Alleged Leaks source faces death penalty

WASHIGNTON: Bradley Manning, the alleged source of the WikiLeaks US cables is facing 22 additional criminal charges. While the US government seem unwilling or unable to get their hands on Julian Assange at this stage, the man who allegedly released the initial leaks is now facing the death penalty.

Manning was first charged in July 2010, after he was allegedly discovered obtaining over 150,000 diplomatic cables and sending a military video to an unauthorised person. He is now in a military jail outside of Washinton, D.C, and with these new charges he doesn’t look like leaving any time soon.

The most serious of the new charges is an allegation of aiding the enemy, a crime that is punishable by death. In the description of this charge, the term “enemy” is not only defined as an opposing force, but any “hostile body”, a vague term that includes “civilians as well as members of military organizations.”

There is no mention at all of WikiLeaks or Julian Assange in the charge sheet, which is “not surprising since the Justice Department has opened an espionage case against Assange and would not want to give away any details of its investigation until it’s completed.” said CBS national security correspondent David Martin.

Manning was discovered partly due to a tip-off from Adrian Lamo, a hacker who pleaded guilty to breaking into the New York Times’ computer network in 2004. Lamo has said he considers Manning to be a spy, but doesn’t expect him to be put to death.

Manning is now being kept in solitary confinement, with heavily restricted activities and minimal human contact. He has made a complaint about his conditions, part of which reads “I sit in my cell for 24 hours a day. I am stripped of all clothing with the exception of my underwear. My prescription eyeglasses are taken away from me. I am forced to sit in essential blindness…Additionally, there is a guard sitting outside of my cell watching me at all times.”(AFP)

Peshawar: US Consulate General left the charge and returned

US Consulate General in Peshawar Elizabeth Rood departed for US after leaving the charge. She left the charge of Consulate General on Tuesday.

According to spokesman of US Consulate Jonathan De Sabra, Elizabeth mentioned in her letter that she was leaving charge in Peshawar due to her personal and domestic problems and she will now report in State Department, Washington. Elizabeth Rood was appointed as Consulate General in Peshawar in July 2010. She was able to speak languages such as Pushto, French, Russian and German fluently. Earlier to her appointment in Peshawar, she was working with the Foreign Service institute. In 2008-2009, she also served as a US representative for US provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan.

APML to issue anti-Nawaz charge sheet

Staff Report

LAHORE: The All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), in a tit-for-tat move, has decided to issue a 20-point charge sheet against PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif.

On October 12, PML-N had issued a charge-sheet against former president Pervez Musharraf who had toppled its government 11 years ago on October 12, and called upon the government to bring him back to the country through Interpol to try him for his “misdeeds.”

According to sources, the anti-Nawaz charge sheet will contain allegations of financial and administrative mismanagement, nepotism, written-off loans and foreign properties.

Speaking to Trend Pk, APML leader Dr. Sher Afgan Niazi said that the charge sheet would highlight only those cases that had already been proven and that it would expose the real face of Nawaz Sharif. Trend Pk

Federer breezes past Soderling into semi-finals

NEW YORK: Roger Federer won a measure of revenge and a return to the U.S. Open semi-finals as he beat fifth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling 6-4 6-4 7-5 on Wednesday to book his place in the last four for a seventh successive time.

Federer, showing the all-round brilliance that has won him a record 16 grand slam titles, refused to let gusty winds at Arthur Ashe Stadium slow down his charge as he routed Soderling, who had eliminated him in the quarter-finals at this year’s French Open.

The 29-year-old Swiss, whose string of five consecutive U.S. Open titles was snapped in last year’s final, commanded his serve with power and precision through the adverse conditions to quash Soderling in just under two hours.

Federer demoralised the big-hitting Swede, who was runner-up at the last two French Opens, by firing in 18 aces, while Soderling could only muster two as he

Sindh Chief Secretary Fazal-ur-Rehman retires

Staff Report

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Secretary Fazl-ur Rehman has been retired, SAMAA reported on Tuesday.

Fazal was a prominent chief secretary and he played an important role in the management of the province and implementing government’s policies accordingly.

After the retirement of Fazal-ur-Rehman from his post,Ghulam Ali Pasha, a senior official, has taken the charge of Sindh Chief Secretary. SAMAA

ICC Slaps 2-match Ban on Shahid Afridi

PERTH: Pakistan T20 skipper Shahid Afridi is set to miss the only Twenty20 clash with Australia after he was banned for two Twenty20 matches on Sunday.

The International Cricket Council found Afridi guilty of tampering the bill during the final one-day international against Australia.

Afridi admitted the charge, after which the match referee put a two Twenty20 matches ban on him.

Watch Live Cricket

Coach Inftikhab Alam described the ban as ‘unfortunate’.

It may be reminded here that Shahid Afridi was seen tampering the ball with his teeth during the final ODI match.

---

ICC Slaps 2-match Ban on Shahid Afridi was first posted on January 31, 2010 at 7:37 pm.

Dilshan Leads Sri Lanka’s Charge Against India

Dilshan Leads Sri Lanka’s Charge Against India, Tillakaratne Dilshan smashed his fifth century of the year as Sri Lanka made a spirited reply in the first Test against India on Tuesday.

Watch Live Cricket

Dilshan hit 112, his 10th Test hundred, as Sri Lanka cruised to 275-3 by stumps on the second day in reply to India’s first innings total of 426. The right-hander put on 74 for the first wicket with Tharanga Paranavitana (35) and 115 for the second with skipper Kumar Sangakkara, who made 31. Former captain Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera built on the good start by adding 81 for the unbroken fourth wicket before stumps were drawn for the day. Jayawardene was unbeaten on 36 and Samaraweera was on 45 with Sri Lanka 151 runs behind India with seven wickets in hand. Sri Lanka, who were comfortably placed at 189-1 soon after tea, lost Dilshan and Sangakkara in successive overs from Indian pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, to slip to 194-3. The left-arm seamer had Dilshan top-edging an intended pull to Rahul Dravid at gully, before Sangakkara hooked Zaheer to fine-leg, where Sachin Tendulkar took a well-judged catch. India, who earlier resumed at Monday’s score of 385-6, lost their last four wickets for 41 runs and were all out soon after the first drinks break.

Watch Live Cricket

---

Dilshan Leads Sri Lanka’s Charge Against India was first posted on November 17, 2009 at 10:08 pm.