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Monday, March 30, 2009

Obama: U.S. prepared to pursue targets in Pakistan

WASHINGTON President Obama said Sunday that his administration remains prepared to order strikes against "high-value" targets within Pakistan.Obama reiterated a previous assertion that the U.S. military would pursue extremists within Pakistan's borders after consulting with the Pakistani government.The U.S. policy doesn't change American recognition of Pakistan's "sovereign government," Obama said during an appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation." But the United States needs to hold that government "more accountable.""This is going to be hard," he added. "I'm under no illusions." Obama said his administration remains determined to weaken or destroy al Qaeda until it no longer presents a threat to the United States.He added that his administration is prepared to continually adjust its strategy in Pakistan and Afghanistan as necessary. On Friday, Obama announced a new plan for the region encompassing Pakistan and Afghanistan. It calls for, among other things, more U.S. troops, greater economic assistance, improved Afghan troop training, and added civilian expertise to defeat the "terrorists who planned and supported the 9/11 attacks.""Let me be clear: Al Qaeda and its allies -- the terrorists who planned and supported the 9/11 attacks -- are in Pakistan and Afghanistan," he said Friday."Multiple intelligence estimates have warned that al Qaeda is actively planning attacks on the U.S. homeland from its safe haven in Pakistan."He added that "al Qaeda and its extremist allies are a cancer that risks killing Pakistan from within."Obama specifically announced plans to send another 4,000 troops to Afghanistan along with hundreds of civilian specialists, such as agricultural experts, educators and engineers.The troops -- who are in addition to the 17,000 the president announced earlier would be sent to Afghanistan -- will be charged with training and building the Afghan army and police force.

Report: N. Korea Readying Another Missile Test

SEOUL, South Korea North Korea is preparing to launch a short- or medium-range missile, possibly right after it carries out its plan to fire a long-range rocket in early April, a Japanese newspaper reported Sunday.North Korea says it will launch a communications satellite into orbit between April 4 and 8 as part of its space development program. Regional powers, however, suspect the North is using the launch to test long-range missile technology, and have warned it could face international sanctions under a 2006 U.N. Security Council resolution prohibiting ballistic activity by North Korea.U.S. officials said last week that North Korea has mounted a rocket onto its northeast coastal Musudan-ni launch pad, putting the country well on track for a launch. U.S., South Korean and Japanese officials have warned they will take the North to the U.N. Security Council if it goes ahead with its plan.

Tension high after Baghdad arrest

Security forces in Baghdad have taken control of main roads leading to a district where at least three people were killed on Saturday.Clashes between US and Iraqi forces and a patrol group broke out when a local Sunni militia leader was arrested.On Sunday, troops drove through the Fadil neighbourhood urging fighters to hand over their weapons.US officials are trying to negotiate the release of five Iraqi soldiers taken hostage during the clashes.The security forces have warned the militants that they will be treated as terrorists if they do not surrender their weapons.

'High School Musical 3' Wins Big at Kids Choice Awards

LOS ANGELES  "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" graduated with honors Saturday at the Kids Choice Awards.he Disney musical was selected as the favorite movie by audience votes at the 22nd annual slime-filled Nickelodeon spectacle held inside UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. "High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens was also selected as the favorite movie actress."Lately, a lot of people have been taking credit for bringing back the musical," Zac Efron said while accepting the movie's trophy. "The truth is we've known who's been responsible for bringing back the musical all along. It was you guys!"The show's hijinks kicked off with host and "Race to Witch Mountain" star Dwayne Johnson zip-lining over the audience of screaming teens and tweens into a "slime temple." Johnson proceeded to spray the first row with gooey green slime. Other shenanigans included squirting singer Jesse McCartney with a fake microphone and Will Ferrell slipping and sliding down a hill.Winners included "iCarly" for TV show, "American Idol" for reality show, Jonas Brothers for music group and "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" for animated movie.Jack Black arrived in motorcycle sidecar to pick up his award for favorite voice from an animated film for "Kung Fu Panda."Miley Cyrus was brought to tears when she was announced as favorite female singer."I really thought I was gonna lose, so thank you, guys," said Cyrus.Johnson said over 90 million viewer votes were cast at Nick's Web site. Instead of envelopes, blimp recipients were revealed from inside spy-like steel briefcases. Some held surprises throughout the show. Before presenters Sandra Bullock and Hugh Jackman announced the "Twilight" series as favorite book, a briefcase doused the pair with green slime.The green theme took on an entirely different meaning when Cameron Diaz presented her "Gangs of New York" co-star Leonardo DiCaprio with the first-ever Big Green Help Award. The "Titanic" and "Revolutionary Road" actor was selected to receive the green blimp trophy because of his contribution and promotion of environmental issues."Right now, our mother — our mother — all of our mothers, Mother Earth is hurting," said DiCaprio. "And she needs a generation of thoughtful, caring and active kids like all of you to protect her for the future. You can help us win the battle to clean up our air, our water, our land, to protect our forests, our oceans and our wildlife."Most of the blimp recipients were relegated to brief announcements before and after the commercials.Among those winners were "Wizards of Waverly Place" star Selena Gomez for TV actress, "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" star Dylan Sprouse for TV actor, "SpongeBob SquarePants" for cartoon, Jesse McCartney for male singer, Beyonce's "Single Ladies" for song, Will Smith for movie actor, "Guitar Hero World Tour" for video game, Candace Parker for female athlete andPeyton Manning for male athlete.Earlier this year, controversy found its way into the show when pop star Chris Brown withdrew his name from Kids' Choice contention. The nominations were announced shortly before his arrest for allegedly attacking girlfriend and fellow Kids' Choice nominee Rihanna. Neither was in attendance Saturday, and Rihanna, twice nominated, lost in both categories.The show concluded with Johnson and a troop of Polynesian dancers summoning the "slime temple" to spew the sticky stuff all over the audience. Instead, the Jonas Brothers emerged and sang a cappella, causing slime to cascade over the boy band, Johnson, the dancers and much of the audience."What you guys don't know is that's real boogers," comedian Marlon Wayans said earlier in the show.

indian terrorist attack on police training school in lahore

Tanzania train crash 'kills 15'

At least 15 people have died after a passenger train ploughed into a stationary cargo train in Tanzania.Bodies of other victims may be trapped in the wreckage in the Dodoma region of central Tanzania, officials say.William Lukuvi, Dodoma's regional commissioner, said he feared the number of dead would rise.He said cranes had been ordered to move the wreckage of the trains after the crash, which occurred around midday local time on Sunday."We are investigating the cause of the accident, which has already claimed at least 15 lives," Mr Lukuvi told the Associated Press news agency."Cranes have been ordered to help separate the crumpled wreckage and retrieve bodies."Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation said the accident happened in Pandambili, in Dodoma's Mpwapwa District.In 2002, more than 200 people were killed and hundreds more wounded when a freight train collided with a passenger train outside Dodoma, the worst rail accident in the country's history.

Police training school attacked

Gunmen stormed into a police academy in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, killing at least 20 people, according to police. Gunfire could be heard from the premises, according to local media reports.Gunmen attacked a police training school near the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Monday, police said, with state television reporting at least four dead.Gunfire could be heard echoing around the camp as television footage showed the bodies of some policemen lying on the parade ground.The attack came just weeks after another assault by gunmen on the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team in the same city on March 3 left eight Pakistanis dead and seven players and a coach injured."Unknown gunmen have attacked the police training school, we have called in elite forces," senior police official Mumtaz Sukhera told reporters."We do not know about casualties," Sukhera said.The training facility is located outside Lahore at a place called Manawan.Police cordoned off the area as commandos and armoured personnel carriers moved in, television pictures showed.A second senior police official, Inam Wahid, said that the assailants were wearing police uniform and had occupied the training school."According to initial reports up to 20 policemen are injured," he told AFP.

Madonna to begin Malawi adoption

Madonna has arrived in Malawi to begin the process of adopting a second child from the African country.The pop star wants to adopt a young girl called Mercy James, local officials have said.The singer was seen walking through the village of Chinkhota with her 12-year-old daughter Lourdes.She refused to answer questions from reporters but said it was "amazing" to be back in the country where she adopted David Banda in 2006.Madonna is due to sign adoption papers in court in the capital Lilongwe in the coming days.An unnamed welfare official told the Associated Press (AP) agency Mercy James' mother was an unmarried 18-year-old who died a few months after the baby was born.The girl is in the same orphanage that was home to David, who is now three years old.There are differing reports of Mercy James' age, with AP and Reuters saying she is four years old and Agence France Presse (AFP) saying she is three.But Madonna has come in for criticism over her plans. David Nutt, spokesman for the Save the Children charity, urged Madonna to think again.

Top marks for High School Musical

High School Musical got top marks at the Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles, where its third instalment was voted best movie.Zac Efron accepted the prize for High School Musical 3: Senior Year, while his co-star Vanessa Hudgens was picked as favourite movie actress.Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus was named top female singer, while iCarly was named favourite TV show.TV network Nickelodeon said 90 million votes were cast in 18 categories.

US admiral says Pakistani intelligence helping al Qaeda

US Admiral Mike Mullen (pictured) told CNN there were "indications" that elements of Pakistani intelligence are backing al Qaeda and its allies. US President Barack Obama said earlier in the day that Pakistan was vital to anti-terrorism efforts. There are "indications" that elements of Pakistan's intelligence service are lending support to Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants, the top US military officer said on Friday."There are certainly indications that's the case," Admiral Mike Mullen told CNN when asked if elements of Pakistan's spy agency were backing the Al-Qaeda network and its Taliban allies."Fundamentally that's one of the things that has to change."Pakistan's Inter-Services Agency (ISI) has been widely accused of refusing to sever its links with Islamist groups that date back to the Cold War and the US-backed fight against Soviet forces in Afghanistan.After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Washington demanded Islamabad ensure ISI cut its ties to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, but there have been persistent reports that some members of the spy service remain in league with the extremist networks.India has directly accused its neighbor's powerful military intelligence agency of involvement in last year's Mumbai attacks that killed 165 people.Pakistan has denied the government has links to the Mumbai attackers or to Al-Qaeda and its allies.Mullen's comments came as President Barack Obama unveiled a new US strategy for the war in Afghanistan, in which he called for Islamabad to crack down on insurgents operating inside Pakistan's borders.

Ivorian stadium crush 'kills 19'

Nineteen people have reportedly died in a crush at a football stadium during a World Cup qualifier in the Ivory Coast.Reports says fans panicked after a wall collapsed at the Houphouet-Boigny arena in the West African country's largest city of Abidjan.At least 36,000 spectators were in the stadium, where hosts Ivory Coast beat Malawi 5-0.Hundreds of fans have died in recent years during riots and stampedes at football games across Africa.Police tried in vain to control the panicking crowd.He says the stadium was packed for the return of Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, who scored twice.

Militants Kidnap, Kill Police in Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan  Militants fired rockets at police chasing them after a kidnapping, killing a senior police official and five other people in Pakistan's northwest Sunday, a government official said.Elsewhere in the region, militants kidnapped 11 police officers in a tribal area that is home to a major U.S. military supply route and where a bomber recently killed dozens at a mosque, another official said.Parts of Pakistan's northwest — especially the lawless tribal regions bordering Afghanistan — are strongholds for Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters, and security forces stationed in the area are routinely targeted for kidnapping and killing.Cracking down on militants along the Pakistan-Afghan border is a major focus for President Barack Obama. In unveiling a new strategy for Afghanistan, Obama warned last week that for Americans, "this border region has become the most dangerous place in the world."The six deaths occurred in Balambat area of Lower Dir, a rough region just outside the semiautonomous tribal belt.A group of police officials, including the district police chief Khurshid Khan, were chasing militants suspected in the kidnapping of a local resident, said Syed Mohammed Javed, a high-ranking government official in the province.

At least 5 killed in election clashes in Turkey

ISTANBUL, Turkey At least five people were killed and dozens more wounded in clashes as municipal elections were held across Turkey.arly election results suggested the ruling political party, led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, won the overall election as predicted. However, Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, or AKP, appeared to have slipped several percentage points, compared to its landslide victory in 2007 parliamentary elections.The preliminary results suggest the AKP lost some ground to an Islamist party and a Kurdish nationalist party.More than 90,000 positions are up for grabs Sunday, from the mayor of Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, which has a population of more than 12 million, to the muhtar, or headman, of the smallest Anatolian village.The election is widely seen as a referendum on the AKP. Erdogan's party has been in power since it captured a majority of seats in parliamentary elections in 2002.

New team Brawn GP kicks off season with Australian double

The Formula One Grand Prix season has begun like a dream for newcomers Brawn GP: British driver Jenson Button (photo) took victory in Melbourne on Sunday, just ahead of his Brazilian teammate Rubens Barrichello.Britain's Jenson Button led home a sensational one-two finish for Brawn GP in its debut Formula One team start at the twilight Australian Grand Prix here on Sunday.Button rocketed away from the pole to lead throughout the 58 laps of the season-opener and kept clear of the mayhem behind him to cruise home in a safety car finish for his second victory in 154 GPs.The 29-year-old Briton, who led by as much as 34secs at one stage, had 0.807seconds to spare in beating his teammate Rubens Barrichello.Italian Jarno Trulli in a Toyota crossed the line in third, but was stripped of the position by race stewards, leaving world champion Lewis Hamilton in a McLaren-Mercedes another 1.3secs away in third.It was the first time since 1954 when five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio led home Karl Kling for Mercedes in the French Grand Prix that a debut team had finished one-two in a race.

Obama rules out sending US troops inside Pakistan

Obama agreed that things are worse than ever in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON US President Barack Obama said on Sunday he will consult with Pakistan’s leaders before going after terrorist hideouts in the country.The US President said he also wants Pakistan to be more accountable, but has ruled out deploying US troops there. In Obama’s words, his Afghanistan strategy ‘does not change the recognition of Pakistan as a sovereign government.’In an interview with CBS television’s ‘Face the Nation,’ the president discussed the tenuous security situation in that region. He said, ‘Unless we get a handle on it now, we’re gonna be in trouble.’Obama added that his new strategy is ‘not going to be an open-ended commitment of infinite resources’ from the United States.In a wide-ranging interview, Obama sought to counter the notion that Afghanistan has become his war. He emphasised that it started on George W. Bush’s watch.‘I think it’s America’s war. And it’s the same war that we initiated after 9/11 as a consequence of those attacks,’ Obama said. ‘The focus over the last seven years I think has been lost.’Obama taped the interview Friday, the same day he launched the fresh effort to defeat al-Qaida terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan, widening a war that began after terrorists struck the US on Sept. 11, 2001. He set new benchmarks and ordered 4,000 more troops to the war zone as well as hundreds of civilians and increased aid. The plan does not include an exit timeline.Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in an interview on ‘Fox News Sunday,’ said the short-term objectives for US forces in Afghanistan have narrowed under Obama’s new strategy even as a flourishing democracy in Afghanistan remains a long-term goal.‘I think what we need to focus on and focus our efforts is making headway and reversing the Taliban’s momentum and strengthening the Afghan army and police, and really going after al-Qaida, as the president said,’ Gates said.Pakistan has urged Obama to halt the strikes. But Gates has signaled to Congress that the US would continue to go after al-Qaida inside Pakistan, and senior Obama administration officials have called the strikes effective.Without directly referring to the strikes, Obama said: ‘If we have a high-value target within our sights, after consulting with Pakistan, we’re going after them. But our main thrust has to be to help Pakistan defeat these extremists.’Asked if he meant he would put US troops on the ground in Pakistan, Obama said: ‘No.’He noted that Pakistan is a sovereign nation and said: ‘We need to work with them and through them to deal with al-Qaida. But we have to hold them much more accountable.’‘What we wanna do is say to the Pakistani people: You are our friends, you are our allies. We are going to give you the tools to defeat al-Qaeda and to root out these safe havens. But we also expect some accountability. And we expect that you understand the severity and the nature of the threat,’ Obama added.In the interview, Obama said he won’t assume that more troops will result in an improved situation. ‘There may be a point of diminishing returns in terms of troop levels. We’ve gotta also make sure that our civilian efforts, our diplomatic efforts and our development efforts, are just as robustly encouraged.’Obama agreed that things are worse than ever in Afghanistan, and then sought to clarify his point.‘They’re not worse than they were when the Taliban was in charge and al Qaida was operating with impunity,’ Obama said. But, he added, ‘We have seen a deterioration over the last several years.’‘This is gonna be hard,’ Obama said. ‘I’m under no illusions. If it was easy, it would have already been completed.’ He also stressed the need to be flexible. ‘We will continue to monitor and adjust our strategies to make sure that we’re not just going down blind alleys.’

Major cyber spy network uncovered

An electronic spy network, based mainly in China, has infiltrated computers from government offices around the world, Canadian researchers say.They said the network had infiltrated 1,295 computers in 103 countries.They included computers belonging to foreign ministries and embassies and those linked with the Dalai Lama - Tibet's spiritual leader.There is no conclusive evidence China's government was behind it, researchers say. Beijing also denied involvement.The report, Tracking GhostNet: Investigating a Cyber Espionage Network, comes after a 10-month investigation by the Information Warfare Monitor (IWM), which comprises researchers from Ottawa-based think tank SecDev Group and the University of Toronto's Munk Centre for International Studies.They were acting on a request from the Tibetan spiritual leader's office to check whether the computers of his Tibetan exile network had been infiltrated.

Police station attacked in Tibetan area

A police station in the northwest Chinese town of Xining, near Tibetan-populated areas, was attacked in the early hours of Sunday, a day after China launched a new national holiday for Tibetans called "Serf's Liberation Day".A police station in a part of northwestern China near Tibetan-populated areas was attacked early on Sunday, leaving two police officers hurt, state media reported.The brief dispatch by Xinhua news agency said the incident occurred in Xining, capital of Qinghai province, which neighbours Tibet and has a substantial Tibetan population.It gave no other details besides saying the incident was under investigation.However, the report comes amid a heavy security crackdown in Tibet and adjacent areas with Tibetan populations to prevent unrest during this month's 50th anniversary of an uprising against Chinese rule.It also comes a day after China launched a new national holiday for Tibetans called "Serf's Liberation Day" to mark what the government calls the emancipation of Tibetans from the "feudal" rule of the now-exiled Dalai Lama.

Protests show Madagascar divides

Supporters of both Madagascar's ousted president and the man who replaced him have held rival demonstrations in the country's capital, Antananarivo.On one side of the city, 30,000 people attended a church ceremony to protest against new leader Andry Rajoelina.Meanwhile, 600 people commemorated the killing of 28 people when former President Marc Ravalomanana's bodyguard opened fire on protesters in February.On Saturday, police used live gunfire to disperse an anti-government rally.At least 30 people were injured - some from gun shots - as supporters of Mr Ravalomanana clashed with security services.Some 20,000 demonstrators had been protesting in Antananarivo for a sixth consecutive day against Mr Rajoelina's new administration.

Court backs Karzai term extension

Afghanistan's supreme court has recommended that Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, stay in office until elections are held on August 20, Afghan media has reported.The decision ends weeks of uncertainty about a potential power vacuum caused by the constitution's stipulation that the presidential term must end on May 21, despite elections being set for three months later.The move is also likely to fuel the fears of critics who are worried that Karzai will use the privileges of his office, such as access to state media and aircraft, to give him an unfair advantage in the election campaign.The court ruled there was a need for a "continuation" of leadership until the inauguration of the next leaders, a presidential spokesman told the AFP news agency.

'Awakening' group in Baghdad battle

Iraqi and US troops have clashed for a second straight day in Baghdad with so-called Awakening Council fighters opposed to the arrest of a local militia leader.The fighting in the Fadhil district of the Iraqi capital, in which four people were killed, came after Iraqi forces arrested Adel Mashhadani, the local chief of the Sahwa Council trained and financed by the US and Iraq to battle al-Qaeda fighters.American troops assisting Iraqi forces on Sunday ordered Sahwa members to surrender their weapons or face reprisals, while Iraqi soldiers blocked access to the area and made several arrests."We captured 14 people wanted by Iraqi justice in al-Fadhil district and we found weapons," Qassim al-Moussawi, Baghdad security spokesman, said.More than 20 people have also been wounded during the fighting, officals said.The fighting is the most severe seen in central Baghdad since US and Iraqi forces, aided by Sahwa loyalists, battled against al-Qaeda-linked fighters in 2007.

Bashir in Qatar before start of Arab summit

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (pictured left) arrived in Doha ahead of talks Monday with Arab leaders to discuss the ICC warrant for his arrest for crimes against humanity in Darfur.Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir arrived in the Gulf state of Qatar on Sunday, Al Jazeera television reported, as Arab leaders gathered for a summit set to discuss his indictment for war crimes.Bashir has visited Egypt, Eritrea, Libya and Ethiopia in the weeks since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for his arrest and accused him of masterminding war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.Qatar, which hosts a key U.S. military base, said last week it had faced unspecified pressure not to receive Bashir but it repeated an invitation for him to attend.Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on Sunday described the indictment of Bashir as “First World terrorism”.“The ICC warrant to arrest President Bashir is an attempt by (the west) to recolonise their former colonies,” Gaddafi, the current chairman of the African Union (AU), told reporters in the Ethiopian capital Addia Ababa.“It is a practice of a First World terrorism. It is not fair that a sitting head of state should be arrested. That is why all Third World countries are opposing ICC’s warrant against Bashir,” Gaddafi added.The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Bashir on March 4 on  seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Darfur region of western Sudan, where international experts say more than 200,000 people have been killed since 2003.