FORT MEADE, MD. | U.S. Army Pfc. Bradley Manning was acquitted of aiding the enemy — the most serious charge he faced — but was convicted of espionage, theft and other charges Tuesday, more than three years after he spilled secrets to WikiLeaks. The judge, Army Col. Denise Lind, deliberated for about 16 hours over three days before reaching her decision in a case that drew worldwide attention as supporters hailed Manning as a whistleblower. The U.S. government called him an anarchist computer hacker and attention-seeking traitor. Manning stood at attention, flanked by his attorneys, as the judge read her verdicts. He appeared not to react, though his attorney, David Coombs, smiled faintly…
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NAIROBI, Kenya — Zimbabweans head to the polls today in presidential and parliamentary elections, but even before the ballots are cast, there are allegations of fraud that throw doubt over the legitimacy of the vote, and whether it will lead to a peaceful outcome. The country's 89-year-old autocrat, Robert Mugabe, who has ruled since independence from Great Britain in 1980, is seeking another five-year term. Critics and analysts allege that his loyalists have manipulated the voting process in myriad ways in an attempt to ensure victory. There are reports of “ghost voters” and hundreds of thousands of deceased people on the voter registration lists. Voters have complained about being…
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Thousands of supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi have defied a new warning from the military-backed cabinet and are continuing their sit-ins in the capital, Cairo. The country's interim leaders have ordered police to end ongoing protests at two sites in the city. But Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood said they had no option but to continue the month-long sit-ins. The United States has again urged Egypt to respect freedom of assembly. Pro-Morsi demonstrators want to see the Islamist leader reinstated. He was removed by the army on 3 July, after just one year in office. They have defied previous threats of removal, despite clashes with security forces that have left…
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Uruguay’s lower house of congress has voted 50-46 after 13 hours of passionate debate to create a legal marijuana industry in hopes of fighting organized crime. The plan now goes to the Senate, where passage is expected to make Uruguay the first country in the world to license and regulate the production, distribution and sale of marijuana for adult consumers. Ruling coalition lawmakers argued Wednesday that it’s worth trying because the global war on drugs has been a costly and bloody failure. Critics warn that marijuana is a gateway drug and that fostering this market is playing with fire. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below….
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The US army was overwhelmed when WikiLeaks published more than 700,000 secret diplomatic and war documents handed over by soldier Bradley Manning, a retired officer testified in the sentencing phase of the convicted private’s court-martial. “The ones that hit us in the face were the Iraq logs,” retired Brigadier General Robert Carr said in a Forte Meade, Maryland court on Wednesday, a day after a military judge found Manning guilty of 19 charges over the leaks in 2010, the…
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The former Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has his prison sentence for tax fraud confirmed by the country’s top court. The billionaire tycoon was told that his four-year sentence will was upheld, making it the first ever definitive conviction. However, three of the…
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CAIRO: Egypt’s interim government on Thursday urged supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi to return to their homes and end the sit-ins in Cairo, assuring them a safe exit if they do so peacefully. The military-backed government had on Wednesday ordered the…
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A highly anticipated summit between US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin could be hurt by Moscow’s decision to grant temporary asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, the White House signalled after weeks of pressuring for his return to face prosecution. “We are…
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CAIRO: Supporters of Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi urged fresh rallies on Friday, raising fears of renewed violence as police prepared to disperse them amid international appeals for restraint. The call came as US secretary of state John Kerry said the military’s removal in July of Morsi — Egypt’s first democratically elected president — had been requested by millions. In comments that will be seen in Egypt as supportive of the interim rulers, Kerry told Pakistan’s Geo television: “The military was asked to intervene by millions and millions of people, all of whom were afraid of a descendance into chaos, into violence.” “And the military did not take over, to the best of our…
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Iran's President-elect Hassan Rouhani on Friday called Israel a “wound” that needs to be “removed.” State media carried Mr. Rouhani's remarks at a…
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