A.M. Links: Bradley Manning Trial Starts Today, Jay Carney a "Paid Liar," Public Smoking Ban Goes into Effect in Russia

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  Ktione/Foter.com

  The trial of Bradley Manning begins today. The private accused of leaking information to Wikileaks, faces a sentence of up to life in prison if convicted.

• House Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa called the White House press secretary, Jay Carney, a "paid liar."
• More than 1,700 protesters have been arrested so far in Turkey. The prime minister says demonstrations are nothing like a Turkish Spring because he's a humble servant, not a dictator. The government of Syria, meanwhile, against which a Sunni cleric in Egypt declared a holy war,  has warned its residents against visiting Turkey because of the unrest there. France believes it can help stop Islamists from Mali from fleeing into Libya.
• Ten school children and two NATO soldiers were among 16 killed in a suicide attack in Kabul.
• The government of the semi-autonomous Somali region of Puntland confirmed that a surveillance drone crashed in the area. The ports and anti-piracy minister said it was unclear who was operating the drone.
• Henry Capriles doesn't think Nicolas Maduro's government in Venezuela can survive growing economic problems, partisan in-fighting and the widespread belief the election was stolen.
• A public smoking ban went into effect in Russia this weekend.

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