10 Feb 11
Egypt's Mubarak is Out, Revolution Begins?
“Arrangements for himself and the family to leave the country have been carried out since the morning,”
Report: Mubarak Could Step Aside As Soon As Tonight & Delegate Powers To Vice President
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak could step aside as soon as tonight and delegate his powers to his new vice president, a senior member of the Egypt’s ruling party told Britain’s Channel 4 News minutes ago. Lindsey Hilsum, a Channel 4 News correspondent in Cairo, reported via Twitter that Hossam Badrawy, the new secretary-general of the Mubarak regime’s National Democratic Party, “just told me he expects President Mubarak to pass his powers to his vice president tonight,” in a televised address.
Pakistan tests cruise missile
The Pakistani army said Thursday that it has successfully tested a cruise missile, which carry nuclear warheads. An army statement said the indigenously developed Cruise Missile Hatf-VII (Babur) have a range of 600 kilometers.
Ghadafi: Mossad Behind Egyptian Unrest
Libyan leader Muamar Ghadafi said Thursday that agents of the Mossad Israel intelligence service were behind the latest anti-government unrest in Egypt. Colonel Ghadafi said he was standing beside Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and offered him any assistance he needs. He also criticized Sheikh Yussuf Al-Kardawi for inciting the Egyptian public against Mubarak, and criticized the Al-Jazeera television network. Ghadafi warned opposition leaders in his own country not to organize disturbances and attempt to ruin stability.
Yemen Terrorist Cell Seen as Top Threat to Attack U.S.
A terrorist cell in Yemen that tried to mail bombs disguised as printers to the U.S. last year poses the most risk of attacking American cities, a senior administration official testified today. As a result, the threat of terrorism remains at its highest level since the 9/11 attacks. The group known as al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula has surpassed Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida organization as being the most likely to pull off attacks inside the United States, Michael Leiter, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, told the House Homeland Security Committee.
Sudan is Libya’s largest debtor, document shows
Sudan owes more than $1 billion to Libya making it the country’s largest debtor, according to a document obtained by Reuters. it is not clear when Khartoum acquired that debt. According to the document, both countries held a meeting in 2009 to resolve the matter but it failed to reach an agreement on repaying the loans.
Islamic Revolution a symbol of change for entire world: Law maker
A Pakistani Parliamentarian and former minister on Thursday said that Iran’s Islamic Revolution has become a symbol of change for the entire world. Talking to IRNA with a reference to the 32nd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, Member of the National Assembly Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat of Pakistan Muslim League-Q described Iran’s Islamic Revolution as a biggest revolution of the twentieth century. “Revolution fulfilled peoples' aspirations and showed that politics and religion are interlinked”, he observed.
Report: Iran opposition leader under house arrest
The website of an Iranian opposition leaders said Thursday tht authorities have placed him under house arrest because of his calls for a rally in support of anti-government demonstrations in Egypt. Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi have asked for permission to hold a rally on Monday in support of uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
New Drilling Method Opens Vast U.S. Oil Fields
A new drilling technique is opening up vast fields of previously out-of-reach oil in the western United States, helping reverse a two-decade decline in domestic production of crude. Companies are investing billions of dollars to get at oil deposits scattered across North Dakota, Colorado, Texas and California.
U.S. Footing $100M Bill for U.N. Security Upgrade
That has created a new controversy: critics want to know why the U.S. is footing the entire bill, and why that money is not being credited against U.S. dues for the following year.
Grilling to get tough over 'gays' in ranks
Rep. Joe Wilson, the new GOP chairman of the military personnel panel of the House Armed Services Committee, has talked about holding hearings to look at the Pentagon's plan to implement a "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender" law for the nation's military.
Vatican Says iPhone App Can't Forgive Sins
The Vatican is warning Catholics that it is impossible to confess sins via a smart phone after a U.S. company launched an app designed to prepare the faithful for absolution.
Furor over Arabic program at Texas school
A Texas school district put the brakes on an Arabic language program after an angry backlash from parents made national headlines. The Mansfield school district issued a statement contradicting media reports that it was planning "mandatory Arabic classes." "Recent concerns have been raised by parents concerning plans for the curriculum," the district said.
Congress wary of Muslim Brotherhood role in Egypt
Members of Congress warned about the risk posed by the Muslim Brotherhood’s participation in a new Egyptian government Wednesday and scolded the Obama administration for suggesting an openness to the Islamic group having some role in its composition. “The Muslim Brotherhood had nothing to do with driving these protests, and they and other extremists must not be allowed to hijack the movement toward democracy and freedom in Egypt,” declared Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, at the start of a hearing Wednesday.
Clinton pledges commitment to Israel's security
At the end of meetings held between Defense Minister Ehud Barak, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other senior US officials in Washington DC, the White House announced Wednesday that the US will continue its "unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security, including through our continued support for Israel’s military and the unprecedented security cooperation between our two governments".
Report: Hackers in China hit Western oil companies
Hackers operating from China stole sensitive information from Western oil companies, a U.S. security firm reported Thursday, adding to complaints about pervasive Internet crime traced to the country. The report by McAfee Inc. did not identify the companies but said the "coordinated, covert and targeted" attacks began in November 2009 and targeted computers of oil and gas companies in the United States, Taiwan, Greece and Kazakhstan. It said the attackers stole information on operations, bidding for oil fields and financing.
Pakistan appears to be expanding nuclear site, says U.S. think tank
Pakistan appears to be building a fourth military nuclear reactor, signaling its determination to produce more plutonium for atomic weapons, a U.S.-based think-tank said. The report came as India and Pakistan agreed to resume peace talks that were broken off by New Delhi after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, a move that should help ease tensions in the volatile region.
CDC: Deadly Superbug “C-Diff” Spreading
...According to the Centers for Disease Control, C-Diff kills thousands of people every year and that number is growing. “It’s between three and six-fold more common than it was just ten years ago,” explained Dr. Rocco Riccardi of Lahey Clinic. Antibiotics are the standard treatment, but that doesn’t always work. “In that situation, one can get very, very sick and have to have their colon removed,” Riccardi said.
Jordan's king swears in new cabinet after protests
King Abdullah of Jordan has sworn in a new cabinet after nationwide protests inspired by those in Tunisia and Egypt. Last week, the king sacked PM Samir Rifai over the slow pace of reform and appointed Marouf al-Bakhit, a former army general and ambassador to Israel. The new 26-member cabinet includes an Islamist and five leftists.
North Korea rejects new talks with 'sinister' South
North Korea has announced that no new talks are possible with South Korea. A North Korean military statement blamed South Korea for "sinister" motives and for the collapse of preliminary military discussions. The talks at the border village of Panmunjom were the first since the North shelled a South Korean island in November, killing four people.
Janet Napolitano: US terror threat highest since 9/11
The threat of terrorism against the US homeland is in some aspects "at its most heightened state" since the 9/11 attacks, US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has said. "The terrorist threat facing our country has evolved significantly," she told members of Congress. The US faced new threats by groups already inside the country, inspired by al-Qaeda, she said.
Egypt foreign minister criticises US calls for change
Egypt's foreign minister has rebuffed calls from Washington to speed up the pace of political reform. Rejecting a US demand to lift a state of emergency, Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Washington should not "impose" its will on "a great country". Many thousands of Egyptians have been protesting since 25 January calling for President Hosni Mubarak to step down.
Nation-wide drill simulates terrorism, public disturbances
The Israel Police has launched a nation-wide security drill simulating terrorist attacks and large-scale public disturbances. The exercise is aimed at testing ground units' first responses to various emergency incidents, police said. Police are drilling their responses in unpopulated areas to prevent disruption to the public, though heavy police traffic and sirens will be apparent in some areas, police added.
'Saudi Arabia: We'll support Egypt if US cuts aid'
US President Barack Obama spoke with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia Wednesday to discuss events in Egypt. The Saudi King reportedly said that in the case that the United States withdraws its financial support of Cairo, that his kingdom would prop up Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's regime, The Times reported. According to the report, the Saudi king told Obama not to push Mubarak too hard, so as not to humiliate him amid the ongoing protests demanding his ouster.
