| Hard News
12 Afghans killed in US-led forces attack:
Witnesses say there six civilians were among those killed in the Monday night attack in Tagab district of Kapisa province.
17 cops, including commanders, defect to militants: Taliban claim:
The 17 local police including commander Ziauddin and Zabihullah also surrendered their weapons to Taliban, Qari Muhammad Yousaf Ahmadi, spokesman for Taliban, told Afghan Islamic Press (AIP).
34,000 U.S. Occupation Force Troops to Exit Afghanistan Within a Year:
According to the current withdrawal schedule, the number of troops is to go down to 60,500 by the end of May. By the end of November, the number will be down to 52,000. By the end of February 2014, the troop level is to be around 32,000.
3 Killed As Kashmir Tension Persists:
Protests held on both sides of border after execution of Kashmiri man implicated in 2001 attack on Indian parliament.: Afzal Guru's execution has prompted demonstrations on both Indian and Pakistani areas of Kashmir [Reuters]
Indian police shoot dead at least eight from Assam tribe:
Indian police shot at hundreds of tribesmen and women in the north-eastern state of Assam on Tuesday, killing eight people, the state's chief minister said, after violence broke out during village council elections.
11 killed in spate of Iraq attacks:
A series of attacks mostly targeting security forces, including a suicide car bomb at an army base, killed 11 people, officials said
Six Jordanian 'jihadists' killed in Syria:
Six Jordanian nationals have been killed while fighting alongside jihadist forces in Syria, Islamist sources say, as a growing number of Jordanians take up arms to wage a "holy war" against the Damascus regime.
Syrian rebels capture military airport:
Syrian opposition fighters captured a military airport near the northern city of Aleppo yesterday in another military setback for President Bashar al-Assad's forces, which have come under intensifying attack.
Homs' displaced residents begin to return after year of sustained bombing:
Syrian city is guarded about relative calm as governor calls for unity against al-Qaida and intense fighting continues elsewhere
After Muslim rebels seize two priests in Aleppo, there are fears for their life:
An Armenian Catholic priest, Fr Michael, and an Orthodox clergyman were abducted last Sunday in Aleppo's Christian neighbourhood. Sources speak to AsiaNews about barbarous murders carried out my Islamic extremists. A car bomb explodes at the Turkish-Syrian border crossing of Cilvegozu.
Syrian rebels loot artifacts :
The rebels, struggling to finance their effort, have joined an emerging trade in illicitly acquired Syrian artifacts and antiquities, selling off the country's past as the war for its future intensifies.
Syrian minister offers to meet opposition leader overseas:
Ali Haidar raises prospect of free elections in response to surprise change of line by Syrian National Coalition leader
Syrian Opposition Member Says: Solution Political, Not Military:
Samir Aita, member of the Syrian Democratic Forum, cautioned against letting such an opportunity go to waste, which "might mean that the fighting would continue for a long time to come." Aita strongly criticized Turkey's role in Syria, which he described as "bad," and he said the spread of extremism had produced a convergence of views between Russia and the United States.
From his office in clouded cuckoo land
Saudi FM: World must allow Syrians to 'defend themselves': Saudi Arabia's foreign minister on Tuesday said the international community should allow Syrians to "defend themselves" against President Bashar al-Assad's regime if it is unable to intervene on their behalf.
North Korea carries out apparent nuclear test:
North Korea appeared to have carried out a threatened nuclear test on Tuesday, with international monitoring agencies reporting a seismic event near the site of Pyongyang's nuclear test site.
North Korea nuclear test: Pyongyang threatens 'stronger response':
North Korea has warned it will follow up the nuclear test it carried out on Tuesday with "stronger" actions unless the US ends its hostility towards the regime.
Propaganda alert:
North Korea nuclear test branded 'serious threat' to US:
North Korean military ambitions are a "serious threat" to the US, outgoing Pentagon chief Leon Panetta has said. In a speech made after Pyongyang carried out its third nuclear test, Mr Panetta likened the North to Iran, describing them as "rogue states".
Iran urges to destroy all atomic weapons after N.Korea nuclear test:
Iran has confirmed that its higher-grade enriched uranium is being converted into reactor fuel, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced. He also called for destruction of all nuclear arms following N. Korea's third nuclear test.
China warns US over anti-Iran sanctions:
China has warned that the US sanctions recently imposed against a Chinese individual and certain companies over their alleged trading with Iran will harm Beijing's relations with Washington, urging the US to "correct its mistaken policy."
Israel's Netanyahu says Iran closer to nuclear 'red line':
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Iran was now closer to crossing the "red line" after which it would be able to build a nuclear weapon but had not yet reached that stage.
Propaganda and Barf alert:
Huckabee: Obama must use Israel trip to draw red line on Iran:
Hagel should clarify Hamas funding allegations, insists ex-Arkansas governor on visit to Jerusalem; says Americans see PM as 'Churchill of our day'
Obama: U.S. will stand by Israel:
"We will stand steadfast with Israel in pursuit of security and a lasting peace. These are the messages I will deliver when I travel to the Middle East next month," he continued. on Tuesday, updating a previous toll.
Former Israeli envoy to US: Hagel a 'bad' choice:
Regardless of his stance on Israel, Obama defense pick's positions on Iran undermine the credible threat of a military strike, Itamar Rabinovich says
Defense pick Hagel to get committee vote Tuesday:
Senate Democrats are pushing ahead with a vote Tuesday on Chuck Hagel's nomination to be defense secretary, rejecting Republican demands for more financial information from Hagel in a politically charged fight over President Barack Obama's second-term national security team.
Keeping the Israeli population scared:
Alert level raised in Jerusalem amid terror warning:
Police, firefighters, Magen David Adom emergency crews instructed to raise level of alertness amid general warning of possible terror attack
Australian suspected of Mossad links dies in Israeli jail:
The case is regarded as one of the most sensitive secrets of Israel's intelligence community, with the government going to extraordinary lengths to stifle media coverage and gag attempts by human rights organisations to expose the situation.
Israel arrests Hamas affiliates across West Bank:
Israeli forces launched multiple arrest raids overnight Monday against Hamas affiliates in the West Bank, Hamas sources and locals said.
Egyptian police protests against 'political role':
Hundreds of low-ranking policemen in Egypt were holding protests on Tuesday to demand they not be used as a tool for political oppression in the country's ongoing turmoil.
Black Bloc: New opposition group in Egypt calls for violence, street fighting:
A new Egyptian opposition group has risen to the forefront, as the country marks the second anniversary of the ousting of former President Hosni Mubarak. The 'Black Bloc' is threatening Islamist authorities and sparking fears of a street war.
Mali 'hesitant' over UN peacekeeping force:
The government of Mali is "hesitant" over the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force, a senior UN official has said. "We do not have a clear green light from the government of Mali yet for a peacekeeping operation,'' said Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson.
Libya marks revolution with trepidation not celebration:
THOUSANDS of militiamen have been deployed across Tripoli, guarding intersections and checking vehicles, amid fears of violence as Libya marks the second anniversary of its revolution on Friday.
Italy's ex-spy chief sentenced to 10 years in jail over CIA case:
Italy's former military intelligence chief was sentenced to 10 years in jail on Tuesday, February 12 for his role in the kidnapping of an Egyptian Muslim cleric in an operation organized by the United States, Reuters said.
Icelandic MP planning Bradley Manning support trip despite US legal threats:
Jonsdottir is planning to arrive in the US on April 5, despite a strong warning from Reykjavík of possible legal repurcussions.
9/11 defendant's attorney says U.S. is listening in on client conversations:
Cheryl Bormann, who represents Yemeni defendant Walid bin Attash, said devices designed to look like smoke detectors and placed in client meeting rooms were in fact audio monitors.
Senate panel approves Chuck Hagel defence nomination:
A US Senate committee has approved the nomination of ex-Republican Senator Chuck Hagel to be President Barack Obama's secretary of defence. The full Senate is expected to take up the nomination this week, though Republican critics have threatened to block a vote.
65.4 Million Gun Purchases Since Obama Took Office, 91% More Than Bush's First-Term Total:
According to data compiled by the FBI, the number of Americans purchasing guns has skyrocketed since Obama was elected.
"Murder Suspect" Chris Dorner - 'Cornered' By Police After Gun Fight:
As reporters started to circle the scene soon after shots were fired, police yelled at the media to "get the f**k out" of the area. Media helicopters have been ordered to leave the scene. Officials fear that if Dorner has access to a television, he could have an advantage of seeing what is happening around him.
Accused Cop Killer, Chris Dorner, Found Dead in Burned Cabin:
At one point, police broke windows, pumped in tear gas and blasted a loud speaker urging Dorner to surrender. When they got no response, police deployed a vehicle to rip down the walls of the cabin "one by one. By the time they got to the last wall, authorities heard a single gunshot, the source said.
Christopher Dorner Shootout - Video -
Cops say "Burn the *ucking house down"
America Meet Your New Slumlord: Wall Street:
Yep, we bailed out the financial system so that financiers with access to cheap credit can buy up all of America's real estate so that they can then rent it back to you later.
CEOs Wrong To Promote Dangerous Budget Cuts, 350 Economists Say:
More than 80 high-profile CEOs just penned a letter calling for deep budget cuts to avert to reduce the deficit, but hundreds of economists warned on Wednesday that such austerity measures are medieval medicine that will exacerbate the economy's underlying ailment: high unemployment.
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"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
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