Free Republic

The imprisoned leader of a Peruvian rebel group that was once involved in a lengthy hostage drama says his group has given up armed conflict and now wants to become a political movement. In an interview published in Wednesday's Peru21 newspaper, Victor Polay acknowledged that the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement has been defeated. "The moment has arrived for the MRTA to actively join the political fight, within the framework of democracy," said Polay, using the group's initials in Spanish. He said he would like authorities to grant amnesty to imprisoned MRTA guerrillas. "I hope there will be a political way...

Tony Podesta's firm failed to file legally required disclosures after emails with his WH adviser brother A high-dollar lobbyist and fundraiser for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign failed to file legally required disclosures for his advocacy on behalf of a foreign government in discussions with Clinton’s future campaign chairman, according to a political law expert. High-powered Democratic lobbyist Tony Podesta emailed his brother John, a top White House adviser who would later chair the Clinton campaign, in January 2015. Tony wondered if John would attend a meeting with the Indian ambassador to the United States. “I’m at Camp David Friday,” John...

CORRECTED: Japanese embassy, airlines staff nabbed for aiding smuggling+ Nov 1 12:36 AM US/Eastern smuggling+ (AP) - CHIBA, Japan, Oct. 31 (Kyodo)—Police have arrested a local staff member of the Japanese Embassy in Indonesia and a Garuda Indonesia Airline flight attendant on suspicion of helping three compatriots enter Japan illegally in September, they said Wednesday. The two are Rosita Yulia Patricia Rembeth, 50, a member of the embassy staff, and the 39-year-old flight attendant Carrand Christo Tangka. The two, together with the three entrants, have already been indicted for violating Japan's immigration law. According to the Chiba prefectural police, Rembeth...

(15:20) Terror suspect tells German court: 'You're all Jews.' By Melissa Eddy, The Associated Press April, 16 2002 FRANKFURT, Germany - The trial of five Algerian men charged with plotting to blow up a French holiday market opened with a flourish today when a defendant disrupted the proceedings and was removed from court. While the other defendants shielded their faces from a TV camera allowed to tape the opening five minutes, 31-year-old defendant Lamine Maroni, speaking in Arabic, recited Koranic verses, swore and urged the others not to testify. He was warned not to continue, but went on in English...