The Taleban leadership has called for the withdrawal of Italian troops from Afghanistan in exchange for the release of an Italian journalist. On Friday, the Taleban said it would free Daniele Mastrogiacomo of the newspaper La Repubblica if he could prove he was not a spy. But on Saturday, a Taleban spokesmen said the his life was now at risk. The Taleban is said to have changed its mind after Italy's lower house voted to keep troops in Afghanistan. "This vote has put the life of the reporter in danger," a Taleban spokesman told Reuters news agency. Correspondents say the upper house of the Italian parliament - where the government's majority is narrower - may vote differently when it considers the issue later this month. Italy has almost 2,000 troops in Afghanistan, stationed in Kabul and in western Herat province under the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf). ... http://news.bbc.co.uk censor News |
Editor - 09:18:00 03-10-07 |
Oxfam plea to Blair over Africa |
Oxfam has urged Tony Blair to make the fight against poverty in Africa a priority for his time left in office. The charity says donations from rich nations have fallen since the prime minister's Commission for Africa report two years ago sought more aid. Campaigner Bob Geldof criticised European leaders for losing interest in Africa since the Gleneagles agreement. He said if wealthy countries broke their promises over Africa it would "kill the poor" on that continent. "When they put their name, they sign the pride, the honour, and the dignity of their respective countries. You do not break that," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "You particularly don't break it because the promise of the rich to the poor broken, kills the poor." European leaders signed an agreement on aid and trade at the G8 summit at Gleneagles two years ago. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6437137.stm
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Editor - 09:10:00 03-10-07 |
Sick Infant Stolen From Texas Hospital |
A woman posing as a medical worker kidnapped a three-day-old infant from a hospital early Saturday, police said. Mychael Darthard was last seen at 1:20 a.m. at Covenant Lakeside Hospital when a woman wearing blue and flower-print hospital scrubs and a gray hooded jacket took her and drove off in a pickup truck, police said. Hospital surveillance video showed the woman with the jacket hood pulled around her head and holding a purse as she walked through the lobby. Lt. Scott Hudgens said the baby was jaundiced but he did not have any other information on her medical condition. The woman may have had a male accomplice, Hudgens said. "At this point we don't have any reason to believe that the family knew the suspect," Hudgens said. ... http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/10/national/main2556030.shtml?source=RSSattr=U.S._2556030
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Editor - 09:00:00 03-10-07 |
Bush vows swift action in FBI records scandal |
Bush pledged swift action on Saturday over findings that the FBI illegally or improperly obtained private records during terrorism and espionage investigations. Bush, visiting Uruguay on a Latin American tour, insisted he had confidence in FBI Director Robert Mueller and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, despite a Justice Department report of FBI misconduct that has sparked a congressional outcry.The report added fuel to the fire for the Democratic Party and others criticizing the Bush administration for weakening protections of civil liberties in its war on terrorism after the September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001.The report by Inspector General Glenn Fine's office rebuked the FBI for demanding, without a court order, customer records from telephone companies, Internet service providers, banks and credit card firms."We'll address the problems in the report as quickly as possible," Bush said. Mueller had already begun work, he said.... http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070310/pl_nm/fbi_patriotact_bush_dc
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Editor - 08:57:00 03-10-07 |
Dead or alive, on his 50th birthday ghost of the Hindu Kush haunts US. CIA think they know where Osama bin Laden is. So do local tribesmen - hiding in the White House |
Osama bin Laden marks his 50th birthday today, most likely at a hideout in the tribal lands straddling Pakistan and Afghanistan. It's tempting to imagine the grey-bearded jihadi hunched over a cake with burning candles inside a cave, smiling henchmen gathered behind him. In reality it's not likely to be much of a bash. Birthday parties are frowned upon by Wahhabi puritans such as the al-Qaida leader, who consider such celebrations a vulgar western import. But as he passes another milestone he at least has reason to enjoy a quiet smile. Six years after 9/11, Bin Laden is maddeningly out of reach. Despite the world's largest manhunt and a $25m bounty he remains at large, the Scarlet Pimpernel of jihad. A powerful myth has swelled around him - the tall, stern-faced Saudi-born militant has become the ghost of the Hindu Kush, variously reported dead or alive at different points inside the epic mountain range. The Pakistani army thought it had him cornered in a village in ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/alqaida/story/0,,2030777,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12
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Editor - 19:39:00 03-09-07 |
Georgia to OK Bible-based literature classes State to be first to make Bible the main book in two public school classes |
Georgia is poised to introduce two literature classes on the Bible in public schools next year, a move some critics say would make the state the first to take an explicit stance endorsing — and funding — biblical teachings. The Bible already is incorporated into some classes in Georgia and other states, but some critics say the board's move, which makes the Bible the classes' main text, treads into dangerous turf. On a list of classes approved Thursday by the Georgia Board of Education are Literature and History of the Old Testament Era, and Literature and History of the New Testament Era. The classes, approved last year by the Legislature, will not be required, and the state's 180 school systems can decide for themselves whether to offer them. The school board's unanimous vote set up a 30-day public comment period, after which it is expected to give final approval.... http://Georgia is poised to introduce two literature classes on the Bible in public schools next year, a move some critics say would make the state the first to take an explicit stance endorsing — and funding — biblical teachings. The Bible already is incorporated into some classes in Georgia and other states, but some critics say the board's move, which makes the Bible the classes' main text, treads into dangerous turf. On a list of classes approved Thursday by the Georgia Board of Education are Literature and History of the Old Testament Era, and Literature and History of the New Testament Era. The classes, approved last year by the Legislature, will not be required, and the state's 180 school systems can decide for themselves whether to offer them. The school board's unanimous vote set up a 30-day public comment period, after which it is expected to give final approval....
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Editor - 19:36:00 03-09-07 |
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