A spokeperson for the Pakistani Taliban has said that the group's leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, is alive and well following a drone strike on militant training camp in North Waziristan. Baitullah Mehsud, the former leader of the Pakistani Taliban, was killed in US drone strike last summer, yet confirmation of his death took two weeks.

The Taliban spokesperson said that Hakimullah Mehsud was in the area of the strike until very recently,"But he had left the place already when the drone attack took place. He is alive and completely safe," Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq told the AFP news agency by telephone.

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ROBERT ALBERTSON, CHIEF STRATEGIST AT SANDLER O'NEILL, NEW YORK
"It throws some sand into the gears. It's one more thing dragging on the sector, but it's spread over 10 years, so it's not so consequential. It's petty theft from bank balance sheets."

More quotes from financial analysts on the Obama Administration's levy on bank bonuses are here. Amazing (in what way is open for interpretation).

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Here former Secretary of State Madeline Albright critiques President Obama's approach to Afghanistan, Pakistan and the threat of Islamic extremism.