Al Qaeda May Use FATA Land For Recovery in 2009

Al Qaeda may vacate Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas where it has found safe haven due to sustained loses the terror outfit has suffered since 2008.
A US intelligence report prepared for Congress shows how a concerted military effort to uproot al Qaeda from FATA has weakened the group, the US blames for the September 11 terrorist attacks.
“In Pakistan’s tribal areas, al Qaeda lost significant parts of its command structure since 2008 in a succession of blows as damaging to the group as any since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001,” the Dawn quoted the report, as saying.
“Sustained pressure against al Qaeda in FATA has the potential to further degrade its organisational cohesion and diminish the threat it poses.”
Exploring the possibility that the losses sustained since 2008 could force aAl Qaeda to vacate FATA, the report notes: “It is conceivable al Qaeda could relocate elsewhere in South Asia, the Gulf, or parts of Africa.”
The terrorist group would look for a place where it could “exploit a weak central government and close proximity to established recruitment, fundraising, and facilitation networks,” the report adds.
“But we judge none of these locations would be as conducive to their operational needs as their location in Fata.”
The US intelligence community also points out that if forced to vacate FATA and locate elsewhere, al Qaeda would be vulnerable to US or host-country security crackdowns as well as local resistance.
It probably would be forced to adopt an even more dispersed, clandestine structure, making training and operational coordination more difficult.

13yrs old Alfie is Not Real Father

London: Schoolgirl Chantelle Steadman, 15, has blasted claims that her boyfriend Alfie Patten, 13, is not the real father of her daughter, and that she had also been bedded by other teen boys when the baby was conceived. She was reacting to the claims made by two other youngsters-Richard Goodsell, 16, and Tyler Barker, 140-who bragged that they could be the fathers of the newborn Maisie.
“There has been no one else,” the Sun quoted the tearful girl as insisting.
“I love Alfie. I lost my virginity to him. We decided to start a physical relationship because we love each other. There has been no one else,” she added.
Alfie, who looks like an eight-year-old, came to known that Chantelle was pregnant when he was just 12.
He supported Chantelle’s claim that no one else could be the baby’s father.
“Other stupid boys are lying,” he said.
Chantelle, who still wears school uniform, added: “Cruel things have been said but I am just trying to look after my baby and ignore them.”
Her family has also ridiculed claims that she had slept with other guys.
“I have never seen her so upset. To know that people are saying things like that about her is destroying her,” said her mother Penny, 38.

Australian FM Stephen Smith arrives Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Australian Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith has arrived on a three-day visit to Islamabad February 16-18.

According to foreign Office this will be the first visit of a top-level Australian official after Prime Minister John Howard had visited Pakistan in 2005.
Australian Foreign Minister during his stay here would be meeting his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani and Interior Minister, Rahman Malik.The Australian foreign minister in his separate meetings would discuss matters of mutual interests regional and international issues.
Pakistan must win confidence in India by effectively fighting terrorism within its own borders, Australia's foreign minister talking to Australian radio in Canberra said Monday at the outset of a visit to Islamabad. Australia, a staunch ally in the U.S.-led war on terror, plans to reinforce U.S. President Barack Obama's message to Islamabad that Pakistan cannot provide safe haven for terrorist forces.He said Australian and Pakistani defense chiefs would meet before July to discuss Australia training more of Pakistan's military officers in counterinsurgency.

New education policy to be announced on March 23

ISLAMABAD, The New Education Policy will be announced on 23rd of next month, which will help eliminate inequality in the education system, Minister for Education Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani said.“The draft of the policy has been formulated in lines with international standard and as per PPP’s manifesto”.He said the draft had been given to provincial governments and after consultations with all the stakeholders it would be announced.
“Work on 29 subjects for the new syllabus has been completed, while on others it is in progress,” the minister said.
Mir Hazar Khan said a ten per cent quota would be allocated for poor students in private institutions at A and O levels, adding that the government would bear all the expenses in this regard.He said there were a large number of ghost schools in the country and efforts were being made to make them functional, while stern action would be taken against those responsible for these.The minister said that attention was being focused to raise the standard of education in the country and for this purpose special cadre was being set up for imparting training to teachers.
To a question about shortage of teaching staff in the country he said inductions were being made in institutions in the federal capital, while all the provincial governments had also been asked to fill vacant posts on merit.

Hundreds of thousands mark Imam Husaain chelum in Karbala

KARBALA: Hundreds of thousands mourners observing chelum of Hazarat Imam Hussein (PBUH) in Karbala.Men, women, children and elderly wearing black clothes, marched and chanted religious slogans renewing homage to Prophet Mohammed's grandson Hussain (PBUH), who was killed along with his household and companions in the land of Karbala some 1400 years ago. Iraqi security forces, including snipers and undercover agents, have deployed in force in Karbala to protect millions of pilgrims gathered for a ceremony. Karbala provincial governor Akeel al-Khazali estimated that more than 10 million people have already arrived in the city for the ceremony, including 150,000 Shiites from abroad.

10 killed in US drones raid in Kurram Agency

PARACHINAR: Ten people have been killed in US drone attack in Kurram Agency.According to reports, US drones fired two rockets at suspected militants hideouts in Sarpal area in lower Kurram Agency. Ten people have been killed in the attack.This was the first US drone attack in Kurram Agency, however, drones made regular flights in these areas in the past.

Australia’s thrilling 1-run T20 win over New Zealand

SYDNEY: Australia defeated New Zealand by only one run In a sensational finish in the solitary Twenty20 International here at the SCG on Sunday.Australia won the toss in this interesting match and batted first. They made 150 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
David Hussey was the top-scorer with 41 off 39 balls. He hit one four and one six.Chasing 151 to win, New Zealand lost two early wickets to Peter Siddle but as the innings progressed they were looking on top. Brendon McCullum was the main destroyer who smashed 61 from 47 balls with five ofurs and two sixes.However, the Kiwi batsmen after taking 20 in the penultimate over. unfortunately failed to make 14 runs required in the final over from Nathan Bracken. They finished on 149 losing the match by just one run

Lawyers’ long march is wrong march for political parties: Babar Awan

LAHORE: Federal minister for parliamentary affairs senator Babar Awan said that the long march is for lawyers and for political parties, this is the wrong march.Talking with Geo News after condoling the murder of PPP leader Malik Shahid Imtiaz in Lahore, Babar Awan said that this is not a great job to involve judiciary into politics but the judges have been made controversial.He said that the best way for the judges who have been left to be restored is the same which was adopted by other judges.Babar Awan said that the Pakistan People’s Party has reservations against the Pakistan Muslim League (N) on the agreed matters.He said that the imposition of Sharia ordinance in Swat is an important milestone.

Punjab govt seeks Federation help for border patrol

LAHORE: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Sunday said in order to strengthen democracy all the parties should be ensured fair share in Punjab senate seats.He expressed these views during his meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here at State Guest House.On the occasion, they had an exchange of views on political situation of the country besides overall law and order.Shahbaz Sharif said the needs help from the Federation is needed for stepping up patrolling on Punjab’s borders aimed at checking the intrusion of terrorists into the province. On this, the Prime Minister assured of extending complete cooperation of the Federation.

Malakand Nifaz-e-Shariat five-point accord finalized

TIMARGRAH: A five-point agreement for the enforcement of Shariat in Malakand Division has been finalized in the successful talks held between the NWFP government and Maulana Sufi Muhammad.
The final talks between Tahrik-e-Nifaz Shariat Muhammadi’s chief Maulana Sufi Muhammad and the NWFP government on the enforcement of Shariat in Malakand Division successfully concluded here after arriving at a five-point agreement.
NWFP government delegation constituting of NWFP Information Minister, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, ANP Central Secretary Information, Zahid Khan and provincial Minister, Haji Hidayetullah Khan on the one hand, while Sufi Muhammad and his shoora committee members on the other, held talks closed-door talks at Timargrah, the headquarter of District Dir at the Rest House here.
Following the talks, while addressing his associates and talking exclusively to Geo News, Maulana Sufi Muhammad said that the government delegation held talks on the draft agreement of Nifaz-e-Shariat and for maintenance of peace. He said that a five-member delegation of Nifaz-e-Shariat would be meeting NWFP chief minister tomorrow in Peshawar, when an announcement would be made relating to the success of the talks. He said that after the enforcement of Shariat, he would be visiting Swat for holding peace talks.

Italy police warn of Skype threat

Criminals in Italy are increasingly making phone calls over the internet in order to avoid getting caught through mobile phone intercepts, police say.

Officers in Milan say organised crime, arms and drugs traffickers, and prostitution rings are turning to Skype in order to frustrate investigators.The police say Skype's encryption system is a secret which the company refuses to share with the authorities.Investigators have become increasingly reliant on wiretaps in recent years.Customs and tax police in Milan have sounded the alarm.They overheard a suspected cocaine trafficker telling an accomplice to switch to Skype in order to get details of a 2kg (4.4lb) drug consignment.Use of wiretaps by prosecutors in Italy has grown exponentially in recent years.

US to include Afghans in review

In a joint news conference with the new US envoy in the region, Richard Holbrooke, Mr Karzai said he was "very thankful" to be involved in the talks.In recent weeks US officials have been critical of Mr Karzai's leadership.US President Barack Obama, who regards Afghanistan as a priority, accused his government of being "very detached".The BBC's Martin Patience, in Kabul, says Mr Karzai and Mr Holbrooke appeared keen to smooth over any apparent discord at the news conference on Sunday.But our correspondent says it is widely thought that Mr Karzai is no longer popular in the White House - and it may take more than a news conference to change that perception.

Civilian deaths

Mr Holbrooke said he hoped at least one senior US official would be in Afghanistan every month "to find ways to improve our joint effort".Meanwhile, Mr Karzai said he had requested permission to send a delegation to the US as part of Obama government's review."I'm very very thankful that President Obama has accepted my proposal of Afghanistan joining the strategic review of the war against terrorism in the United States," Mr Karzai said.The Afghan leader also said that "very specific measures" had been agreed between Nato, the US and his government to prevent civilian casualties.According to UN figures 1,800 civilians died in the conflict between January to October last year.Taleban militants and local warlords were blamed for about 1,000 of the fatalities.US and Nato forces were held responsible for 700 deaths, mainly through air strikes

Taliban free captive Chinese engineer in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Pakistani Taliban militants have freed a Chinese engineer held captive for nearly six months, officials said Sunday, as fears rose over the safety of an abducted American threatened with imminent death by his kidnappers.It was not immediately clear if a ransom was paid or militants were freed in exchange for Long Xiaowei's freedom, although a militant spokesman claimed the government had agreed to demands for the enforcement of Islamic law in parts of Pakistan's northwest.Long's release came days before a planned visit to China by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.Earlier this month, a Polish geologist held by Taliban fighters was apparently beheaded in a video obtained by news media and believed by the Polish government to be authentic. On Friday, the kidnappers of American U.N. official John Solecki threatened to kill him within 72 hours and issued a 20-second video of the blindfolded captive saying he was "sick and in trouble."The abductions have underscored the overall deteriorating security conditions in Pakistan, a critical U.S. ally in the fight against terrorism, as it battles a Taliban insurgency in its northwestern regions bordering Afghanistan. On Saturday, a U.S. missile strike on a compound in an area where dozens of Taliban militants had gathered killed 27 people, intelligence officials said.China also is a major ally and longtime financial supporter of Pakistan, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing attached high importance to the case of the kidnapped engineer

Mexicans set kissing record on Valentine's Day

MEXICO CITY - Mexico City puckered up to set a new record Saturday as nearly 40,000 people locked lips in the city center for the world's largest group kiss.
Carlos Martinez of Guinness World Records verified the record of 39,897 people who entered the gated kissing area of the city's Zocalo main square on Valentine's Day, besting Weston-super-Mare, an English town that set the previous kissing record in 2007.
"We did it! Long live Mexico," said Mexican singer-actress Susana Zavaleta, who serenaded the crowd before the kiss with the classic Mexican ballad, "Besame Mucho," or "Kiss Me a Lot" — also the name of the event

Afghan Students Back in Class After Acid Attacks

Teenage girls in blue and green burqas pour into the schoolyard, where they pull off their coverings, stuff them in their book bags and head to class. It almost seems as if the acid attacks never happened.
But though classes have resumed, the students, their parents and the school's principal remain on edge two months later. The principal says better security promised by the government hasn't come. Some girls are too afraid to tell reporters their names or let their pictures be taken.
In November, three teams of men on motorbikes sprayed acid from squirt guns and water bottles onto 15 schoolgirls and teachers as they walked to the Mirwais Mena girls school in Kandahar, the southern city that is the spiritual birthplace of the Taliban.
One girl's face was so badly burned that she was flown to India for treatment. Four others are still being treated at hospitals in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.
The attackers' apparently hoped to scare girls from going to school. The Taliban banned girls from attending school during its 1996-2001 rule and insurgents in the south have repeatedly attacked schools in recent years as part of the insurgency against the government.

Making Pakistan safe

United States President Barack Obama, in an interview, has said he seeks a stable Pakistan and wants to ensure that insurgency in neighbouring Afghanistan does not affect Pakistan. Mr Obama seems especially concerned about the safety of Pakistan's nuclear weapons. In recent months, scenarios under which Al Qaeda-backed militants seize the weapons have been put forward by various US-based think tanks, and the issue is said also to have been brought up during briefings to top US officials. Now there has been conjecture that freed Guantanamo Bay prisoners could become involved in terrorist action against the US and could intensify efforts to grab nukes.Obama has already announced additional troops for Afghanistan. It is obvious that he sees the Pak-Afghan region as a flashpoint that needs to be more effectively managed. For this, as the president has said, a strong, united and stable Pakistan is important. The question is how such stability can be built. A bill which the US Vice President Joe Biden had helped draft had proposed large-scale development aid for Pakistan rather than only military assistance. That bill has been left on the roadside as dramatic change swept last year across the US.The stability Barack Obama believes Pakistan needs can come only when the abject poverty and social injustice in which extremist thought is rooted is addressed. Pakistan today needs massive investment in education, health and welfare. As part of his bid to usher in a better world and to build peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan, this is a priority Mr Obama needs to keep at the top of his list. Greater security for people in the country would after all work in everyone's interest, aiding in combating the terrorism that threatens people everywhere in the world.

The people's cause

The account of how a brave individual from Swat, even while aware of the risk, helped a kidnapped Chinese engineer to escape from Taliban kidnappers, is educative. The man was later killed by the militants. His family today lives in fear of further reprisal. But the rather sad account of the fate of this man is a reminder of the fact that most people in the valley do not sympathize with militants. The residents of Swat are, on the whole, decent people who oppose the crazed cruelty unleashed by extremists. Most seek only a return to the life they knew before conflict overtook their valley.It is unfortunate so little is being done to defend these people. The story of the man who helped the Chinese hostage to reach an army check-post had not been told for weeks. Perhaps now that it has come to light, his family will be offered some kind of compensation. This of course will not bring the victim back, but it may help send out a signal to others that they are not alone in their plight and that the authorities do stand by them after all.
Let us know of your opinion on the deteriorating situation in Swat and tribal belt – where education seems to have been slaughtered by the extremists who have torched almost every school in the valley and no ray of hope is there for the people. Will the people of tribal areas ever see peace? And what steps should be taken by the government to bring normalcy in these areas?

Dr A. Q. Khan set free after five years of house detention

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared renowned nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan “a free citizen” while disposing of his quo warranto writ petition. As per the decision in this case, the interior ministry has offered terms and conditions for providing security to Dr. A. Q. Khan with due state protection that has been accepted by the counsel for the petitioner, Barrister Ali Zafar. The hearing of the case was conducted in chamber, and the court thereafter issued a detailed judgment. A section of the judgment was provided to the press while the other section was declared secret. Speaking on the grounds of his villa, the nuclear scientist said, “This has happened because of the keen interest taken by the president and the prime minister, and especially Interior Adviser Rehman Malik, who looked into the case and reviewed it.”After the IHC judgment, a smiling Dr. Qadeer emerged from his house in the federal capital and addressed reporters face-to-face for the first time since 2004. Dr. Qadeer hailed the order as a “good judgment”. “It’s a matter of joy. The judgment, by the grace of Allah, is good,” he told reporters. “It is because of this judgment that I am speaking to you,” said the 72-year-old scientist, who has been treated for prostate cancer.How do you view the verdict of IHC considering prevailing political situation in the country and world sensitivity over nuclear non-proliferation issue

16 dead in India train accident

BHUBANESWAR: Rescuers searched through the wreckage of smashed carriages Saturday after a train derailed in eastern India, leaving 16 people dead and almost 200 injured, rail officials said. The high-speed Coromandel Express, connecting the eastern metropolis of Kolkata and the southern city of Chennai, derailed Friday night while changing tracks at Jajpur, 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Orissa's state capital Bhubaneswar. "Its tragic. 16 passengers have died, while close to 200 got injured," Ajay Kumar Goel, general manager of Eastern Railways, told foreign news agency. Witnesses said 12 carriages had jumped the tracks while travelling at high speed.

Thousands gather to commemorate Hariri anniversary

BEIRUT: Thousands of people converged Saturday on central Beirut to mark the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Lebanese former premier Rafiq Hariri.Waving Lebanese flags and carrying pictures of the slain leader, men, women and children gathered under sunny skies in Martyr's Square where members of the parliamentary majority were to address the crowd. The rally comes as final preparations are underway in The Hague for the launch of the international tribunal set up to bring Hariri's killers to justice. It also comes as the country prepares for legislative elections in June that will pit Western-backed political parties against a Hezbollah-led alliance backed by Syria and Iran.Hariri died in a massive car bombing on February 14, 2005 that also killed 22 others. The assassination was widely blamed on then Lebanese power-broker Syria, which has denied any involvement. The attack on the Beirut seafront was one of the worst acts of political violence to rock Lebanon since the 1975-1990 civil war, and led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops after a 29-year presence.The UN tribunal to try Hariri's alleged killers is due to open its doors on March 1, housed in the former headquarters of the Dutch intelligence service on the outskirts of The Hague. The tribunal will also try those presumed responsible for a series of attacks on other Lebanese political and media figures.
Turnout for Saturday's rally is seen by many observers as an indicator of voters' mood ahead of the legislative elections on June 7. "Their ability to rally people will be carried over at the ballot box," said Osama Safa, head of the Lebanese Centre for Policy Studies.

I committed no crime playing ICL: Yousuf

KARACHI: Pakistan star cricketer Mohammad Yousuf said that he wants to play cricket for Pakistan and he is the need of the national team but he is not being given any chance.He said that he has left the matter to the nation and if he did any wrong he apologizes to the nation for that.Addressing the media at the Karachi Press Club here on Saturday, Mohammad Yousuf said that he is not going to any court for justice as the people of the country are his judges.He said that he is a cricketer and this is not his job to making rounds of the courts and if he does that then how can he play cricket.He said that he did not commit any crime by playing the Indian Cricket League (ICL).Yousuf appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari to look into his matter and hopes that he would make a positive decision regarding his inclusion in the national team.The “running machine” said that he is the second best batsman in the world according to the latest ICC Test ranking and on the ninth position in the ODI rankings.He asked that when no ban has been imposed on the ICL players in India then why the ICL’s Pakistani players have been banned here

Govt claims breakthrough in Shariah regulation in Swat

PESHAWAR: Information Minister NWFP, Mian Iftikhar Hussain has said that headway has been made towards implementation of Shariah regulation in Swat valley.He said the government is in contact with Maulana Sufi in this regard.Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the NWFP Chief Minister Amir Haider Hoti has convened an important meeting for February 16 in which, he said, key decision are expected to be made.

US Will Change Drone Attacks Strategy: Foreign Minister Qureshi

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that US President Barack Obama will soon announce America’s revised strategy on drone attacks. Qureshi told a British radio station that Pakistan had asked the US to immediately stop the drone attacks in its Tribal Areas.
He also said Pakistan had fully cooperated with the US in the war on terror.
Meanwhile, a fresh US drone attack killed 16 persons and injured several others in Ladha area of South Waizirstan.
According to The News, two rockets were launched by an unmanned US plane at a house, supposedly belonging to a Taliban commander in Malik Khel in Ladha, destroying it completely and killing 16 persons on the spot.
Bodies of six persons had been recovered from the rubble of the attacked house so far, and the search for more bodies was on.
Eight of the severely injured persons were admitted to a local hospital.
This was the third drone attack inside Pakistan’s territory after the change of government in the United States with Barack Obama taking over the presidency.

Physical remand of 6 alleged Mumbai suspects

ISLAMABAD: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has sought 14-day physical remand of six suspects allegedly involved in Mumbai attacks here on Saturday.
According to Foreign Office sources, Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court has issued 14-day physical remand of six alleged suspects involved in Mumbai attacks including Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi into FIA custody.Judge of Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court ordered, six alleged suspects of Mumbai attacks, to be remanded into FIA custody after reviewing evidences produced by investigative agency against them, sources said.Also sources added, judge recorded suspects’ statements before their physical remand.

Bush Just Escapes Being $5-Trillion Man

Twenty-four days saved George W. Bush from running up five trillion dollars of government debt. The latest posting on the Department of the Treasury website shows the National Debt just hit $10.759-trillion dollars. And that $5-trillion and change more than it was on the day Pres. Bush took office on Jan. 20, 2001. Even so, Mr. Bush ran up the biggest increase in the National Debt of any American president. The Debt was $5.727-trillion on his first day in the White House. And on the day he left, it was $10.626-trillion. That means the Debt increased by $4.899-trillion on his watch. Some would round it off to $5-trillion – but that wouldn’t be fair. He was saved from five trillion dollar infamy by $101-billion. But watch for the National Debt to start shooting up again once the $879-brillion economic stimulus bill is signed into law next week. So far, the National Debt has increased $133-billion since the day Barack Obama became President. That averages out to $5.3-billion a day. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the federal deficit this year will hit an all-time high of $1.2-trillion – and that doesn’t include the stimulus bill. At the moment, the statutory ceiling on the National Debt is $11.3-trillion. It will clearly have to be raised soon.
It’s certain the one sure-fire investment this year is red ink.

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Autistic Teen Accused Of Killing Mom

(CBS/AP) A Kent State University professor who was fatally beaten in her home was devoted to caring for her 18-year-old, severely autistic son, friends say.
He is charged with attacking her, but should he stand trial in his mother's death? The question was raised on The Early Show Saturday Edition. There was a memorial service Friday night on the Kent State campus for Gertrude "Trudy" Steuernagel, 60. She struggled to raise her son, Sky Walker, but she loved him and would want people to know that autism doesn't equal violence, said Steven Hook, chairman of the school's political science department, where Steuernagel taught political theory and women's studies. Steuernagel died a week after she was severely injured in a beating. An autopsy showed bruises around her head and chest, said Gary Guenther, an investigator with the Summit County medical examiner's office. The cause of death had not been determined. Walker, who is being held in jail on $2 million bond, was scheduled to be arraigned on charges of attempted murder and assault on a police officer. Portage County Sheriff David Doak said the charge might be upgraded to murder. Errol Can, an attorney representing Walker, declined to comment. Authorities have not discussed a possible motive.

White House Not Challenging Rove's Privilege

The Obama White House is not challenging whether a valid claim of “executive privilege” can keep former presidential advisor Karl Rove from testifying in the matter of the U.S. Attorney firings during the Bush Administration. In a statement provided to CBS News, White House Counsel Gregory Craig says Pres. Obama is “very sympathetic to those who want to find out what happened.” But at the same time, Craig makes it clear that Mr. Obama is not disputing the claim of privilege.“He is also mindful as president of the United States not to do anything that would undermine or weaken the institution of the presidency,” Craig says in the statement.
A White House spokesman says the Counsel’s Office is still studying the question of executive privilege. on February 23 about political motivations in the firings of U.S. Attorneys. During the last days of the Bush presidency, White House Counsel Fred Fielding informed Rove’s lawyer, Robert Luskin, that Mr. Bush was continuing to assert “executive privilege” and directed that Rove not testify or provide documents about the U.S. Attorney firings – even after Pres. Bush left office. After Barack Obama was inaugurated, Luskin asked the new White House Counsel to advise on “whether there is a valid claim of executive privilege.”

Burris: Blago's Brother Asked For Money

AP) Senator Roland Burris admitted Saturday that former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich brother asked him for a campaign contribution before the governor appointed Burris to the Senate. The disclosure is at odds with Burris' testimony in January when an Illinois House impeachment committee specifically asked if he had ever spoken to Robert Blagojevich or other aides to the now-deposed governor about the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. Burris issued a statement Saturday saying he voluntarily gave the committee a Feb. 4 affidavit disclosing the contact with Robert Blagojevich because "there were several facts that I was not given the opportunity to make during my testimony to the impeachment committee." The affidavit, released Saturday by Burris' office, said Robert Blagojevich called him three times - once in October and twice after the November election - to seek his fundraising assistance. Burris, a Democrat like the governor, said he told Blagojevich he would not raise money because it would look like he was trying to win favor from the governor for his appointment.

Genocide expert dies in US crash

The court trying alleged perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide has expressed its shock at the death in an air crash of a top expert on the 1994 massacres.

Alison Des Forges, 66, was among 50 people killed in a plane crash on Thursday near Buffalo, New York state.
A spokesman for the the UN tribunal for Rwanda called her death "a great loss", said AFP news agency.
Ms Des Forges was an expert adviser to the court on the genocide, in which some 800,000 people were killed.
"It is with deep shock that the tribunal has learned of the tragic disappearance of Alison Des Forges," said Roland Amoussouga, a spokesman for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
"It is a great loss for the world of human rights, international justice and the whole of humanity," he added.

Ice build-up

Ms Des Forges had testified as an expert witness at 11 genocide trials at the tribunal, which is based in Arusha, Tanzania.
She also wrote a key study of the Rwanda genocide, Leave None to Tell the Story, and was a senior adviser to US advocacy group Human Rights Watch.

Ms Des Forges was returning to her Buffalo home when the plane crashed

All 49 passengers and crew on board a Continental airways twin-prop plane and one person on the ground were killed late on Thursday when it crashed into a house just minutes before it was due to land at Buffalo's airport.
Investigators have said that the crew of the plane noticed "significant ice build-up" on its wings before it crashed.
The crew also discussed the snowy and misty conditions as they descended to land.
Analysis of data recorders recovered from the scene shows the plane made a series of severe pitches and rolls seconds before plunging into a house, the investigators said.
The plane was flying from Newark, New Jersey, to Buffalo. Ms Des Forges was returning to her home in Buffalo after briefing European diplomats on the situation in Rwanda and Africa's Great Lakes region

Global food crisis and financial downturn must guide Africa

Last year's food crisis and the current global financial downturn should be enough motivation for Africa to quicken the pace of building its own infrastructure and other key resources in order to wean itself off aid, ECOWAS president Mohamed Ibn Chambas has said."We don't need any more excuses. The crisis should teach us enough lessons that it is time to wake up," he reiterated.
Dr Chambas who was addressing an ECOWAS Business Forum in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, said Africa economies should also begin pursuing partnerships with emerging economies such as China, Brazil and India as part of building new external markets."We have oil and gas in this region. We have rivers, many of which have energy potentials," he enumerated and wondered why the region, which serves as a source of uranium supply to some countries abroad, should itself be living in darkness.
Dr Chambas said the crisis showed the unsustainability of the policy of ignoring the development of local agriculture in favour of imports and provides a unique opportunity to re-launch West African agriculture as a business for sustainability."We have no business complaining about food crisis when we have well-endowed land and other natural resources to tap for the development of our people." Another priority, he said, should be the pooling of resources to support the private sector to develop a dynamic capital market, capable of promoting critical investments in the region.The forum, the second after the maiden event in Accra, brought together about 400 people, mostly from the private sector. It provided the platform for ECOWAS to build synergy among the private sector and involve them more intensively in the integration process.
Participants would brainstorm and draw an action plan on how to build effective partnerships to grow a robust economy.

Indian police arrest hundreds in Valentine's Day protests

INDIAN police stood guard at colleges decorated with heart-shaped in today and arrested hundreds of militant Hindus across the country to quell Valentine's Day protests. Dozens of party workers of the fundamentalist Shiv Sena, which has disrupted Valentine's Day celebrations for years, were arrested in Mumbai and in Gwalior, police officials said. In Bangalore and in Mangalore, more than 400 party workers, including the leader of Sri Ram Sena party, were taken into preventive custody on Friday, hours after a local court ordered the state to check what it called "violent behaviour by moral policemen"."All pubs, bars and restaurants and even shops selling Valentine cards are being given protection. We will not tolerate any violence," said Bangalore Police Commissioner Shankar Bidri.India has been on alert since a recent attack on young women in a pub in southern Mangalore city by the Sri Ram Sena party sparked heated debates on self-appointed moral guardians forcing traditional mores on an increasingly liberal society.The Sri Ram Sena, described as southern Karnataka state's Taliban, had cautioned shops, restaurants and pubs from marking Valentine's Day.In response, defiant youngsters formed groups on social networking sites such as Facbook and Orkut to go pub-hopping and to send the party pink knickers in a campaign that garnered tens of thousands of supporters from across the world."I did not expect this kind of rubbish in Karnataka. Who are these guys to tell us how we should party on Valentine's Day," said Sushmita, an IT worker who gave only one name, outside Hardrock cafe in Bangalore.India's growing numbers of young and independent urban women have become an easy target for some religious activists and politicians.

Baby-faced UK boy becomes father at 13

LONDON - He's 13. He scarcely looks 10. And according to a British tabloid, he's a father.
Baby-faced and only 4 feet (1.22 meters) tall, the boy, Alfie, was just 12 when he impregnated Chantelle, now 15, The Sun reported. Shown in a video posted on the tabloid's website, the diminutive Alfie takes the newborn girl in his arms.
Asked what he would do to support the child financially, Alfie asks in a small, high-pitched voice, "What's financially?"
The girl was taking birth control pills but missed one, the newspaper reported. Friends and relatives left the family home near Eastbourne, about 110 kilometres southeast of London, Friday without speaking to reporters gathered outside. The teenagers could not immediately be contacted.
The Sun did not say whether any tests were conducted to prove the boy's paternity. The paper did not offer any immediate comment when asked whether it had paid the family for the story.
Police and child services in Eastbourne, in southeast England, said in a statement that they were "aware of a 14-year-old girl that had become pregnant as the result of a relationship with a 12-year-old boy," adding that they were offering support to both young people.

AQ Khan’s release blow to intl security’

Describing AQ Khan’s release from house arrest in Pakistan as “a blow” to global security, an influential lawmaker has introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives, saying the disgraced scientist’s case should be “a guiding element” in determining US policy towards Islamabad.
“This is a blow to justice and international security,” said Republican Congressman Ed Royce, who introduced the resolution in the House.
Pakistan’s mishandling of the nuclear scientist’s case should be a “guiding element in the determination of US policy towards that country, including bilateral assistance,” the resolution said.
It condemned Khan’s release and declared the nuclear scientist to be a continuing proliferation threat who should be required to give a full accounting of his activities to outsiders.
The resolution introduced on Thursday also declared Pakistan’s behaviour as “incompatible” with its status as a “major non-NATO ally” of the US.
“With this move, Pakistan is making it clear that it does not want to be a responsible actor. There is no reason to believe that the AQ Khan network has been put out of business. This cannot go unchallenged,” said Royce, a Ranking Member of the Terrorism, Non-proliferation and Trade Subcommittee in the House.
The House should immediately consider the resolution, demonstrating to Islamabad the seriousness of the mistake they have made by releasing Khan, Royce said.
In 2004, Khan confessed to running an illicit nuclear proliferation network, supplying North Korea, Libya, Iran and possibly others with nuclear technologies and designs.

Congress sends $787 billion stimulus to Obama

The U.S. Congress, handing President Barack Obama a major legislative victory, approved on Friday a $787 billion stimulus bill that aims to rush emergency government spending and tax cuts to a nation in the grip of a severe recession.
The Senate cast the final vote, 60-38, hours after the House of Representatives passed an identical bill, 246-183. The action capped weeks of arguing over how Congress could best stimulate an economy suffering a rising jobless rate of 7.6 percent and a banking crisis that has nearly frozen lending.
“It will not fix our problems overnight,” Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye, a Hawaii Democrat, said shortly before the final vote began on the measure, closely watched by financial markets and governments around the world.
But Inouye added, “It will begin the process … it will give America confidence that we can overcome this crisis.”
The Senate voting was held open for several hours to await Ohio Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown’s arrival in Washington to cast the 60th vote needed for passage. The White House arranged for a government plane to fly him back from services for his late mother in Ohio.
Obama is expected to sign the bill into law soon, fulfilling a pledge to try to reverse the economic slide with a recipe that includes middle-class tax cuts, money for construction projects, help for the poor and unemployed and new investments in alternative energy.
Democrats hope to save or create 3.5 million jobs.
But the Democratic president, in office only since January 20, failed in his efforts to win over Republicans, who are a minority in Congress. Not a single House Republican voted for one of the biggest single spending bills in the nation’s history and only three Republican senators backed it.

Hillary Clinton warns, woos North Korea

NEW YORK (CNN) -- North Korea's nuclear program is "the most acute challenge to stability in northeast Asia," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: Ready to move forward with six-party talks on North Korea.
But, Clinton said in a 45-minute address to the New York-based Asia Society, the Obama administration is prepared to seek a permanent, stable peace with Pyongyang as long as its government pursues disarmament and does not engage in aggression against neighboring South.
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"If North Korea is genuinely prepared to completely and verifiably eliminate their nuclear weapons program, the Obama administration will be willing to normalize bilateral relations, replace the peninsula's long-standing armistice agreements with a permanent peace treaty and assist in meeting the energy and other economic needs of the North Korean people," she said.
The United States wants to move forward with the six-party talks, working with China, South Korea, Japan, Russia and North Korea to address North Korea's nuclear program, she said. However, keeping in line with the Obama administration's approach of "engaging" its enemies, Clinton said the United States would consider bilateral contacts with Pyongyang.
Despite the olive branch, Clinton warned Pyongyang "to avoid any provocative action or unhelpful rhetoric toward South Korea."
Tension between Pyongyang and its neighbor South Korea has increased in recent weeks, with North Korea announcing it would scrap peace agreements with the South, warning of a war on the Korean peninsula and threatening to test a missile capable of hitting the western United States