After snubs, the red carpet's now out for Karzai

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration has tried sidelining, snubbing and strong-arming Hamid Karzai, with little to show for each approach. Now the administration is trying to hold its tongue and show a little love.
The Afghan leader, darling of the previous Republican administration of President George W. Bush, will get red carpet treatment when he comes to Washington for his widest engagement with U.S. leaders since winning re-election in a flawed vote last year.

Obama to unveil Kagan as US Supreme Court pick

WASHINGTON (AFP) – President Barack Obama will Monday nominate US solicitor general Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court, seeking to enshrine a persuasive voice on the bench for years to come, reports said.

Obama tells aides not to be distracted on Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (AFP) – With Hamid Karzai arriving in the US capital Monday, President Barack Obama has told key members of his team not to be "distracted" by public spats with Afghanistan's president but to focus on shared common goals.
A US official signaled on the eve of the four-day Karzai visit that the United States wanted to overcome the "ups and downs" of its relationship with him and refocus on the fight against the Taliban.

Joe Biden in Spain to discuss Afghanistan war, global economic crisis

Madrid
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has arrived in Spain to meet with Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and King Juan Carlos for talks.

The visit follows Biden's trip to Brussels, where he told the European Parliament that Washington remains determined to deploy its planned anti-missile system in Europe to counter the danger of Iran's nuclear program and its long-range ballistic missiles.
In Madrid, Biden is to discuss bilateral issues, the war in Afghanistan and almost certainly the global economic crisis, including Greece, the U.S. Embassy said.
On Friday, Biden met with the king at Zarzuela Palace. On Saturday, he holds talks with Zapatero and visits a Spanish military base to meet troops due to return to Afghanistan.

source: AP ,yahoo

Now ICC probe team starts work

International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is expected to fly into the country on Saturday. PHOTO/ REUTERS

An advance team from The Hague arrives on Wednesday morning to set the stage for investigations into post-election violence.