Topic: The McClatchy Company

Backchannels
Syria's Jabhat al-Nusra militia looks pretty serious

Some eye-catching video shows a disciplined jihadi militia on the move in eastern Syria after ransacking a regime artillery base.

Romney tax returns: Could Reid’s unsubstantiated attack hurt Democrats?

Harry Reid, the Senate's top Democrat, says Mitt Romney paid no income tax for 10 years. His source, he says, is a Bain Capital investor. But he won't say who. The tactic could backfire.

Why was Zimmerman's cousin afraid of him? (+audio)

The man charged with the murder of an unarmed black teenager in Florida, George Zimmerman has now been accused of molesting his younger cousin. She kept her accusations to herself until now because she was afraid of him, she says. 

WikiLeaks to release five million emails stolen from Stratfor

WikiLeaks is making public email stolen from Stratfor, a global security analysis company based in Texas. Hackers broke into Stratfor data systems in December and stole employee emails.

Death by hazing? Why even tragic FAMU case won't end such rituals.

Initiation rites are so ingrained in parts of college life that even egregious incidents aren't enough to eradicate hazing, experts say. Investigations into last month's death of a FAMU band major are under way.

Yemen crisis worsens as Saleh loyalists trap US ambassador

Yemen's President Saleh again rejected a deal to transfer power and allowed armed supporters to surround an embassy where the US ambassador was meeting with European and Arab envoys.

Jason Garrett and Paul Pasqualoni take over after Wade Phillips fired from Dallas Cowboys

Jason Garrett named interim head coach and Paul Pasqualoni named interim defensive coordinator after Wade Phillips fired mid-season for poor performance.

Democrats rally behind their 'mom in tennis shoes,' Sen. Patty Murray

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington is facing a strong challenge from GOP candidate Dino Rossi. Top Democrats from Michelle Obama to former President Bill Clinton have vowed to help.

Terrorism & Security
Taliban attacks kill 8 US soldiers within 24 hours

Taliban attacks on Tuesday night and Wednesday killed at least eight US soldiers, highlighting the militant group's intensifying insurgency campaign.

Egyptian tycoon gets another trial in murder of Lebanese pop star

The retrial of Egyptian real estate tycoon Talaat Moustafa began Monday in what many see as a test of Egyptian justice. In the first trial, Moustafa was convicted of paying $2 million to hire an assassin to kill Lebanese pop star Suzanne Tamim. That verdict was thrown out by a judge recently.

Hillary Clinton's Middle East tour: It's all about Iran

Adm. Mike Mullen and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton kicked off an eight-nation swing Sunday through the Middle East. The focus of the trip? Iran's nuclear ambitions.

No military push against Taliban in 2010, says Pakistan

US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrives in Pakistan to hear that Pakistan military plans no new offensives against the Taliban for six to 12 months. Will this undermine US efforts in Afghanistan?

Pakistan offensive against Taliban creates angry refugees

Some 30,000 refugees who fled the Pakistan Army's offensive against the Taliban in South Waziristan have yet to receive food or other supplies promised by the government.

The Vote
Obama calls himself a former smoker despite still smoking

USA

Mumbai attacker's hometown is in Pakistan

Residents say the gunman caught by Indian police comes from a village in Pakistan where Lashkar-e-Taiba has been recruiting young men for 'jihad.'

Terrorism & Security
Karzai's bid for negotiations with Taliban roundly rejected

Afghan president says those who disagree with his offer of safety for the Taliban to attend talks can unseat him or leave the country.

USA

USA

U.S. budget boosts coal and nuclear power

Bush's budget request Monday cut funding for renewable energy, but increased spending for science.

Costs of climate change spur greening of business

Climate concerns are pushing corporates to do good by doing well. Meanwhile, new research puts a number on the ecological impact of rich country lifestyles on poor ones.