US demands release of diplomat in Pakistan
Obama to Review Mideast Policy After Egyptian Protests
ISLAMABAD (Google News)The United States demanded the immediate release of an American arrested in the shooting deaths of two Pakistanis, saying Saturday that he is a diplomat who qualifies for im m unity from prosecution and was illegally detained. The statementfrom theembassyraisedthe stakesinwhat could emerge asa majordispute betweenPakistanandtheUnited States.It also showed the shakynatureof ties between the two nations, a relationship Washingtonbelieves is crucialfor success in Afghanistan a n d a g a i n s t a l DQ a i d a . Pak istani prosecutors said Friday they would pursue murder charges in the case. After the U.S. publicized its demand Saturday, the PakistaniForeign Ministryissued a statement referring to the arrested man as a "U.S. functionary." The ministry said that because a judicial process was now under way it had "no substantive comments to offer." The killingsinLahore onThursdayaddedtoalreadystrong antiD U.S.sentiment inPakistan. Islamist and nationalist commentators have portrayed the incident as an example of Americanbrutalityand called onthe government —often criticizedfor being tobeholdento W a s h i n g t o n — t o p u n i s h t h e m a n . TheembassysaidthemanwasactinginselfD defensewhenheshotandkilledtwoarmedmen as they approached his car. It said the menwanted to rob him, something police also have said. A third Pakistanidied when he was allegedly hit byan American car that rushed to the s c e n e t o h e l p t h e U . S . o f f i c i a l . "TheUnitedStatesEmbassyinPakistancallsfortheimmediaterelease"ofthediplomat,said the statem ent, adding that it regretted the loss of life. The man, who has not been named by the U.S., was taken into custody soon after the sho o t ing . U. S. of f ic ia ls we r e gr a nt ed ac ce ss to him o nly la t e Fr ida y. Pakistani officials have largely ignored questions over any immunity the American may have, and the U.S. statement Saturday did not address key questions, including exactly wh a t t he Am e r ic a n ' s j o b is or wh e t he r he wa s le g a l ly e nt it le d t o c a r r y a g u n . U.S. Embassyspokeswoman Courtney Beale told The Associated Press that the official was "a memberof theadministrative and technicalstaff." Separately, a senior U.S.official told that theman was authorized by theUnitedStates tocarrya weapon,but that it was "g r ey ar e a" whe t h e r he c o uld do so in Pa k is t a n.
(Google News)After decades of backing authoritarian regimes in the Mideast and North Africa as bulwarks against Muslim extremism, the U.S. faces an urgent challenge as popular uprisings sweep the region: how to defend U.S. economic and security interests while supporting democratic values. President Barack Obama urged non-violence on all sides as Egyptian protesters faced off against police and tanks. In televised remarks from the White House, Obama said he told President Hosni Mubarak that he must take "concrete steps and actions that deliver" political, social and economic change. "The future of Egypt will be determined by the Egyptian people," Obama said. "Governments have an obligation to respond to their citizens." While the U.S. president was careful not to side with the demonstrators over the Egyptian government, the White House also announced it would review assistance to Egypt, the fourth- largest recipient of U.S. aid in 2011. It was the strongest sign yet that a popular uprising may cause the U.S. to distance itself from a longtime ally. While the government of Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif resigned today at Mubarak's request, Mubarak, 82, has ignored demands that he resign. Today he appointed a new vice president, Omar Suleiman, the head of Egypt's intelligence services. "The Egyptian government can't reshuffle the deck and then stand pat," State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said in a message on Twit te r . " Pr e s id e nt Mub a r ak ' s wor d s p led g ing r e f or m m us t be f o llowe d b y ac t ion. "
Chinese sad but still proud as Li Na fails to bloom BEIJING (Google News) - Chinese reacted with sadness and disappointment after Li Na failed to win the Australian Open women's title Saturday but said they were still proud she had managed to get as far as the final. "She played well but was outclassed. She does not have the experience of her opponent," said Pheobe Pei, 29, who had gathered with friends in a smoky Beijing bar to watch the game live on state t elevision.
Suicide Bomber Kills Kandahar Deputy Governor (Google News)Afghan officials say a suicide bomber has killed the deputy governor of the southern Kandahar province and wounded five people. Authorities say the bomber, who was on a motorcycle, attackedthe carofAbdulLatif AshnaSaturdayashe wason his way to work in the provincial capital, Kandahar city. The French news agency, AFP, reports the Talibanhas claimed responsibility for the attack. Kandahar is considered the spiritual home of the Taliban. On Friday, a suicide bomber killed nine people at a Kabul superm arket frequented by foreigners. The Talibanalso claimed responsibilityforthat attack inthe n a t i o n ' s c a p i t a l .
Riot police walk past burning tyres placed to form a barricade during clashes with protesters in Cairo
Mubarak names his deputy and new PM
Obama rally streaker gets probation
(Google News)Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has appointed the country's head of intelligence to the post of vice-president, in a move said to be a reaction to days of anti-government protests in cities across the country. Omar Soliman was sworn in on Saturday, the first time Mubarak appointed a vice-president during his 30-year rule. Ahmad Shafiq, a former chief of air staff, was also a p p o in t e d p r i m e m i n i s t e r . B u t A l J a z e e r a ' s correspondents in Egypt have said that many of those on taking to the streets have demanded a total change of guard, as opposed to a reshuffling of figures in the ruling National Dem ocratic Party (NDP). Tens of thousands of people in the capital Cairo gathered on Saturday, demanding an end to Hosni Mubarak's.
W hat 's so wrong a bout be ing na k ed in Philly? Philadelphia has its Naked Bike Ride. College boys, and later on, som e college girls, at the University of Pennsylvania had an annual tradition of running naked through the lawns of the Quad dormitories. Streaker Juan Rodriguez - the Staten Island, N.Y., man who bared all while President Obama was speaking at a rally in Germantown in October - had done his research on Philadelphia, and thought we'd be easy on him . "Philadelphia has a history of streaking," Rodriguez, 24, said yesterday, as he sat fully clothed in a sweater and jeans at the probation office of the Criminal Justice Center, after being sentenced to two years' probation on his three misdemeanor counts. "I didn't pick Philadelphia out of the hat," he said. He said he thought Philly "would be more lenient toward me and see it for what it was" - a guy just "chillin'," he said. "You could see I had no weapons on me." Rodriguez stripped down - except for his black sneakers - at the Oct. 10 rally, which drew about 18,000 people, all on a bet he could win $1 m i l l i o n .
In Kabul Market Attack, a Whole Family Vanishes (Google News) Twenty-four hours after a Taliban suicide bomber attacked the Finest Supermarket here, the family’s silver Toyota Corolla was still park ed in front. There wa s no one left to claim it .
Moscow airport attack targeted foreigners - investigators
(Google News)The deadly terrorist blast at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport on January 24 was carried out by a resident of the Russia’s North Caucasus region and was aimed primarily at foreigners, investigators said on Saturday. “It was no accident that the terrorist attack to ok pla ce in the inte r na tio na l a r rivals zo ne , ” Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said. “Investigators believe that it was directed against, in the first place, foreign nationals,” he added. He also said that the blast, which killed 35 and injured dozens, was carried out by a 20-year-old resident of the country’s volatile North Caucasus region. “Despite the investigation having established the name of the terrorist, we will not name him today,”.
An ambulance carrying former South African President Nelson Mandela leaves the Milpark hospital after he was discharged in Johannesburg
Pakistan rebuffs call for American’s release ISLAMABAD: (Google News)Pakistan on Saturday said that the matter of killing of three Pakistanis in Lahore involving a US functionary is sub-judice in a court of law and the legal process should be respected. The US embassy claimed diplomatic immunity on behalf of Raymond Davis, previously described as an employee of the US Consulate in Lahore. “This matter is sub-judice in a court of law and the legal process should be respected,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abdul Basit said in a statement, adding that a report was awaited from the Punjab Police. “And for this reason, the ministry has no substantive comments to offer,” he added. Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the US should respect Pakistan’s courts and should raise the issue of diplomatic immunity there. “T he Punjab government respects the sentiments of the Pakistani public and wants to fulfil legal requirements,” he said. He further said that American influence would not be allowed to affect the criminal proceedings. The American, identified by police as Raymond Davis, told a cour t on Friday he had acted in self-defence after fleeing what he said was a robbery attempt. He has been remanded in police custody for six days for questioning. The US embassy said in a statement on Friday only that a staff member of the US Consulate General in Lahore was involved in an incident involving “loss of life”. But, on Saturday, it identified him as a US diplomat who it said had been unlawfully detained by authorities in Lahore, where the shooting took place. A third Pakistani was crushed to death by a consulate car that went to he lp D avis fo ll ow in g th e s ho ot in g in a bu sy st re et i n L ah or e. ag en ci es
Energy Updates (Ibrahim Khan)
GE scientists develop a way to reduce the need for rare earth materials by making nano-structured magnets that has the same high magnetism. Nanostructured m a g n e ts i s e xpe c t e d to reduce the main ingredients f or m ak i n g a m agn et UAE is the country that must meet the water needs with the desalination of sea water. They are currently testing the use of solar energy to run a desalination plant to reduce the adverse effects of carbon from f ossil f uel use A project agreement between the Jordanian government and the Norwegian government to carry out the Sahara F orest Project The majority of U.S. marines vital military equipment which run using solar energy have brought m any benefits for members of the U.S. marines who served in Afghanistan. Nat ion al Pu bli c Radio reported that the use of solar modules could reduce the number of casualties A British housing authority plans to install solar panels at least on 650 homes in 2012. The joint project between Sou th Yor ksh ir e Hou sing Authority and SolarCentury to build solar residential on 10 per c en t of i ts 4 ,0 0 0 of existin g properties
Th e r ec e s s i o n h a s i n c r e a s e d unemployment in Greece. Greek g o ve r n m e n t t r i e d t o cop e it wit h p lan s to bu i l d w o r l d 's l ar g e st s o l a r p a r k 4 acres area in the Cincinnati zoo will be insta lled with solar panels canopy that will provide about 20 pe rc e nt o f e l ec tr i ci ty needs in the zoo park.
Recent protests in Egypt, where the authorities are expecting another day of unrest
Workers cast Screen Actors Guild Awards with molten bronze in Burbank, California
Palestinian workers builds new Jewish housing in Ma'ale Adumin Israeli Settlement outside Jerusalem
Wizards' G-Man performs in Washington
First Family participates in community service in Washington
Palestinian Protest on French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie's to Gaza
Phoenix Suns Grant Hill and New York Knicks Raymond Hill and Toney Douglas at Madison Square Garden in New York
An Israeli boy looks at a camel on the Mt. of Olives in Jerusalem
Apple shares fall at the NASDAQ in New York
Ultra-Orthodox Jews stand on a balcony overlooking the Dome of the Rock in the Old City of Jerusalem
A man lies injured during a clash with riot police in Tunis. Protesters were tear-gassed while demonstrating against Tunisia's new government
Man Down A wounded Afghan man waits for a medevac helicopter near Marjah in Helmand province
One Year Later A woman prays among the remains of the main cathedral in downtown Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Palestinian men from the Al-Aqsa brigade give a press conference in Gaza City about documents on Palestinian-Israeli relations
Under Water Heavy equipment is submerged in flood Under Water An airport runway in Rockhampton, Australia is submerged by floodwaters. Heavy rains waters in an industrial area of Brisbane, Austrailia left the city cut off from the rest of the country
A protester stands in front of a burning barricade during a demonstration in Cairo, Egypt
An injured woman is escorted out of the supermarket after an explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan