| Hard News
4 Afghan police killed in bomb attack:
Remote-controlled bomb hits vehicle in Balkh province, killing district police chief and three bodyguards
Half of all Afghans paid bribes to public officials in 2012: UN report:
The report by the UN office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Afghanistan's anti-corruption unit says that while there has been "some tangible progress", the total cost of corruption increased to US$3.9 billion (S$4.8 billioon) in 2012 - 40 per cent up on 2009.
US kills three people in Pakistan:
Three people were killed when a US drone fired missiles at a suspected compound in Ghulam Khan Tehsil of North Waziristan Agency on Wednesday, according to witnesses.
Syria Government retakes town as Damascus clashes rage:
After a 16-day onslaught, troops retook Karnaz on the strategic Damascus-Aleppo highway, said Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Rebel "fighters withdrew from Karnaz, which they seized in December last year, after heavy fighting and regular forces regained control," he told AFP.
Syria govt reaches out to rebels:
The embattled Syrian government has assigned at least two senior officials to reach out to the political opposition inside and outside Syria, in the latest efforts to start a national reconciliation dialogue proposed by President Bashar al-Assad, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad told reporters on Wednesday.
Ahmadinejad urges negotiations, elections in Syria;
The two sides should "sit at the negotiations table to find a solution to the crisis, through mutual understanding," Ahmadinejad, who is on a visit to Egypt, said in the interview broadcast late Wednesday.
Arab League Backs Syrian Opposition's Call for Dialogue:
Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi on Tuesday backed a call by the leader of Syria's main opposition group for talks with the Damascus regime aimed at ending nearly 23 months of bloodshed in the country, AFP reported.
Syria opposition demands all women prisoners freed by Sunday:
Syrian opposition leader Moaz Alkhatib said the Syrian government had until Sunday to release all women detainees, otherwise he would regard his offer for dialogue as rejected by President Bashar al-Assad, BBC Arabic said.
Panetta, Dempsey support arming Syria rebels -
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Panetta, Dempsey: Obama Rejected Plan for US to Arm Syrian Rebels:
Pentagon leaders told Congress on Thursday that they had supported a recommendation to arm Syrian rebels promoted by the State Department and CIA but which President Barack Obama ultimately decided against.
Iran president tells US to correct its attitude:
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says his country cannot hold meaningful talks with the U.S. on Tehran's disputed nuclear program if Washington is threatening his country.
Turkey's Halkbank to continue existing Iran transactions- min:
Turkish state-owned Halkbank will continue its existing transactions with Iran but some other banks have pulled back in response to pressure from the United States, Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan said on Thursday.
Iran broadcasts footage 'extracted from CIA spy drone':
Tehran claims to reverse-engineer RQ-170 Sentinel, adding Iran is producing 'more than 20 types of drones' and intends to export.
Hamas and Fatah in unity talks, says Khaled Meshaal:
Mr Meshaal also said preparations were being made for presidential and parliamentary elections.
Landmine kills 4 civilians in Mali:
The deadly blast took place on Thursday between the central town of Douentza and the northern city of Gao, some 320 kilometers east-southeast of Timbuktu.
Tunisian govt shake-up: A move away from hardline Islamist rule?:
To quell public fury at the murder of an opposition figure, the Tunisian government has promised elections. Amid claims the ruling Islamist-led Ennahda party was behind the killing, Tunisia's PM pledged a move towards a more secular system.
ICC orders Libya to hand over ex-spy chief:
Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have ordered Libyan authorities to immediately to hand over Abdullah al-Senussi, deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's former intelligence chief.
Haiti urged to pursue Jean-Claude Duvalier rights trial:
International human rights groups have urged the Haitian authorities not to drop a rights case against former ruler Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier.
Colombia's FARC guerrillas propose drug legalization in peace talks with government;
Colombia's main rebel army called on the government Wednesday to legalize the cultivation of marijuana, poppy and coca leaf, as well as the personal consumption of drugs derived from those plants.
Venezuela donates free heating oil to 100,000 needy US households; -
For the eighth straight year, Venezuela's state oil company is donating free heating oil to hundreds of thousands of needy Americans.
ECB Agrees to Ease Terms for Ireland:
The European Central Bank Thursday agreed to ease the terms under which the Irish government repays €31 billion ($41.92 billion) of debts. Charles Forelle joins Markets Hub
US silences national witness who debunked official 9/11 report:
"Actually, there was an initial explosion in the basement seconds before the plane hit. I spoke about it - they didn't want me to talk about it," said William Rodriguez, a janitor working for 20 years in the North Tower of the World Trade Center buildings.
Brennan pressed on drones at confirmation hearing for CIA post;
"It's the idea of giving any president unfettered power to kill an American without checks and balances that's so troubling," Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said. "Every American has the right to know when their government believes it's allowed to kill them."
U.S. drone use could set dangerous example for rogue powers:Op-Ed:
"I sincerely doubt most members of the U.S. government would be happy with China or Russia or North Korea using drones and lethal force the way the U.S. government is doing, which is outside the bounds of international law," said Johnson.
Democratic Senator Calls For Greater Declassification Of Drone Program:
More needs to be done to ensure that Americans are aware of the justification used by the administration to target those they deem combatants, Wyden told the panel interviewing him on MSNBC's Morning Joe.
Michael Moore asks citizens to stand up to Obama's 'dangerous' erosion of civil liberties:
"We have to work and speak out against the Obama administration and everything they are doing to destroy civil liberties."
Silent Circle, The New Encryption App That Is Terrifying The Government:
The idea is to "democratize encryption" by making it available to the non-tech-savvy with the push of a button. Will this be used for good or evil? Slate's Ryan Gallagher explains:
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"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
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