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New US commander takes charge of Mideast forces

March 22, 2013 13:00
An Army general who oversaw the US withdrawal from Iraq assumed command in the Middle East Friday, succeeding an officer who had clashed with the White House over handling tensions with Iran. General Lloyd Austin, 59, who will oversee the pullout of US troops from Afghanistan in 2014, took the reins of the military's powerful Central Command in a ceremony in Tampa, Florida, succeeding General James Mattis, a blunt-speaking Marine who served in three wars.

US jihadi ponders $5mn bounty: how much for my left leg?

March 22, 2013 04:30
A US extremist fighting with Islamist militants in Somalia on Friday brushed off a $5 million bounty offered by the State Department, jokingly asking how much he could get for his left leg. Alabama-born Omar Hamami -- better known as Al-Amriki or "the American" -- is in Somalia, where he has fought with the Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents. On Wednesday the US State Department's Rewards for Justice program offered the sizable reward for his arrest.

Pentagon to review "drone" medal

March 12, 2013 20:31
Washington, Mar 12 (EFE).- U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Tuesday decided to review the criteria for presenting the newly created and so-called "drone award," to recognize activities with "direct impacts on combat operations." The medals could be awarded to drone operators but some legislators have raised concerns that the medal might, in effect, be a higher honor than medals given for noteworthy efforts made by soldiers who are physically present on the battlefield.

Lee Byung-hun-'GI Joe 2'

March 12, 2013 16:19
By Shim Sun-ah SEOUL, March 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun said Monday that he felt more comfortable acting in "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," a movie set to open in local theaters late this month, than in the series' first installment because he did not have to wear a mask as much in the sequel.

AFP Americas News Agenda for March 12

March 11, 2013 17:30
Duty Editor: Jim Mannion Tel: + 1 202 414 0541 What's happening in the Americas on Tuesday: + US movie theater shooting suspect arraigned + Obama hosts Brunei sultan at White House CENTENNIAL, Colorado: Formal arraignment of James Holmes, the man accused of killing 12 people and wounding dozens during a screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" in a Colorado movie theater in July 2012 (US-CRIME-SHOOTING-COURT)

AFP World News Agenda

March 8, 2013 17:30
What's happening around the world on Saturday: -- TOP STORIES -- + US Defense Secretary Hagel in surprise Afghanistan visit + UN hopes for Syria ceasefire to free peacekeepers + Kenya election results expected + Following after North Korea issues fresh nuclear threats KABUL: US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel begins his first visit to Afghanistan since taking office last week, with the scheduled troop withdrawal high on his agenda. No announced itinerary. (AFGHANISTAN-US-DIPLOMACY-UNREST)

John Brennan confirmed as CIA director

March 7, 2013 22:00
The US Senate confirmed John Brennan as CIA director Thursday after the White House doused a fierce debate over the potential use of domestic drones, which could have delayed filling the crucial post. Brennan, a counter-terrorism expert and 25-year veteran of the CIA who was the architect of the controversial secret program that uses armed drones in "targeted killings" overseas, was given the green light after a two-month confirmation process that heated up in its final week.

URGENT ¥¥¥ US Senate panel approves Brennan to be new CIA chief

March 5, 2013 18:17
The US Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday gave its approval for John Brennan to be the next director of the CIA, setting up a full confirmation vote as early as this week. Senators in a closed-door hearing voted 12-3 to approve Brennan, putting him on track to be President Barack Obama's third major national security nominee to be confirmed, after Secretary of State John Kerry and Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel. ico-mlm/adm

Senate panel to vote on CIA nominee Brennan

March 5, 2013 15:00
The Senate Intelligence Committee votes Tuesday on whether John Brennan should head the CIA, the last of three critical national intelligence posts to be filled in President Barack Obama's cabinet. After John Kerry was named secretary of state and Chuck Hagel survived a bruising battle to be the new Pentagon chief, confirmation of Brennan to replace David Petraeus as head of the spy agency is key for the president, whose CIA pick has been subjected a two-month confirmation process.

Accused Fort Hood shooter seeks to move trial venue

February 28, 2013 08:30
By Jim Forsyth SAN ANTONIO, Feb 28 (Reuters) - U.S. Army Major Nidal Hasan on Thursday will ask a military judge to move his murder trial out of Fort Hood, Texas where he is charged with killing 13 people during a shooting rampage in 2009, according to a statement from Fort Hood.
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