| Hard News
Syrian activists say at least 65 bodies found in contested district of Aleppo:
The bodies of at least 65 men, many of them with their hands bound behind their back, were found on the muddy banks of a small river Tuesday in the northern city of Aleppo, activists said.
Al-Qaeda-linked group claims deadly Syria blast:
Activists said at least 42 people, mostly pro-Assad militiamen, died in the blast last Monday in the town of Salamiya. The government did not say how many people were killed.
What are they doing to our children?' Civilians angered by Syrian rebels who reportedly seize goods, recruit teens:
"They act as if we exist to serve them," the 36-year-old bank teller said. "They brought these hardships on us and now they want us to suffer while they take the choice goods."
Free Syrian Army rebels execute Syrian shabiha: -
Video - Warning
Syrian opposition demand heavy weapons:
Syrian opposition asked for USD 500 million and heavy weaponry from the international community to topple the current regime
Paris meeting urges more funds for Syria opposition;
France pleaded on Monday for countries to keep their promises of funding and other aid to the Syrian opposition or risk compromising the legitimacy of the coalition in the eyes of the people fighting the regime of Bashar Assad.
U.S. spends $365 million on 'non-lethal' role in Syrian civil war:
The White House ramped up "non-lethal" support for Syrian rebels and refugees Tuesday, committing a fresh $155 million in humanitarian aid and bringing the total U.S. monetary response to the Syrian civil war to $365 million.
Enginering consent for an attack on Syria:
Obama says struggling over whether to intervene in Syria:
President Barack Obama said he has been wrestling with the question whether a U.S. military intervention in Syria's 22-month-old civil war would help resolve the bloody conflict or make things worse.
Enginering consent for an attack on Syria:
Top Israeli official sent to Moscow over Syria chemical weapons worries:
NSC chief Yaakov Amidror dispatched in an effort to secure Russia's assurance that Syria's stockpiles won't fall into the wrong hands
Lavrov urges foreign officials not to misinterpret Russia's stand on Syria:
Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev has called on the nations backing Syria's warring parties to refrain from any military support and let the diplomatic peace process take its course.
Six killed as suicide blast targets Somali security forces:
At least six people have been killed after a suicide bomber blew himself up among a group of security officials outside the Somalian prime minister's office, army officials say.
Fact or propaganda?
With Timbuktu Retaken, France Signals It Plans to Pull Back in Mali:
The rapid advance to Timbuktu, a day after French and African troops took firm control of the former rebel stronghold of Gao, may spell the beginning of the end of France's major involvement in the conflict here.
Looters rampage through Timbuktu:
Crowds of looters rampaged from shop to shop targeting business owned by ethnic Arabs in the newly-liberated city of Timbuktu as troops struggled to maintain control a day after they were greeted as heroes.
Mali: Islamist militants hunted down in recaptured cities:
It was payback time Tuesday in the newly liberated town of Gao in Mali, with residents hunting down and beating suspected Islamist extremists who had not fled with their brothers-in-arms as Malian and French military forces closed in and retook the town.
Tuaregs say they seized Mali towns from Islamists:
Tuareg fighters in northern Mali say they have seized control of the strategic city of Kidal and seven other northern towns from Islamist extremists.
Mali rebels may move to Libya: UN official:
THE UN's special representative for Libya has warned the Security Council that France's military offensive in northern Mali may drive Islamic insurgents out and across the porous borders with Algeria and into Libya.
Britain to send troops to Mali:
Britain will send around 240 military personnel to West Africa in a training role to aid the French-led mission against Islamist rebels in Mali, the government said Tuesday.
Mali conflict: Donor conference raises $455m:
International donors meeting in Ethiopia have pledged $455.53m (£289m) for an international campaign tackling Islamist militants in Mali. The pledges for aid projects and the African-led Afisma force that is expected to take over from French troops in the country is about half the figure African leaders had requested.
IMF approves $18.4 million emergency loan for Mali:
The Fund said approval of the loan, under its Rapid Credit Facility, will not fulfill all the government's needs but should send a signal that Mali's economy is on the right path, prompting other donors to offer financial assistance.
UN plans to send at least 2,500 troops to Congo:
On Sunday, Ban told African Union leaders that the U.N. plans to create what he called a "peace enforcement force" to cope with the threat of armed rebels. A U.N. staffer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Monday that the size of the force would be about 2,550 troops.
Niger Okays US drone deployment:
Niger has given permission for US surveillance drones to be stationed on its territory to improve intelligence on al-Qaeda-linked Islamist fighters in northern Mali and the wider Sahara, a senior government source said.
Two shot dead in ongoing Egypt clashes:
A young man has been shot and killed in clashes near a police station in Port Said. Another person was killed in Cairo as violence continued across Egypt, despite the state of emergency and the curfew currently in effect in most volatile cities.
Egypt army chief warns of 'state collapse' amid crisis:
Egypt's armed forces chief has warned the current political crisis "could lead to a collapse of the state". General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, in comments posted on the military's Facebook page, said such a collapse could "threaten future generations".
Gunfire Blends With Coffee as Libya Seeks Tripoli Control:
The crackle of gunfire mixes with the burble of conversation in Cinnabon, Tripoli's most popular cafe, where customers enjoy cappuccino and chocolate cakes even as Libyan militias battle for control of nearby streets.
Bishop asked to evacuate Benghazi church:
A Maltese bishop has been asked to evacuate the Benghazi church where he is based as a precaution due to escalating fears of violence in the Libyan city.
Iraqis claim British troops 'acted with brutality':
As well as unlawful killings, there are claims of beatings, hooding, sleep deprivation and sexual humiliation including being made to watch pornography.
Fact or propaganda?
New details surface on Iran nuclear explosion:
Sixteen North Koreans, including 14 technicians and two top military officers, are among those trapped after a Jan. 21 explosion destroyed much of Iran's Fordow nuclear site, a source reveals.
Hamas's Mashaal reportedly eyes PLO leadership:
Islamist leader is backed by Jordan and Qatar in PLO bid, claims al-Quds al-Arabi
Israel approves plan to transfer some Bedouin Arabs; rights group calls plan 'racist':
About 30,000 Bedouins live in shantytowns in Israel's Negev desert. Bedouin say they've owned the land for decades, but Israel contests that.
Israel boycotts UN Human Rights Council:
Its absence on Tuesday, however, came as no surprise. Israel cut all ties with the 47-member state council last March after the body announced that it would probe how Israeli illegal settlements may be infringing on the rights of the Palestinians.
French poll: 40% say Jews too powerful in business:
Survey conducted by World Zionist Organization ahead of International Day for Countering Anti-Semitism shows 47% of France's population believe local Jews are 'more loyal to Israel than to the country they live in'
France to expel radical imams to tackle 'global Islamic jihad':
Paris says it will deport a number of radical religious imams to tackle extremism in Europe and "global jihadism". French Interior Minister warned the eviction would happen "in the coming days".
'France is totally bankrupt':
French employment minister Michel Sapin embarrasses President Francois Hollande with shocking statement on state of the country's economy
'Bankrupt' France comments rebutted:
France's politicians are defending the health of its economy after Labour Minister Michel Sapin described the state as "totally bankrupt".
Yemen Coast Guard Stops Ship Carrying Rockets:
The coast guard boarded the vessel, operated by Yemeni crew, in the territorial waters of the south Arabian Peninsula country and found on it a cache of weapons, including shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles and rocket-propelled-grenades, the ministry said in a statement carried by state news agency Saba.
Saudi shops to build sex-segregation walls:
Authorities in Saudi Arabia have ordered shops that employ both men and women to build separation walls to enforce segregation
Pakistan: Two cops shot dead in Quetta:
Unknown motorcyclists shot killed two policemen on Arbab Karam Khan road in the city on Tuesday.
Something smell in the state of Qatar:
Taliban arrive in Qatar to open office:
A number of high-ranking Taliban members have arrived in Doha to continue efforts to open a liaison office for the group, Qatari newspaper Gulf Times reported. Afghan officials said they are working on opening the office for insurgent representatives to facilitate the peace process.
Norman Finkelstein: "What Gandhi Says: About Nonviolence, Resistance and Courage.":
Interview with Norman Finkelstein about his latest book
Twitter Reveals US Government Makes 80% Of Info Requests:
Twitter has released its second transparency report, which demonstrated a frightening increase in requests for user data by the US government and ignited serious concerns over privacy and free expression.
9/11 trial censorship? Gitmo court feed cut:
Beginning the hearing of the five alleged September 11 co-conspirators this morning, Judge James Pohl said a "security officer" is in charge of cutting off the feed when he believes something classified is being discussed.
Guatemala ex-dictator to stand trial on genocide charges in civil war killings of Indians:
A former U.S.-backed dictator who presided over one of the bloodiest periods of Guatemala's civil war will stand trial on charges he ordered the murder, torture and displacement of thousands of Mayan Indians, a judge ruled Monday.
Venezuela VP Maduro reads out 'Chavez letter' at summit:
The letter celebrated Cuban President Raul Castro's assumption of the rotating presidency of the Celac. "After 30 years of resisting this criminal imperial blockade, Latin America and the Caribbean is saying to the US, in one voice, that all your attempts to leave out Cuba are failing," it added.
Venezuela threatens to sue El País over fake Hugo Chávez surgery picture:
Minister says Spanish newspaper's use of image taken from 2008 YouTube video was 'as grotesque as it was false'
Wal-Mart Accused of Using Mexican Governor to Push bribes:
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) Mexican unit used a current state governor there to facilitate $156,000 in bribes meant to help open stores, an ex-lawyer for the retailer told company officials in 2005, according to documents released by members of the U.S. Congress.
Obama Immigration Plan: More Direct Path to Citizenship Than Senate's:
The White House has sounded positive notes about the Senate group's plan thus far, but the specifics that Obama announces are expected to have some key differences that might cause concern for some Republican senators who have signed onto the senate deal.
Hagel supports nuclear arms cuts, then elimination:
Chuck Hagel, the likely next secretary of defense, would be the first to enter the Pentagon having publicly advocated for sharply reducing the number of U.S. nuclear weapons, possibly without equivalent cuts by Russia. He supports an international movement called Global Zero that favors eliminating all nuclear weapons.
Here Is a List of Extremists Who Agree With Chuck Hagel on Ending Nukes:
Republicans are attacking Hagel from the right: He's a dirty hippie peacenik who wants to steal our atomic security!
Senate Panel Approves Kerry for Secretary of State;
Senator John Kerry's nomination to serve as secretary of state was unanimously approved Tuesday morning by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the panel he has led for the past four years.
BP's record $4bn Deepwater criminal penalties approved:
A US court has approved the biggest criminal penalties in US history given to British oil giant BP as part of a settlement related to the fatal 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Consumer Confidence in U.S. Falls to Lowest Level Since 2011:
Confidence among U.S. consumers declined more than forecast in January, reaching the lowest level in more than a year as higher payroll taxes took a bigger bite out of Americans' paychecks.
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"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
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