| Hard News
73 killed in Homs in five days: Activists say:
Six rebels were killed by regime shelling and overnight fire fights in the Jobar district of Homs, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, adding that 31 soldiers, 16 rebels and 26 civilians had died in violence there since Sunday.
Syrian security forces step up offensive for Homs areas:
The Syrian army has stepped up an offensive on opposition Sunni Muslim strongholds in the central city of Homs, bringing in ground forces and loyalist militia to try to secure a major road junction, opposition sources said today.
Car bomb explodes near Syrian-Israeli border, 8 killed:
Eight members of Syria's military intelligence were killed by an Islamist militant car bomb on Thursday night near the southern frontier with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, opposition activists and a violence monitoring group said on Friday, Jan 25.
Syria's Bashar al-Assad won't fall soon, Jordan's king says:
The embattled regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is not close to falling despite nearly two years of fighting between government forces and rebels seeking to depose him, Jordan's King Abdullah II said Friday.
Army kills six as Iraqi protesters call for PM to quit:
Six demonstrators were killed and 35 were wounded when soldiers opened fire west of Baghdad as tens of thousands rallied in Sunni-majority areas calling for Iraq's Shiite leader to quit today.
Iraqi army pulls out from Falluja after deadly clashes with protesters;
The Iraqi army has withdrew from Falluja, a city in the Sunni province of Anbar, after deadly clashes with protesters that left five anti-Maliki demonstrators killed, Al Arabiya correspondent reported Friday.
IAEA stresses Iran nuclear "dialogue":
In a meeting with Israel's president this week, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano underlined the need to resolve differences with Iran diplomatically, the U.N. agency said on Friday, rather than war as Israeli leaders have mooted.
Britain lists Israel as nation with human rights record 'of concern':
The criticism will unsettle the Jewish State, which proudly boasts it is the only democracy in the Middle East, and considers the UK an ally amid an increasingly critical Europe.
Afghan bomber targets NATO convoy, kills 5 civilians:
A suicide car bomber targeting a NATO convoy in the northeastern Afghan province of Kapisa killed five civilians and injured at least 15 Friday, Afghan officials said.
Woman killed, 2 kids hurt in raid:
A woman was killed and two minors were injured when the Afghan and foreign combined force raided house of a local council chairman in Tagab district of Kapisa province in the wee hours of Thursday.
Aid cut to Pakistan will be unkind: Kerry:
American Senator John Kerry, President Barack Obama's nominee for secretary of state, said during his confirmation hearing on Friday that cutting US aid to Pakistan, would be a "dramatic, draconian and sledge-hammer" measure. Kerry also said that Pakistan's role in leading the United States to Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad had not been sufficiently appreciated.
Britain sends spy plane to Mali amid fears of 'mission creep':
"We have now decided to deploy Sentinel, a surveillance capability that has proved its worth in Libya and on an ongoing basis for counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan," said Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary.
French-led Mali troops retake northern Islamist town:
"At present, Malian and French soldiers are in Hombori. There are no longer any Islamists on the ground," a local teacher said. A Malian security source said the forces were proceeding towards Gao.
Mursi: French War on Mali May Lead to Humanitarian Tragedy:
"We reject the international intervention in Mali which will lead to great consequences and disasters that will make the situation so much worse than before," Mursi said in a televised speech on Thursday.
Caught in the crossfire of Mali's war:
Tuareg refugees fleeing Islamist rebels have taken cover with the Dogon, an ancient tribe in central Mali. Now both fear annihilation as al-Qa'ida and Malian troops close in
Algeria hostage crisis: the full story of the kidnapping in the desert:
Using survivors' testimonies, photography and video - some filmed by the hostages themselves - we piece together the narrative of the four-day In Amenas gas plant siege
Russia's Vladimir Putin says West is fomenting jihadi 'blowback':
"The Syrian conflict has been raging for almost two years now. Upheaval in Libya, accompanied by the uncontrolled spread of weapons, contributed to the deterioration of the situation in Mali," Mr. Putin said at a meeting with new ambassadors in the Kremlin Thursday.
Clashes as tens of thousands flood Tahrir Square to mark Egypt revolt
Hundreds of demonstrators clashed with Egyptian police in Tahrir Square, Cairo, protesting against President Mohamed Morsi and his party. The violence comes on the second anniversary of the Egyptian uprising that saw Hosni Mubarak toppled.
Watch live: Tahrir Square Live Video Stream:
Egypt Protest
N. Korea threatens military action against 'southern puppets':
Pyongyang has warned of 'physical countermeasures' against South Korea if they participate in the UN sanctions against the North. Tensions are simmering on the peninsula after North Korea announced a third military test 'targeting' the US.
China media threatens North Korea aid cut over atomic test:
North Korea's sole major ally China will decrease aid to Pyongyang if it goes ahead with a planned nuclear test, state-run media said in an unusually frank warning on Friday.
CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou given more than two years in prison:
Judge says former intelligence officer who exposed aspects of use of torture should have been jailed for longer
Documentary: Secret CIA Prisons in Europe:
After 9/11, the CIA began planting secret prisons in Poland and Lithuania. The Russian-based RT channel investigates two claims of the existence of these prisons and cam with a remarkable documentary
Webcam hackers can spy on you in secret:
Could predators be spying on you and your kids through your computer's webcam? Authorities say criminals are now able to hack in and watch your every move -- without you ever knowing it.
Britain Could Be on Path to EU Exit:
British Prime Minister David Cameron has begun a process that could lead to Britain's exit from the European Union - a result analysts say could devastate the country's economy.
Honduras 'no longer functioning' after plunging over fiscal cliff:
Teachers have been demonstrating almost every day because they haven't been paid in six months, while doctors complain about the shortage of essential medicines, gauze, needles and latex gloves.
'US should realize that world has changed' - Venezuelan VP (RT Exclusive Video):
The US has lots of troubles dealing with other nations as they haven't come to grips with the new global reality, Venezuelan Vice-President Nicolas Maduro told RT in an exclusive interview. He also spoke about the health of President Chavez.
Israel's Man in Venezuela:
At a rally in June 2010, much to the disdain of the American Jewish Committee which dismissed the accusations as 'baseless',(1) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez publicly stated that Israel is funding the Venezuelan opposition:
Canada tribal chief ends hunger strike:
A prominent tribal chief in Canada has ended her six-week-long hunger strike over aboriginal rights after indigenous groups and opposition parties signed a deal.
US battles record low temperatures:
Lows of -46C recorded as area stretching from Midwest to New England turns parts of the country into an icebox.
Tina Turner 'to become Swiss, give up US passport':
US pop legend Tina Turner, who has been living in Switzerland since 1995, will soon receive Swiss citizenship and will give up her US passport, Swiss media reported Friday
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"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
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