Hard News
26 killed in 2 simultaneous car bombs in Niger:
Suicide
bombers in Niger detonated two car bombs simultaneously on Thursday,
one inside a military camp in the city of Agadez and another in the
remote town of Arlit at a French-operated uranium mine, killing a total
of 26 people and injuring 30, according to officials in Niger and
France.
13 Pakistani Police Officers Killed in Blast in Restive Region:
At
least 13 police officers were killed on Thursday morning when a
powerful remote-controlled bomb ripped through a police truck in
southwestern Pakistan, officials said. At least 17 others were injured.
Pakistan arrested American citizen before he was killed in drone strike:
According to Pakistani security officials, Jude was killed in a drone attack in South Waziristan in late 2011.
7 killed in Afghan suicide blast:
A
teenage suicide bomber killed seven people in central Afghanistan on
Wednesday when he targeted local fighters who battle against Taliban
insurgents, officials said. The attacker detonated himself in a market
place in Ghazni province.
Death toll from north Lebanon clashes hits 16:
Two
people were killed and 28 others were wounded in fierce clashes in
Tripoli, north Lebanon, which continued until the early hours of
Thursday morning, security sources said, as the acting head of the
police warned that the situation in the city was dire.
Lebanon: Israeli fighter jets circling over the country:"
Lebanese media reported that Israeli warplanes are practicing simulated attack operations in southern Lebanon.
Syrian "rebels" seize base, kill 40 soldiers:
Pro-rebel
activists say: Syrian rebels killed at least 40 soldiers and other
fighters loyal to the Syrian government as they captured a military
base in the northwestern province of Idlib on Wednesday
Tawhid Brigade in Aleppo sends support units to al-Qusayr:
Tawhid
Brigade in Aleppo have sent support units to al-Qusayr surrounded by
Assad regime forces and Hezbollah militias, said press advisor of
Tawhid Brigade Abdulkerim Abu Firas.
Syria: Qusayr Battle Far From Over:
The
Syrian army may have made some rapid advances in the battle for the
town of Qusayr, but a short visit to the embattled city reveals that
the opposition is digging in for a long fight.
Militants in Syria receive 35-ton Saudi arms cargo: Top cmdr.:
Brigadier
General Salim Idris, the chief of staff of the Free Syrian Army, said
on Thursday that the consignment will help armed men in their battles
against the Syrian Army.
Syrian Army detains Saudi, Qatari officers caught aiding rebel forces:
Arab
diplomatic sources said the Army detained Qatari military officers as
well as a senior ally of the Saudi intelligence community in the
rebel-held town of Qusair. They said the Saudi captured near the
Lebanese border was identified as an agent of the Saudi intelligence
agency.
Engineering Consent For Arming "Rebels":
Syria government is making gains and 'planning a major push':
President
Bashar al-Assad has made such significant miltiary gains that arming
rebels directly has become a matter of urgency, according to British
sources.
An interview with Jabhat al-Nusra: How has Jabhat al-Nusra become so powerful? -
The
reason is the weakening of the other groups. Jabhat al-Nusra gets the
advantage because of our ideology. We are not just rebels; we are doing
something we believe in. We are not just fighting against tyranny;
Bashar Assad is only part of our fight. The other groups are only a
reaction to the regime, whereas we are fighting for a vision.
General says Israel ready to attack Syria should Assad fall:
Major-General
Amir Eshel said Israelis should brace for a protracted and painful
conflict should their forces engage in combat with Hezbollah or its
main backer, Iran.
This Russian Mobile SAM Site Could Be a Serious Ace Up Syria's Sleeve:
Coalition
airstrikes helped turn the tides of the Libyan revolution in favor of
the rebels; why not do the same in Syria? Because the Syrian government
may or may not have just taken possession of one of the most
frightening anti-aircraft batteries ever devised, that's why.
Israeli sensors search for the S-300 in Syria:
According to reliable sources, at least one shipment of Russian-made S-300 missiles has been transferred to Syria.
Russia says Assad's foes lack commitment to peace talk.
"We
value the constructive reaction of the Syrian leadership to this
proposal (for a conference)," Lavrov said at the start of talks with
Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad in Moscow. "We also hope
that a constructive reaction from various opposition groups ... will
follow. So far, however, the news is not hopeful."
Syrian rebels, U.S. disagree on peace talks:,
The
Syrian opposition said Wednesday it welcomes the promise of increased
U.S. involvement in finding a solution to two years of war, but that it
would not accept peace talks if top members of the regime of Bashar
Assad are involved.
Qatar PM says Assad departure:
Qatar's
prime minister said on Wednesday that President Bashar al-Assad's must
step down if a political end to Syria's civil war is to be achieved,
echoing similar remarks from Britain.
Turkey shuts Syria border crossing after deadly bombs:
The
prime minister's visit could stir up tensions in Reyhanli and the
surrounding area where several anti-government protests have erupted
since the attacks.
Syria: 10,000 people at the gates of Turkey:
A
few months ago, 4,000 people were staying in this temporary settlement
- now there are around 10,000. Most live in tents, but Hussein Alwawi
and his family have found refuge inside the local mosque.
Iraq: Seven soldiers killed in clashes with gunmen:
Seven
Iraqi soldiers were killed in clashes with gunmen on Thursday, police
and hospital sources said, as fears mount that Iraq might slide back
into bloody sectarian strife.
In the world of charity, Israel is still receiving a lot more than it gives back:
Billions
of dollars were collected around the world to help the victims of the
tsunami and other disasters, but Israel's financial contribution was
meager. Israelis contributed 10 cents on average to international
relief efforts, compared with $20 by the typical Dutchman and $200 by
the typical Norwegian.
Hamas sentences man to death for collaborating with Israel:
A
military court in the Gaza Strip has sentenced a Palestinian to death
for collaborating with Israel and another to a life sentence with hard
labor, the Hamas interior ministry said on Thursday.
Iran election: Rafsanjani criticises leaders' 'ignorance':
Former
Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has accused Iran's leaders
of incompetence and ignorance, an opposition website reports.
Iran says IAEA report shows nuclear drive is peaceful:
It
also showed there was "no evidence of diversion in nuclear material
and activities toward military purposes" and that "all the centrifuges
and each gram of uranium are under the supervision of the agency," he
said.
In a world gone crazy:
'Corruption Of Blood' Bill Would Convict Family Members Of Iran Sanctions Violators :
Rep.
Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Wednesday offered legislative language that
would "automatically" punish family members of people who violate U.S.
sanctions against Iran, levying sentences of up to 20 years in prison.
London attacker British, of Nigerian origin: source:
Local
media named one of the two suspects as British-born, 28-year-old
Londoner Michael Adebolajo and said police raided homes of relatives in
the city and near the town of Lincoln. Both men involved in
Wednesday's attack appeared to have converted to Islam from Christian
backgrounds, media said.
Woolwich attack: Suspects known to security services:
Sources
said reports the men had featured in "several investigations" in
recent years - but were not deemed to be planning an attack - "were not
inaccurate".
Soldier killed in London had served in Afghanistan:
The
British soldier butchered on the streets of London by two suspected
Islamists was a 25-year-old father who had fought the Taliban in
Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said on Thursday.
Ken Livingstone: we were warned that Iraq "would make Britain a target":
In
response to the Woolwich attack, the former Mayor of London says "we
are still experiencing the dreadful truth of this warning".
Prominent Journalists Challenges Secrecy Of Manning Court Martial In Civilian Court:
The
lawsuit challenges the fact that substantive legal matters in the
court martial - including a pretrial publicity order - have been argued
and decided in secret. The plaintiffs include CCR and journalists Amy
Goodman, Jeremy Scahill, Kevin Gosztola, Glenn Greenwald, Julian
Assange, and Chase Madar.
With New Mini-Satellites, Special Ops Takes Its Manhunts Into Space:
In
September, the U.S. government will fire into orbit a two-stage rocket
from a Virginia launchpad. The launch purpose: to help the elite
forces of U.S. Special Operations Command hunt down people considered
to be dangerous to the United States and its interests.
Father of man killed by FBI shares regrets:
The
father of a Chechen immigrant shot dead by U.S. law enforcement agents
while being questioned about his ties to a Boston Marathon bombings
suspect said Thursday that he regrets allowing his son to go to the
United States.
Pope Francis calls on Christians to accept the good works atheists perform:
It
is not the first time Pope Francis has voiced solidarity with
atheists. In March, he said atheists and nonbelievers could be
"precious allies in efforts to defend the dignity of man, in the
building of a peaceful coexistence between peoples and in the careful
protection of creation."
Israel and Mexico swap notes on abusing rights:
Earlier
this month, Jorge Luis Llaven Abarca, Mexico's newly-appointed
secretary of public security in Chiapas, announced that discussions had
taken place between his office and the Israeli defense ministry. The
two countries talked about security coordination at the level of
police, prisons and effective use of technology ("Israeli military will
train Chiapas police,"
A Global Goal on Gender Equality, Women's Rights and Women's Empowerment: Op-Ed:
Hardly
a day goes by without a news story on some violation of women's
rights. In recent months, appalling incidents of violence against women
and girls, from Delhi to Johannesburg to Cleveland, have sparked
public outrage and demands to tackle these horrific abuses.
U.S. Sergeant Raped in Afghanistan Found Nowhere to Go:
As
the only woman in her bomb-disposal unit in Afghanistan, Army Sergeant
Rebekah Havrilla said she had learned to endure sexual harassment from
her team leader and contempt from the captain who commanded the unit.
Army: Soldier secretly taped female cadets:
The
Army is investigating a soldier who helped train cadets at West Point
amid allegations that he made secret videos of female cadets, the
latest in a rash of cases that have brought heavy political pressure on
the Pentagon to crack down on sexually oriented offenses in the ranks.
TPP: The Biggest Threat to the Internet You've Probably Never Heard Of: Video -
The
Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement is being negotiated in secret
between more than 12 countries around the Pacific region. Find out why
it's the biggest threat to the Internet you've probably never heard of.
Bernanke Sparks Massive Sell Off : Video -
Fed
Chairman Bernanke and weak Chinese data rattle markets. Japan's Nikkei
tumbles over 7 percent - its biggest one-day fall in two years -
shedding over 1,000 points. Europe deeply in the red too.
"Everybody is in trouble!" - Real financial crisis is yet to come - Video -
American
sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein speaks about the "quotstructural
crisis" in the global financial system and the dangers facing both rich
and developing countries.
Millions of poverty-stricken Italians unable to afford heat, meat amid economic crisis:
As
a severe recession and unprecedented unemployment sweeps Italy,
millions of people are struggling to make ends meet. The number of
those receiving food assistance has doubled in the past two years
US Manufacturing Growth Slips to Seven-Month Low:
U.S.
manufacturing slowed for a second straight month in May as weak
overseas demand and government belt-tightening at home led to the
sector's most sluggish rate of growth since October, a survey showed on
Thursday.
A Budget That Tightens Belts by Emptying Stomachs:
A
time-honored tactic of conservative lawmakers is to "starve the
beast"by defunding government programs. In the case of food stamps-the
quintessential whipping boy for budget hawks-they're going a step
further by trying to starve actual people.
Outcry from Chicago teachers as city votes to close 50 schools:
Critics
have blasted Emanuel, the former White House chief of staff, and
Byrd-Bennett, saying the closings disproportionately affect minority
neighborhoods and will endanger children who may have to cross gang
boundaries to get to a new school.
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"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
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