Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Afghanistan

U.S. Judge Orders Government To Identify Guantanamo Detainees

The U.S. detention camp at Guantanamo Bay (file photo) (AFP)

24 February 2006 -- A federal judge in the United States has ordered the U.S. Defense Department to release the
identities of hundreds of detainees at Guantanamo Bay by 3 March.

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February 24, 2006

U.S. authorities are currently holding about 500 prisoners at Guantanamo on suspicion of links to Al-Qaeda or the Taliban. Most have been held without charge, prompting complaints from human rights groups. Only a handful have been officially identified. The Associated Press filed a lawsuit to have the names made public.

Judge Jed Rakoff ordered the Pentagon to release uncensored transcripts of detainee hearings. The transcripts contain the names of detainees in custody and those who have been held and later released.

Rakoff rejected government arguments that detainees' names should be kept secret to protect their privacy and their families, friends, and associates from embarrassment or retaliation.

(AP)

A vendor in the central Bosnian town of Zenica sells heart-shaped cushions with proclamations of love for 1 euro each.

Love It (Or Hate It), It's Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, the Western holiday celebrating love, has become a global phenomenon over the past two decades. The fall of communism and the emergence of the Internet have helped February 14 become something of an unofficial international day of romance. However, not all the passions the holiday stirs are related to love. While some countries have openly embraced the holiday, others are attempting to ban it or replace it with local customs. More

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In Pakistan, Cleaner Fuel Powers Supply, Safety Issues

Rising fuel prices have pushed Pakistan to become a global leader in using compressed natural gas (CNG) to fuel vehicles. More

Family members of missing Baluchs, mostly political activists, rally in protest on the eve of international Human Rights Day in Quetta, Balochistan, on December 10, 2011.

U.S. Hearing On Balochistan Raises Hackles, Awareness

The U.S. Congressional hearing last week on Balochistan, the largest of Pakistan's four provinces, though it was firmly rejected by Islamabad, is being seen in Pakistan as any eye-opener for the state and its security agencies. More