| Hard News
At least 30 Darfur rebels killed in clashes:
The Sudanese army says its soldiers have killed at least 30 rebels in clashes in Sudan's troubled North Darfur region.
Obama regime kills 25 people in Pakistan: Report:
According
to reports, three separate drone attacks in Pakistan's South
Waziristan mountains killed at least 17 people Tuesday. The AP reported
that eight suspected militants were among the dead in a separate
strike in North Waziristan today.
Three "Taliban Insurgents" Killed In Kunar:
As a result of air attacks of NATO forces in Watapor district of Kunar province 3 Pakistani Taliban were killed last night.
One of Indian soldiers killed in Kashmir beheaded: army:
One
of the two Indian soldiers killed in a clash along the disputed
Kashmir border was decapitated by Pakistani troops who then carried
away his head, India's chief military spokesman said on Wednesday.
Gunmen kill 2 local officials in attacks in northern Afghanistan:
The
commander of a police detention centre in Dashti Archi district was
ambushed by gunmen while driving on a main road through the area in the
afternoon. Commander Abdul Salam and his bodyguard were killed.
Ex-Abu Ghraib inmates get $5m settlement from US firm:
A
defence contractor whose subsidiary was accused of conspiring to
torture Abu Ghraib prisoners has settled with former inmates for $5m
(£3m).
Jihadist Al-Nusra Front executes three Syria troops: NGO:
Rebels
from the jihadist Al-Nusra Front executed three captured soldiers in
the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
reported on Tuesday.
Syrian plane attacked as it attempts to land - video:
Footage
appears to show a non-military aircraft under fire as it attempts to
land at Deir al Zor airport in eastern Syria on Tuesday.
Aleppo misery eats at Syrian rebel support:
In
large areas that have been under rebel control for six months or more
complaints are getting louder about indiscipline among the fighters,
looting and a general lack of security and necessities like running
water, bread and electricity
Surviving in Aleppo:
As
fighting in Syria's largest city enters its sixth month, the economy
has ground to a halt. There is no electricity, and the prices of basic
goods such as bread and cooking oil have skyrocketed. Residents are
selling off their possessions to survive.
48 Iranians freed by Syrian rebels arrive in Damascus:
Syrian
rebels on Wednesday freed 48 Iranians held captive since August in
exchange for the release of more than 2,000 detainees in the first
major prisoner swap of the country's war, officials said.
Russia: Assad's ideas should be heeded:
Assad
"affirmed readiness for the launch of an inter-Syrian dialogue and for
reforming the country on the basis of Syria's sovereignty ... and the
principle of non-interference in internal affairs," the Russian Foreign
Ministry said in a statement.
Engineering Consent For Attack On Syria:
Report: Syrian chemical weapons ready:
Israel
informed the Pentagon of satellite imagery in the last days of
November showing Syrian soldiers mixing chemicals at two storage sites
and filling dozens of 500-pound bombs, The New York Times said in a
report published Tuesday.
U.S. troops arrive in Turkey:
For
now, about 400 U.S. troops are being airlifted from Oklahoma to
Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey. The first wave of troops and
supplies arrived Friday, with more scheduled to come in the following
days, according to the U.S. European Command.
Shimon Peres: President Obama would hit Iran:
Shimon
Peres is confident President Barack Obama would approve a military
strike to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions if it came to that, the Israeli
president said in an interview published Wednesday.
Iran annual inflation hits 27.4 percent:
Iran's
central bank says the annual inflation rate hit 27.4 percent at the
end of 2012, one of the highest rates ever quoted by Iranian
authorities.
Hagel's group sees Iran as a future ally:
Says
Israel must give olive branch: The Washington think tank overseen by
President Obama's defense secretary-designate predicts that Iran one
day will be a "natural partner" for the United States and could possess
nuclear weapons
Ed Koch and Alan Dershowitz give thumbs down to Hagel:
Dershowitz
said the pick is a stinker and will increase the likelihood that Iran
pushes forward with its nuclear program. But he still believes in the
president:
Maddow Slams Hagel's 'Akin-esque' Views on Rape, Abortion, LGBT in the Military: Video -
Rachel
Maddow continued her skepticism of Chuck Hagel by revealing his views
on rape, abortion, and LGBT service members that are lined with
controversial Senate candidates Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock.
Pro-Israel hawk gets top spot on House Foreign Affairs's new Middle East panel:
The
term-limited chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), has been named to the coveted top spot on
the panel's new Middle East and North Africa subcommittee, giving her a
key platform to pursue her hawkish pro-Israel views.
Hamas, Fatah leaders meet in Cairo for Palestinian unity talks:
Meeting
hosted by President Mohammed Morsi meant to pave way to elections and
unity government; Iran FM in Cairo to discuss Syria crisis.
Russia, China Plan to Boost Cooperation on Missile Defense: -
Russia
and China are planning to intensify their cooperation on missile
defense in response to America's growing missile defense potential
around the globe, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev
said on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia's riches conceal a growing problem of poverty:
In a country with vast oil wealth and lavish royalty, an estimated quarter of Saudis live below the poverty line
Malaysian sultan forbids using 'Allah' outside Islam:
The
Sultan of the Malaysian state Selangor has issued a decree that the
sacred word 'Allah' can be used only by Muslims. The move put more fire
into controversy in the state where language peculiarities also make
Christians use the term.
Poverty stalks 'economic powerhouse' Germany:
Despite unemployment under six percent, poverty affects 16 percent of people.
Hugo Chavez: Venezuela assembly delays inauguration:
The
Venezuelan National Assembly has approved a request by President Hugo
Chavez to postpone his inauguration for a new term in office, which was
scheduled for Thursday. Legislators voted to give Mr Chavez as much
time as he needed to recover.
Venezuela attracts flocks of immigrants seeking better life : Video -
As
unemployment brings despair to what once was a land of prosperity,
many of those who are hunting for a better life are now making some
unexpected choices. Lucy Kafanov reports from Venezuela on why the
country's becoming a more attractive place to move to.
Ecuadoran Government Alert to Possible Destabilizing Actions:
Correa
said it would not be the first time that the Central Intelligence
Agency (CIA) has acted in Latin America with thoroughly reprehensible
means.
The US and the Privatization of El Salvador:
There
are countries which are still very much living under the hegemony of
the United States. In El Salvador, this means subservience to
Washington and international investors who seek nothing less than total
control of that nation's economic destiny.
10 Ways the Drug War Is Causing Massive Collateral Damage to Our Society:
From racial injustice to flawed foreign policy, the war on drugs causes harm on many fronts.
Record Heat Fuels Widespread Fires in Australia:
Bush
fires raging across some of the most populous parts of Australia -
feeding off widespread drought conditions and high winds - pushed
firefighters to their limits and residents to their wits' end on
Wednesday as meteorologists tracked the country's hottest spring and
summer on record into uncharted territory.
2012 was warmest year ever for US, second most 'extreme':
The
average temperature for 2012 was 55.3 degrees Fahrenheit, 3.2 degrees
above normal and a full degree higher than the previous warmest year
recorded -- 1998 -- NOAA said in its report Tuesday. All 48 states in
the contiguous U.S. had above-average annual temperatures last year,
including 19 that broke annual records.
Canada: Oil Sands Raise Levels of Cancer-Causing Compounds in Regional Waters:
From carcinogens to acid rain, tar sands development is raising levels of industrial pollution across the north
Washington's jaw drops at possibility of AIG lawsuit:
Remember
when AIG took a $182 billion bailout only to turn around and hand out
seven-figure bonuses to the same guys who tanked their company? Grab
the pitchforks - it gets better.
Federal Judge Rules Texas School Can Force Student to Wear Tracking Device:
The
Tuesday ruling gave the school the right to expel or transfer
15-year-old Andrea Hernandez from the district. It said that if the
girl is to stay at the school, she would be required to wear the badge.
Otherwise, she would have to transfer to a new school.
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"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
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