North Korea Holds US Reporters

North Korean soldiers have detained at least one Korean-American journalist near the North’s border with China, South Korean media say.

YTN TV channel quotes a South Korean official as saying two reporters were held after being asked to stop filming. Other reports say one female journalist was arrested. It is not yet clear who the journalists were working for. The reports come amid heightened tension between the US and North Korea.

The North has angered the US by planning a missile launch for April as part of its space communications programme. The US believes the launch is intended to test a rocket that could potentially carry a warhead as far as US territory.

Source

Washington D.C. Suburbs Fertile Ground For International Terrorist Financing

Dr. Nagaratnam Ranjithan has spent decades building a thriving medical practice in Maryland as a kidney specialist.

Federal authorities say he has also helped finance Asian death squads.

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Treasury Department froze the assets of Ranjithan’s Tamil Foundation, alleging that the money he has raised for Sri Lanka has actually gone to help the Tamil Tigers, a group that the State Department says is a terrorist organization. The Tigers have been blamed for thousands of civilian deaths.

Ranjithan says his group is suffering from guilt by association.

“Even the federal government hasn’t accused me of directly supporting the Tigers,” Ranjithan said in an interview with The Examiner. “They say that because I work in the Tiger area, I support the Tigers.”

Case not isolated

Ranjithan’s case isn’t an isolated one in the Washington suburbs. D.C. officials are working hard to crack down on what they dub international terrorist financing.

They don’t have to look far, experts say. “It’s a very fertile ground for investigation,” said Joseph DiGenova, former U.S. attorney for the District. “There are plenty of opportunities.”

With its large diplomatic community, multinational character, vast network of nongovernmental and charitable groups and employees, and big-hearted, big-walleted residents, the D.C. area gives excellent cover, resources and opportunities for international terrorist fronts, some experts say.

“Washington fits the bill as a place where all kinds of information is exchanging hands. You have all sorts of nongovernmental organizations headquartered here … and all sorts of international groups are chartered here,” said Gary LaFree, director of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism at the University of Maryland.

Philanthropist imprisoned

The government’s crackdown on terror financing has shown Washingtonians a new side of their neighbors.

via www.dcexaminer.com >> Local News.

Reward Offered For Information On Suspicious Letters Sent To State Governors

New information has been released about suspicious letters containing white powder that have been mailed across the country.

The offices or more than 40 governors across the country have received the letters, including Governor Brian Schweitzer, according to the FBI.

Additional letters have been received at several U.S. Embassies overseas.

So far, the FBI said it does not believe the powder is dangerous, but it still looks suspicious.

A message was located inside the envelope, which is not being released at this time. The FBI said it is not clear on what the message means.

The white powder has been field screened and the tests have met with negative results.

The powder has been forwarded to local laboratories and some believe it could be corn starch or flour, but the FBI has asked everyone to be on the lookout for additional letters.

The Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for these mailings.

Anyone with information on who may be sending the letters is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL FBI or 1-800-225-5324, the Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 or local law enforcement.

These letters are postmarked Dallas, Texas or North Texas.

via Montana’s News Station – Fair. Accurate. To the Point. -FBI continues investigation into suspicious letters.

Heightened Awareness Recommended For Railways Operating Along The US-Mexico Borde

GlobalIncidentMap.com Recommends Heightened Awareness For Railways Operating Along The US-Mexico Border

“Based on information from trusted Law Enforcement sources, we are recommending a heightened state of awareness for all railway operations along the USA-Mexico border, based on recent threats and observed activity”

No news links or additional information is available at this time.

via Global Incident Map.