executive and three other employees of mining giant Rio Tinto face charges of stealing secrets and offering bribes in a Shanghai trial beginning Monday that is viewed as a barometer of China’s handling of foreign business.
China has warned against politicizing the case, which …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Indians in Afghanistan are soft targets: Krishna

NEW DELHI – External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna says that Indian aid workers in Kabul have become soft targets for terrorists who want to derail India-Afghan relations.

I think (the Feb 26 Kabul attack that killed seven Indians) has been the handiwork of those forces who are out to see that the relationship between India …. Source  : Indians in Afghanistan are soft targets: Krishna.

Jews say hate crimes and anti-Israel rage are driving some of them out of their Swedish city

Muslim-Jewish tensions roil a Swedish city

MALMO, Sweden – Marcus Eilenberg is a Swedish Jew whose family roots in Malmo go back to the 19th century. His paternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors who found shelter in this southern Swedish city in 1945. His wife’s parents fled to Sweden from communist Poland in the 1960s.
Now the 32-year-old …. Read the original article  : Jews say hate crimes and anti-Israel rage are driving some of them out of their Swedish city.

Lawmaker won’t press charges after being spat on by Capitol Hill protestor

Lawmaker won’t press charges in spitting incident
WASHINGTON – A congressman who was spat on by a protestor on Capitol Hill says he is declining to press charges, but turns out the Capitol Police say they made no arrests.
Missouri Democrat Emanuel Cleaver was making his way through a group of angry protestors … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Lawmaker won’t press charges after being spat on by Capitol Hill protestor.

Pep rally and protesters make for raucous and at times ugly build-up to House health care vote

Raucous, ugly build-up to House health care vote
WASHINGTON – House Democrats heard it all Saturday – words of inspiration from President Barack Obama and raucous chants of protests from demonstrators. And at times it was flat-out ugly, including some racial epithets aimed at black members of Congress.
Most of the day’s important …. Source  : Pep rally and protesters make for raucous and at times ugly build-up to House health care vote.

US Ski Team chief Bill Marolt apologizes after DUI arrest in Utah

US Ski Team chief arrested on DUI charge
PARK CITY, Utah – U.S. Ski Team chief Bill Marolt issued an apology Saturday after being arrested days earlier on suspicion of driving under the influence not far from the team’s headquarters in Park City.

In a brief statement, Marolt apologized for his Wednesday night arrest, which came just … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : US Ski Team chief Bill Marolt apologizes after DUI arrest in Utah.

Thousands carry flag-draped coffins, anti-Obama signs in DC protest; want troops back home

Thousands rally to pull troops from 2 war zones
WASHINGTON – Thousands of protesters – many directing their anger squarely at President Barack Obama – marched through the nation’s capital Saturday to urge immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.
At least eight people, including activist Cindy … Read : Thousands carry flag-draped coffins, anti-Obama signs in DC protest; want troops back home.

NCAA: No. 1 seed Kansas struggling against Northern Iowa, who’s shooting 52 percent from field

NCAA: Kansas struggling against Northern Iowa
Bill Self begged for a timeout, as if he were asking for mercy, after Ali Farokhmanesh hit again from about 15 feet to give Northern Iowa a 33-24 lead over the No. 1 overall seed. The Panthers are 6 of 11 from beyond the arc and shooting 52 … Original article on : NCAA: No. 1 seed Kansas struggling against Northern Iowa, who’s shooting 52 percent from field.

NCAA: New Mexico, Washington tip off; check out Northern Iowa’s Eglseder vs. Kansas’ Aldrich

NCAA: New Mexico, Washington tip off
New Mexico and Washington have tipped off from the Shark Tank in San Jose, where Steve Alford’s Lobos are trying to match Murray State with its 31st win.
Keep an eye on New Mexico star Darington Hobson, who has a tender left wrist, because Washington coach Lorenzo Romar is … Read more »».

NCAA: Northern Iowa leads Kansas early; Baylor on early 20-6 run vs. ODU; Tennessee beats Ohio

NCAA: Northern Iowa leads Kansas early
Kansas coach Bill Self said that Northern Iowa is one of the best defensive teams he’s seen in quite a while, and the observation is playing out. The Panthers led 19-12 with under 12 minutes to go in the first half.
Kansas has six early team fouls, while Northern …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : NCAA: Northern Iowa leads Kansas early; Baylor on early 20-6 run vs. ODU; Tennessee beats Ohio.

NCAA: Tennessee beats No. 14 seed Ohio 83-68; Old Dominion, Baylor tip off in New Orleans

NCAA: Tennessee beats Ohio 83-68
Ohio finally ran out of energy, time, magic. After stunning third-seeded Georgetown and playing tough for about 30 minutes Saturday, Tennessee finally put the Bobcats away with a late surge in an 83-68 victory.
The Vols advance to play Georgia Tech or Ohio State in St. Louis next week.
Tommy Freeman …. Original article  : NCAA: Tennessee beats No. 14 seed Ohio 83-68; Old Dominion, Baylor tip off in New Orleans.

NCAA: Tennessee cruising against No. 14 seed Ohio; Butler beats Murray State 54-52

NCAA: Tennessee cruising against Ohio
Just in case nobody in Providence realized J.P. Prince had slammed down an alley-oop, his guttural scream running back the other way made every animal in Rhode Island perk up its ears.
Cameron Tatum followed with a dunk, then came another fastbreak layup, and the Vols are cruising with about …. Original source  : NCAA: Tennessee cruising against No. 14 seed Ohio; Butler beats Murray State 54-52.

7 arrested as anti-war rally ends, protesters lay on White House sidewalk by cardboard coffins

7 arrested as DC anti-war rally concludes
WASHINGTON – Seven protesters, including activist Cindy Sheehan, have been arrested at an anti-war rally and march in Washington.
Sheehan began shouting “arrest that war criminal” through a bullhorn and pointing to the White House from an area of sidewalk park police had closed off Saturday afternoon. The … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : 7 arrested as anti-war rally ends, protesters lay on White House sidewalk by cardboard coffins.

Report: Iran temporarily releases prominent pro-reform politician for new year holiday

Report: Iran releases prominent pro-reform figure

TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian news agencies say authorities have released a prominent pro-reform activist two days after security forces took him into custody.
The Fars semiofficial news agency and other local agencies quote Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi as saying former vice president Hossein Marashi was temporarily released Saturday for Iran’s [..] Read the original article: here.

Colombian narco-terrorist sentenced to 20 years in US prison for role with FARC

Colombian narco-terrorist gets 20 years
NEW YORK – A former leader in the Colombian guerrilla group FARC has been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison.

Jorge Enrique Rodriguez Mendieta pleaded guilty in December to an indictment accusing him of importing tons of cocaine into the U.S.
A federal judge in Washington sentenced him on Friday.
Rodriguez Mendieta …. Source  : Colombian narco-terrorist sentenced to 20 years in US prison for role with FARC.