Taliban Announces Start of Their Spring Offensive
The Taliban on Saturday announced the start of their spring offensive, signaling plans to step up attacks as the weather warms across Afghanistan, making both travel and fighting easier. ...The militant group’s leadership vowed that “every possible tactic will be utilized in order to detain or inflict heavy casualties on the foreign transgressors.”
Report: US asked Israel not to respond to drone launch
A Western diplomat in Beirut told the Lebanese newspaper a-Nahar on Saturday that the US asked Israel to show restraint and not respond immediately to the drone which was shot down over the Haifa bay on Thursday. According to the source, the main reason for the request is that the drone, shot down over the Haifa bay, caused no damage.
Russia detains 140 suspected Islamic extremists
Russian police and security agents have detained 140 people at a mosque in Moscow on suspicion of involvement with Islamic extremism. A statement from the Federal Security Agency reported by Russian news agencies said among those detained in the Friday action were 30 citizens of unspecified foreign countries.
Gang leader impregnated 4 prison guards while running contraband scheme, authorities say
A Maryland gang member is accused of running a scheme to smuggle contraband into prison by "corrupting" 13 female prison guards from behind bars, four of whom he impregnated.
Barack Obama warns Syria chemical arms a 'game changer'
US President Barack Obama has vowed a "vigorous investigation" into reports that Syria has used chemical weapons, warning they will be a "game changer" for US policy if proven true. Both the US and UK have pointed to emerging evidence that Syria has used weapons such as the nerve gas sarin.
Armed drones operated from RAF base in UK, says MoD
Armed drone aircraft have been operated remotely from Britain for the first time, the Ministry of Defence has said. It said Reaper drones had flown missions controlled from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, where campaign groups are expected to protest against the practice later.
NY police: Landing gear part found, is tied to 9/11
A piece believed to be from one of the airliners that hit the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001, has been found behind the site of an Islamic community center near ground zero, the New York Police Department said Friday.
Group tied to old guard could gain in Iraq unrest
As clashes this week raise fears of a destabilizing new eruption of sectarian fighting in Iraq, a shadowy militant group linked to the top fugitive from Saddam Hussein's regime could stand to gain by attracting new Sunni Muslim support.
North Korea says detained American tourist to face trial
North Korea said on Saturday a Korean-American tourist, jailed by the reclusive state since late last year, will face trial for "committing crimes" against the North, a move that could further stoke tensions with the United States.