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Hard News
30 killed in suicide bombing at Iraq political rally:
The
bomber blew himself up as Muthana al-Jourani, a Sunni Muslim candidate
campaigning for provincial elections due April 20, was hosting a lunch
for his supporters. Al-Jourani survived.
Air raid kills 15 in Kurd area of Syria's Aleppo: Report:
It
was not immediately clear if any of the casualties were fighters from
the Democratic Union Party (PYD), Syria's branch of Turkey's outlawed
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the Britain-based Observatory said.
Ahmed, 8-year-old FSA soldier from Aleppo :
Video -
In Pictures: Syria in ruins:
Photos capture shocking devastation caused to war-torn country
Saudi Arabia backs push to carve out liberated southern Syria:
Saudi
Arabia is backing a push by Syrian opposition rebels to carve out a
"liberated" area in southern Syria, opening a key route of attack on
Damascus.
Sectarianism, Saudi-Qatar Jostling:
The
task of forming the government is hindered by an American and Qatari
insistence on nominating people who would help restructure and expand
its level of representation and legitimacy, so that posts and
ministries are more equitably divided. It also awaits a Qatari-Saudi
consensus on the manner in which Hito's government would be run
Syria Needs Negotiations to Stop 'Massacre' - Putin:
Russia
is not looking to oust Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and wants the
conflicting parties to negotiate and stop the "massacre," putting an
end to the "catastrophe" in Syria, President Vladimir Putin said on
Friday.
Moscow Slams UN 'Maneuvering' on Syria Chemical Attack Probe:
Moscow
believes the United Nations is disrupting an investigation into the
alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria under pressure of "certain
states," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
Iran Nuclear Talks: No Breakthrough, But Step Forward:
The
latest round of talks between six world powers and Iran on its nuclear
program has been "definitely a step forward," although it has ended
with no clear breakthrough, Russia's top negotiator on Iran said on
Saturday.
A Journey to Iran - Video -
A short movie about Iran by Iranian Student Association (ISA) at the Pennsylvania State University (PSU).
Six Americans killed in Afghanistan as top US general arrives:
Attack
in Zabul province kills three US occupation force soldiers and two
civilians with another civilian killed in east of country, say
officials
Bangladesh protesters demand blasphemy law:
Hundreds of thousands of marchers call for law that would include death penalty for bloggers who insult Islam.
At least 5 killed, 8 injured as Copts and Muslims clash outside Cairo:
Fight reportedly broke out after Christian children drew upside down crosses on walls of an Islamic institution in Khosoos
US Secretly Deploys B-1 Strategic Bombers, E-6 "Doomsday" Planes Near North Korea:
This
particular deployment has been kept secret from the public (at least
the broader public), "a fact that could be the sign that the U.S. is
not only making symbolic moves, but it is preparing for the worst
scenario: an attack on North Korea."
Force Feeding Continues As Guantanamo Hunger Strike Grows:
U.S.
Says More Prisoners Join In Protest: Eleven hunger strikers are being
force-fed to prevent them from losing enough weight to put their lives
in danger.
U.N. rights chief calls for closure of Guantanamo prison:
The
U.N. human rights chief called on the United States on Friday to close
down the Guantanamo prison camp, saying the indefinite imprisonment of
many detainees without charge or trial violated international law.
Surviving 'Collateral Murder':
Soldier relives infamous WikiLeaks video
FBI interviews ex-CIA chief Petraeus: -
FBI
agents interviewed ex-CIA chief David Petraeus to probe whether secret
files had been passed to the woman at the center of the scandal that
brought him down, USA Today reported.
Venezuela's opposition presidential candidate wages fierce campaign:
Henrique
Capriles, the charismatic Catholic grandson of Holocaust survivors,
warns of problems if pro-Chavez acting president remains at the helm.
Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant leaking contaminated water: -
As
much as 120 tons of radioactive water may have leaked from a storage
tank at Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, contaminating the
surrounding ground, Tokyo Electric Power Co said on Saturday.
Monsanto Protection Act put GM companies above the federal courts:
Campaigners say that not even the US government can now stop the sale, planting, harvest or distribution of any GM seed
Judge OKs Bank of America's $2.43 billion settlement:
The
bank proposed the settlement in late September. The agreement resolves
allegations that Bank of America did not disclose the state of its
finances or those of Merrill Lynch when it agreed to buy Merrill in
September 2008.
ACLU catches Ohio jailing those too poor to pay fines:
A
new ACLU report accuses Ohio courts of imprisoning people who are
unable to pay court fees. The group, which claims to have found
evidence in seven counties, likened the practice to a resurgence of
debtor's prisons - which were outlawed by the 1830s.
As cities lay off police, frustrated neighborhoods turn to private cops:
On
the streets of Oakland, budget cuts have made the beat cop a rare
breed, and some of the city's wealthy neighborhoods have turned to
unarmed security guards to take their place.
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"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
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