Video - Arrest of burqa-wearing woman in AbuDhabi who stabbed American mom, Ibolya Ryan 37 to death

Woman in burqa and two accomplices kill 10 in suicide attack in Afghanistan.

Woman in burqa and two accomplices kill 10 in suicide attack in Afghanistan.(DailyMail).A suicide bomber led police on a chase in the middle of rush-hour traffic before blowing the vehicle up outside a government building in Afghanistan this morning. The blast outside a government office, in Herat province, has killed at least 10 people and wounded nearly 30 others. The explosion seemed aimed at killing people waiting at the gate of a district headquarters building, as people were waiting to go inside to see government officials about various business matters. Two men and a woman wearing a burqa were found dead inside the vehicle, but officials could not say which of the three occupants detonated the explosives.Raouf Ahmedi, a spokesman for the police commander of the western region of Afghanistan, said police in the area had received a tip that the black four-wheel-drive vehicle was loaded with explosives. Ahmedi said: 'They were chasing the car and tried to stop it. 'The vehicle then turned toward the district headquarters building and tried to pass the checkpoint, but police stopped them to be searched and asked where they were going.' Moments later the vehicle exploded, causing a loud boom that could be heard a few miles away. Ahmedi said 10 people were killed - three policemen who were guarding the district building and seven civilians. He said twenty-seven others were wounded, including children.Nasar Ahmad Popul, the chief of the province's Guzara district who was inside the headquarters at the time of the blast, said: 'The explosion was so strong - there are casualties among police and civilians.' The Afghan Ministry of Interior said 11 people were killed and 22 were wounded. Different casualty tolls are common in the immediate aftermath of big bombings. Barriers at the blast site were blackened and investigators examined charred remains of what was left of the vehicle. Read the full story here, warning contains graphic images.

MFS - The Other News

                        Morning Posting.

• Live broadcast info from Japan directly ! Here.

• Libya Live Blog - April 10. Here .(Al-Jazeera).

• Middle East Live Blog April 10 here .(Al-Jazeera)

• Updated !Earthquakes in the last 24 hours in the world increased seismic activity in Turkey  today. More info here.

• Japan - Latest official Situation Update No. 81.On 10.04.2011 at 03:52 GMT+2 .

Residents are temporarily returning to the government-designated evacuation zone near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to collect belongings needed for their new lives elsewhere, despite the radiation risk. An elderly couple living within the zone, meanwhile, said they noticed increased vehicle traffic since the start of April and lights turned on at some homes in the neighborhood. Due to radiation fears after the March 11 quake and tsunami smashed the nuclear power plant, the Japanese government has asked people within 20 kilometers of the nuclear plant to evacuate and those in the 20-30 km ring to stay indoors or "voluntarily leave" the area, where it is getting difficult to live a normal life due to a lack of goods and services. The city of Minamisoma, part of which straddles both zones, is planning to start schools near the outside of these designated areas, as local officials say residents are beginning to return to the 20-30 km ring zone. One of those who recently made a return trip to the 20-km evacuation zone is a 44-year-old company employee who has been taking shelter in Tochigi Prefecture. "Even if I want to start a new life, I just don't have money and get no support from the authorities," he said. "There was no other option."

The man, from Namie, about 7 kilometers from the plant, said he started the trip by car Tuesday night together with a sister and a cousin, both from Futaba town, next to Namie. Just before entering the evacuation zone Wednesday morning, they wore two layers of raincoats, gloves, masks and shoes covered with plastic bags. After dropping the sister and the cousin in Futaba, 4 km from the plant, he entered Namie. "It was bizarre. So quiet and eerie," he said. No one was seen in the town where he used to live. Tsunami-damaged buildings were left untouched, he said. He said he just picked up his health insurance card, TV, suits, some clothes and shoes along with a photo album. He said he saw several other cars carrying household items like his on his way to pick up his relatives He returned to his shelter at around 9 p.m. Wednesday, feeling exhausted. He said he was relieved radiation screening after the trip turned out to be negative.

According to Fukushima Prefecture, traffic is restricted at the 20 km boundary on major roads manned by police officers who urge people to keep out, but have no legal binding power attached to the government's evacuation directive. Many people have been reentering the zone through back roads, according to prefectural officials. The elderly couple, living around 19 km north of Fukushima Daiichi in Minamisoma city, told Kyodo News over the phone that they have electricity and can get water from a well. "Nothing has changed in town but people are gone." The woman, 67, was working in Tokyo on March 11, while her 75-year-old partner was at home in Minamisoma with his six horses. His home was designated part of the evacuation zone on the night of March 12. The man evacuated at first, but after meeting up with his partner in Tokyo, they decided to return on March 18, although they "feared radiation," they said. The man said they went outdoors on March 24 and saw police officers in protective gear patrolling. After one week, he started to see animal welfare groups in the town where pet dogs were left unattended and felt less threatened by radiation and wondered about the significance of the 20 km zoning.

From April 1 on, car traffic increased and lights were turned on in some homes in the neighborhood, he said. Life is inconvenient for them, nonetheless. Gas supplies have been halted. They have to go once every week for grocery shopping at a super market 20 km away by car. The town hospital remains closed. On April 6, they underwent radiation screening that showed they were both negative. At home they do not even wear masks, they said, adding that they had noticed people returning. The Minamisoma city government is planning to resume school for primary and middle school pupils in late April, officials said Saturday. People are returning to the 20-30 km zone even though the government recommends people leave voluntarily, they said. Of the zone's roughly 6,000 pupils, around 1,700 are currently staying in the zone or near it. Many school buildings in the city have been damaged by the quake and are not ready for reopening even after Wednesday, which was supposed to be the starting day for the new school year. The city is planning to use four school buildings confirmed safe just outside the ring zone. In order to reduce pupils' exposure to the air when they come to school and go home, the city is planning to run school buses. While the central government is considering designating the 20-30 km ring an evacuation zone, a city official said of their schooling plan, "It is a desperate measure to provide children with chances to learn and is not intended to call citizens back to the city."

• Japan - Onagawa plant in Miyagi prefecture. Situation Update No. 1
Here .

• Egypt: Army crackdown in Cairo's Tahrir Square.Egypt's army has cracked down on protests in Cairo's symbolic Tahrir Square, leaving at least one person dead and dozens injured.The violence occurred overnight as the army tried to clear protesters calling for ex-President Hosni Mubarak and his family to be tried for corruption.The injured suffered gunshot wounds but the army denies using live rounds.Tahrir Square became the symbolic centre of protests that led to Mr Mubarak stepping down this year.Egypt's health ministry has so far confirmed that one person died overnight and says 71 people were hurt.Medical sources told news agencies that at least two people had died.Protesters have now returned to the square following the army withdrawal and are continuing demonstrations.In an apparent concession to the protesters the ruling military council announced on Saturday that it would replace a number of provincial governors appointed by Mr Mubarak - another demand of the demonstrators.However, the army also said it was "ready" to use force to clear the square and allow normal life to resume."Tahrir Square will be emptied of protesters with firmness and force to ensure life goes back to normal," Major General Adel Emarah, of the military council, told a news conference.The army had maintained a generally neutral role in the earlier mass demonstrations.But about 300 troops moved into the square at about 0300 local time (0100 GMT) on Saturday to break up a camp in the centre.Protesters say they were beaten with clubs and shots were fired.An army spokesman told Reuters news agency that only blanks were used.Three vehicles, two of them military, were set on fire during the unrest.The protesters were demanding a number of measures, including the resignation of the man who has replaced Mr Mubarak as interim leader, Field Marshal Mohamad Hussein Tantawi."Tantawi is Mubarak and Mubarak is Tantawi," they chanted.The military force finally withdrew and protesters began to reoccupy the square in daylight.Read and see the full story here.

• Is the president off his meds?ABC News reported that the president stopped his motorcade, got out and ran up the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial to greet tourists.From ABC News, President Obama told them: “Because Congress was able to settle its differences that’s why this place is open today and everybody’s able to enjoy their visit. And that’s the kind of future cooperation I hope we have going forward ‘cause this is what America is all about — everybody from different places enjoying those things that bind us together.”Had a Democratic Congress passed the budget in September, the issue never would have been raised.From Lucianne Goldberg: “Mildly troubling behavior.”But the ABC News report may have mistaken a planned event for spontaneity.From Carol Lee of the Wall Street Journal: “President Barack Obama played tourist Saturday afternoon in what looked a lot like a retail campaign stop at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.”Well, that’s a relief. When he starts talking to Lincoln’s picture, I’ll worry.Hmmmm.....I would call it also a 'worrying' behaviour.Read the full story here.

• WWIII to be launched?Arab League wants Gaza no-fly zone.Amr Mussa to ask UN that same sanction imposed on Libya be implemented against Israel. Meanwhile, Turkey strongly condemns 'excessive and disproportionate reprisals of Israel that have injured and killed civilians'.Arab League Chief Amr Mussa said Sunday that the organization would ask the United Nations Security Council to impose a no-fly zone over Gaza, which Israel has pounded with air strikes in response to rocket fire.Turkey on Sunday denounced what it termed Israel's "excessive and disproportionate" strikes on Gaza in retaliation for a Palestinian antitank missile attack last week. "We strongly condemn the excessive and disproportionate reprisals of Israel that have injured and killed civilians in Gaza," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement urging Israel to employ good sense and moderation. "The region cannot be allowed to enter into a new spiral of violence," it added.Relations between Israel and Turkey, once close allies, have sharply deteriorated in recent years amid Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's frequent outbursts against Israeli policies towards the Palestinians.Hmmmm.....Turkey ...Iran's henchman together with Hamas "Axes of evil"anyone?Read the full story here.

• Obama to recall US troops from Europe.President Barack Obama has decided to reduce the US military’s permanent presence in Europe, in a move that goes some of the way towards enacting long-delayed Bush-era cuts.In a press release sent out late on Friday, the Pentagon said the number of brigade combat teams in the continent – which normally count for 4,000 soldiers each – would come down from four to three in 2015. That is the year when forces in Afghanistan are supposed to take the lead from Nato in the war in their country, where many of the troops from the BCTs have been deployed.Although the army said it had not yet decided which unit would be pulled out of Europe, it is likely to be one of two based in Germany – the 170th Brigade Combat Team in Baumholder or the 172nd Infantry Brigade based in Grafenwoehr.It comes despite congressional testimony last year from James Stavridis, the admiral who commands US forces in Europe, who said the four BCTs were “critical” to US interests. Richard Lugar, the senior Republican senator, has also questioned the administration’s plans, arguing in a recent letter to the Pentagon that the US’s “forward deployed military presence in Europe remains a principal manifestation of America’s ... commitment to Nato allies, especially at a time when many Nato allies have questioned US engagement on the European continent”.The decision continues a US drawdown from the continent that has seen a force of 300,000 during the cold war fall to fewer than 80,000 today. It also fits in with Mr Obama’s argument that the country’s allies should take greater responsibility for regional security, as in the case of the Nato operation in Libya.Read the full story here.

• US criticizes 'human rights violations' in Turkey.Unlawful killings, poor prison conditions, excessively long trials and limits on freedom of expression are among the alleged human-rights violations in Turkey that the U.S. State Department denounced in a recent report.“Security forces committed unlawful killings; the number of arrests and prosecutions in these cases was low compared to the number of incidents, and convictions remained rare,” the State Department said late Friday in the section devoted to Turkey in its annual report on the status of human rights throughout the world.U.S. officials also commented on the recent arrests of Turkish journalists, which came too late to be included in this report, saying they would be monitored and addressed in next year’s survey.“During the year human-rights organizations reported cases of torture, beatings and abuse by security forces. Prison conditions improved but remained poor, with overcrowding and insufficient staff training,” the State Department said in its 2010 human-rights report.“The overly close relationship between judges and prosecutors continued to hinder the right to a fair trial. Excessively long trials were a problem. The government limited freedom of expression through the use of constitutional restrictions and numerous laws,” the State Department said.“Press freedom declined during the year. There were limitations on Internet freedom. Courts and an independent board ordered telecommunications providers to block access to Web sites on numerous occasions,” it said in the report. “Violence against women, including honor killings and rape, remained a widespread problem.”Hmmmm.....Erdogan ...Obama's favorite 'ally'.Read the full story here.

• HT:IsraelMatzav.Can the US own an organization that does Shari'a financing?It's been nearly 30 years since I had a Constitutional Law class, but I would have thought this case would be a slam dunk.Three years ago, the United States bought a controlling interest in AIG Group because it was 'too big to fail.'AIG has a subsidiary that conducts Shari'a finance. Shari'a finance requires that a certain percentage of the subsidiary's operating revenues be donated to Islamic-approved charities. Some of those charities may support jihad, which means the conduct of 'holy war' against 'infidels' (i.e. non-Muslims).In order to determine which charities are Islamic-approved, AIG's subsidiary must employ Shari'a law experts (Islamic religious authorities) who act as the determiners of what is Islamic-law approved and what is not.The United States has a clause in the first amendment to the constitution that prohibits Congress from making any law with respect to the establishment of religion. The establishment clause has generally been interpreted to prohibit

 1) the establishment of a national religion by Congress, or

 2) the preference by the U.S. government of one religion over another. The first approach is called the "separation" or "no aid" interpretation, while the second approach is called the "non-preferential" or "accommodation" interpretation. The accommodation interpretation prohibits Congress from preferring one religion over another, but does not prohibit the government's entry into religious domain to make accommodations in order to achieve the purposes of the Free Exercise Clause.Can the US government via AIG hire Islamic scholars to decide to which Islamic charities donations may be made? I would think not.Read the full story here.

• HT:Debka. Breach between U.S. and Saudi Arabia deepens.The recent visit by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates to Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah failed in its attempt to improve Saudi-US relations.What triggered the visit was word that the Saudis were cancelling a $60 billion order for American military hardware, and that they plan to shop elsewhere for lower prices, possibly from China or Russia.Relations between King Abdullah and President Barack Obama have been cold ever since Obama turned his back on former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Abdullah was furious that Obama had thrown Mubarak under the bus so quickly, and has not forgiven him yet.According to the newsletter:“Abdullah was harshly critical of the US presidential advisers’ counsel to the White House to withhold endorsement from Saudi military intervention in Bahrain.As long as Washington hopes to topple the Bahraini and Saudi kingdoms by promoting pro-democracy revolutions on the Egyptian pattern, why would you expect the Persian Gulf rulers to support America and treat it as an ally? he asked the US defense secretary. …King Abdullah explained that once he had realized the Obama administration had no intention of acting in consideration of the security interests of the Saudi and Gulf nations, he resolved to take their affairs into his own hands. He said he now feels free to do what he thinks necessary to advance those interests without resorting to – or even consulting with – Washington.Gates confirmed that the US did have “evidence” of Iranian meddling in the turmoil besetting Bahrain and other Middle Eastern countries, refuting the Obama administration’s public statements denying Iran was a primary factor. But this admission most probably came too late. Abdullah has set his course on a new policy that distances the kingdom from the United States. Even though Gates disagrees with Obama on the Middle East – and especially on military intervention in Libya – the Saudi monarch knows that his time is almost up at the Pentagon.”These events are consistent with the expectation that China, Pakistan and the Sunni Muslim countries will be opposed to America, India and Russia in the coming Clash of Civilizations world war.Hmmmm......How much more damage can he do to the American industry?Read the full story here.

• Merkel: We will oppose ‘unilateral’ Palestinian statehood.BERLIN – German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday voiced her government’s opposition to a possible United Nations resolution creating an independent Palestinian state. “The Federal Republic of Germany is championing a two-state solution...Any kind of unilateral recognition does not promote this goal. This will be our position in September,” she said, during a joint press conference here with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.The Palestinian Authority is intensely lobbying the United Nations General Assembly to bypass direct Israel-Palestinian talks and recognize a Palestinian state with a UN resolution in September.After media reports about a diplomatic row in February between Netanyahu and Merkel over the peace process, both leaders showed no signs of frosty relations during their meetings.“When I talk to the prime minister, I am never put out, never irritated, “ said Merkel, continuing: [Our conversations are] “close, very candid...They are fun. Apart from being fun, they are allowing us to make progress.”She added that the strains reported in the media in February are “not a realistic portrayal of what happened” and noted that the German-Israeli relationship is “very intense and close.”Merkel reportedly accused Netanyahu then of not advancing the peace progress. According to media reports in February, Netanyahu complained to Merkel about Germany’s vote against Israel at the UN Security Council, condemning Israeli settlement construction in the disputed territories.However, Netanyahu said on Thursday the talks were “candid and open.... We consider Germany and you [Merkel] a great friend of Germany, a great champion of Israel’s security.”Merkel also stressed the importance, to her administration, of the “well-being of the State of Israel.”Iran’s drive to obtain nuclear weapons – and the lethal repression of the prodemocracy movement in the Islamic Republic – were core themes of both leaders’ statements.Merkel said Iran’s nuclear program is “more than ever a threat. Everything has to be done to prevent Iran from possessing nuclear weapons.”Netanyahu said “Tehran thinks they are immune,” and the Iranian regime must be held responsible “for the brutality to its own people... We would like to see the rest of the countries in this vast region move toward democracy.”He said he hoped the changes would lead to a democratic revolution, as in 1989 in Eastern Europe, not like the 1979 revolution that ushered in the Islamic Republic of Iran.He stressed that it is important that the changes in the Mideast region “move toward progress and modernity and not toward medievalism and theocracy.”Israel’s wish to obtain a sixth Dolphin submarine at a reduced fee from Germany was raised, and Merkel said Israel’s “comprehensive security situation” was discussed.She did not elaborate on whether Germany will sell Israel a sixth vessel.The attempts of German mediator and intelligence agent Gerhard Conrad to secure the release of Gilad Schalit from his Hamas captors was raised. Responding to Hamas’s rejection of the last offer from Conrad, Merkel said, “We have only one hope – that Gilad Schalit will be released. I wish his family and relatives nothing but the best. I met with them.”Merkel repeatedly stressed the significance of a two-state solution, placing emphasis on the “Jewish state of Israel and a Palestinian state” coexisting in a stable Mideast region. The “standstill needs to be overcome” and the “aim is the two-state solution".Hmmmm.....Lets hope she doesn't change her mind after the planned Obama dinner?Read the full story here.

• HT:Aina.Iraqi Cleric Warns of Violence If U.S. Troops Don't Go.BAGHDAD (Reuters) -- Iraq's fiery anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr will "escalate military resistance" and unleash his Mehdi Army militia if U.S. troops fail to leave Iraq as scheduled this year, his aides said on Saturday.On the 8th anniversary of the day U.S. forces toppled Saddam Hussein's statue in Baghdad, senior Sadr aide Hazem al-Araji told tens of thousands of followers: "We say to the Black House (White House), 'we are all time bombs and the detonators are at the hands of Moqtada al-Sadr.' American troops must definitely leave our lands."Men, women and children -- many waving Iraq's black, white and red flag or singing songs -- gathered in Baghdad's Mustansiriya square to mark the occasion. The mood was festive, and vendors milled around, selling ice cream, water and juice.Some of the followers carried signs reading "Occupiers Out" and "No to America." Others burned U.S., Israeli and British flags, or draped white funeral shrouds over their shoulders -- signifying they were willing to die for their beliefs.As the crowd cheered wildly, spokesman Salah al-Ubaidi read out a speech from the influential Shi'ite cleric, warning an extension of the U.S. "occupation" would have two consequences.

"First, the escalation of military resistance work and the withdrawal of the order freezing the Mehdi Army, in a new statement issued later. Second, escalation of peaceful and public resistance through sit-ins and protests, to say that the people want the exit of the occupation," he said.Sadr is currently in Iran, a source close to him said.The warning came after visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates pressed the Iraqi government to decide if it wanted U.S. troops to stay on and help fend off a festering insurgency.Ali Mohammed, a 39-year-old government employee at the protest who had wrapped an Iraqi flag around his head, said a delayed withdrawal would trigger extraordinary violence."They must understand that our resistance now is peaceful, but it will turn into actions beyond imagination," he said.Hmmmm......Iraq a Great 'succes'.Read the full story here.

• Saudi Arabia: Where the public display of bibles can lead to arrest.26 million people live in Saudi Arabia. Over 95% are Muslim and Christians make up a little more than 3% of the total population. In Saudi Arabia the practice of any other religion except fundamentalist Sunni Islam is forbidden; prohibition of professing any other religion than Islam is grounded on the belief that Saudi Arabia is holy ground. Temples, churches, pagodas are prohibited, as well as public displays of religious objects and private religious gatherings. The following is an interview with Prof. Camille Eid, journalist, author, professor at the University of Milan and expert on the Middle Eastern Churches.

You have 5000 religious police divided among 100 districts, but any Muslim can enforce the law by denouncing the individual. I spent two and half years in Jeddah; I was afraid to extend the Easter and Christmas greetings even via phone because I was afraid that someone might be listening. The religious police control everything including the bookshops because it is prohibited to sell any card with non-Muslim themes. Some years ago in the American school, a Santa Clause was almost arrested but he managed to escape through a window. It is prohibited.We have talked about discrimination. We have talked about persecution. How far can this persecution go?

To death. We have a case of the martyrdom of a Saudi girl who converted to Christianity. Her brother discovered her. She wrote a poem to Christ and she had her tongue cut, she disappeared and was later found dead. Her name was Fatima Al-Mutairi and this happened in August of 2008. In 2008 two cases of raids by the religious police saw men, women and children less than 3 years old arrested. We have many reports of torture; before they are deported to their country these Filipinos, Indians and Eritreans are tortured by the police in the prisons.Hmmmm....."The religion of Peace".Read the full story here.

• Kuwait - US, Canadian teachers held after fight.Kuwaiti police arrested two US and Canadian school teachers after a bloody fist fight at a teachers housing complex in the capital, a newspaper said on Sunday.The Canadian teacher attacked the US man following an argument with the Ethiopian wife of the unnamed Canadian in Shuwaikh area in Kuwait City on Saturday, Alqabas Arabic language daily said.“It was a bloody fist fight, after which police arrested the two...police are now awaiting medical reports to assess damage before trying the two.”Source.

• 61 Arrested At Paris Rally Against French Full-Face Veil Ban.PARIS (AP) – Police on Saturday arrested 61 people — including 19 women — for attempting to hold an outlawed Paris protest against France’s pending ban on face-covering Islamic veils, a top police official said.Fifty-nine people were detained while trying to demonstrate at Place de la Nation in eastern Paris, as were two others while traveling there from Britain and Belgium, said Nicolas Lerner, chief of staff for the Paris police chief.The arrests come amid in a rising, if small, groundswell of controversy over Monday’s start of an official ban of garments that hide the face, which includes Muslim veils such as the slit-eyed niqab and the full face-covering burqa.Women who disobey the law risk a fine, special classes and a police record.The demonstrators rallied in defiance of a ban of the protest ordered Friday by Paris police on the ground that a Muslim group’s call for the rally was “clearly an incitement to violence and racial hatred,” said Lerner.“The demonstration was not banned because of the practice (among some Muslim women) of wearing veils, but because of the speech,” he said, adding that Jewish groups and others had planned counter-protests — raising the prospect of public disorder.Most of the would-be protesters were released after being taken to police stations, though six remained in custody — mostly on suspicion of being in France illegally, Lerner said.The two would-be protesters who had tried to arrive from Britain and Belgium were known to French authorities. Police were under existing orders to stop and expel them, if they tried to reach France, Lerner said.Lerner identified the man who had traveled from Britain as Anjem Choudary, the head of Islam4UK until it was banned earlier this year by Britain’s government for glorifying al-Qaida. Several people associated with the group have been linked to terrorist acts.The protest was called by a group known as Unicite Tawhib, which has been linked to Internet sites that call for Islam to dominate France and the world, Lerner said.Hmmmm.......The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, head of Al-Azhar, the highest seat of learning in the Sunni world.“The niqab is a tradition and has nothing to do with Islam,” said Sheikh Tantawi.Read the full story here.More here .