Hard News
Video: At least 58 killed as Syrian troops enter heart of Qusayr:
Syrian troops entered the center of the rebel stronghold of Qusayr on Sunday, seizing the town's main square and its municipality building, a military source said.
At least 32 killed as Syrian army, Hezbollah attack rebels in border town:
Syrian troops supported by Hezbollah militants launched an offensive to retake a major town near Lebanon from rebels on Sunday, the heaviest fighting yet involving Lebanese armed group, opposition activists said.
At least 2 killed as Syrian army thwarts infiltration from Lebanon:
Government forces ambushed the gunmen near the village of Ein al-Khadra killing two and capturing their weapons, while others fled back to Lebanon.
Clashes kill two in Lebanon's Tripoli, security source says:
At least two people were killed and six others wounded in running gun battles in the flashpoint northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, a security source told AFP on Sunday.
Sharia in Syria - whipping of men: Video -
They're whipping them because the older guy (father) married his daughter to the young man (other man) before the 3-month period that is required in Islam after her divorce.
The YouTube War: Online Videos Spread Fear in Syria: Video -
Aryn Baker discusses how fighters on both sides of the war post videos of beatings, torture and executions to incite fear
Syrian troops advance in northern, southern areas as rebels storm central towns:
In the countryside of Damascus, the state agency said the army demolished several rebel's positions namely in the areas of Hajar al-Aswad, Sbeineh, Douma, Harasta, al-Rihan, al-Mleiha, al- Zabadani, Adra, al-Nabek and Yabroud.
The "Free Syrian Army" Has a Brigade Called "Osama bin Laden"
This video footage from Damascus shows a brigade calling itself "Osama bin Laden", the al-Qaeda chief and founder. This brigade belongs to the Souqour Dimashq (Hawks of Damascus) Battalion of the "Free Syrian Army" (FSA).
Syrian opposition considers sacking its U.S.-backed interim leader:
The fractured Syrian opposition movement is considering ditching its prime minister at a meeting next week, action that would complicate the State Department's push for peace talks and once again leave the international community without a clear idea of who would take charge should Bashar Assad fall.
Robert Fisk: 'Syrian war could go on for two, three years':
President Bashar al-Assad's troops in Syria are gaining ground. British Middle East reporter Robert Fisk met some of them when he visited the front lines earlier this month, and told DW about he saw.
Assad accuses Israel of giving intel to Syrian rebel groups:
Syria's President Assad said that Israel tells Syrian 'terrorist groups' which sites to attack and how to attack them, according to an exclusive interview with Argentine newspaper Clarin.
Israel threatens to bomb Syria in response to Tirshreen missiles aimed at Tel Aviv:
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to bomb Syria again if Israel comes under threat from its missiles, or if it sends arms to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Netanyahu takes aim at weapons 'leakage' in Syria:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held out the prospect on Sunday of further Israeli strikes inside Syria, pledging to act to prevent advanced weapons from reaching Hezbollah and other militant groups.
Before confronting Syria, Israel should consider saving its energy for Iran: Op-Ed:
Israel will have to tread very carefully if it wants to avoid confrontation with Syria and Hezbollah, particularly as as global forces begin to intervene, and as Iran elections approach. - The Syrian president could, for example, fire a missile at a strategic Israeli target an infrastructure installation or anair force base and present Netanyahu with a dilemma of his own:
Fact or fiction:
Israel Mulling Plot to Assassinate Assad:
The Israeli Vala news website reported that the Israeli security and spy agencies were shocked at Assad's resistance against two years of terrorist and sabotage operations against the country and are mulling other ways to topple him.
Obama sways Erdogan on Russia-US brokered Syria conference:
Ankara agrees to international gathering 'in return for some guarantees' from Washington including assurance process will not be 'open-ended.'
Teargas v stones, bottles: Hundreds of protesters clash with Turkish police near Syrian border (VIDEO, PHOTOS):
Local reports stated that the count could have even stood at over 10,000. Residents of the town harbored frustration at the government's immediate response to last Saturday's fatal car bombs in Hatay province on the Turkey-Syria border which also injured over 100.
Wave of attacks kill at least 70 in Iraq:
The attacks, some of which hit market places and crowded bus stops during the morning rush hour, pushed the death toll in Iraq since Wednesday to over 200
Maliki to reveal names involved in creating current crisis in Iraq:
"We will reveal tomorrow during the Council of Ministers' meeting, the names of the figures responsible for the current crisis, calling the political blocs not to attend the parliament emergency session scheduled on next Tuesday to discuss the security situation because it will be sectarian and will give rise to the existing tensions."
US Kills Seven people in attack on Yemen :
At least seven suspected al-Qaeda members, including the leader of the group, have been killed in a drone air strike in south Yemen.
Report: Iran hangs 2 men convicted of spying for Mossad, CIA:
Sunday's report says Mohammad Heidari, who was accused of providing Mossad with classified information in return for money, and Kourosh Ahmadi, who allegedly gave the CIA intelligence on Iran, were hanged.
Saudi Arabia: Syrian drug trafficking convict beheaded:
Saudi Arabia has executed around 40 people since the beginning of the year and in 212 executed 70. Homicide, rape, apostasy and drug trafficking are among crimes punishable by death.
Israel is world's largest exporter of drones, study finds:
In eight years Israel exported $4.6 billion worth of UAVs, to countries ranging from Britain to India and Uganda.
13 year-old Palestinian boy shot at by settlers, tortured by soldiers, denied medical attention - Video -
At about 2pm on 16 May, a 13 year-old boy was shot at and beaten by settlers and soldiers; he broke bones in his leg running from the shots at him and from being beaten.
24 killed in rebel vs army battle in South Sudan:
South Sudan's military spokesman says 24 people were killed and dozens wounded during a battle between government troops and rebels who had overrun a town.
Nigeria says 17 Killed in Latest Fighting :
The Nigerian military says it has killed 14 Boko Haram militants and arrested 20 others. The military says three soldiers died in the fighting Sunday and another is missing.
Video: Tunisian police clash with Ansar al-Sharia supporters:
Supporters of hardline Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia clashed with Tunisian police in two cities on Sunday after the government banned its annual rally and group urged its supporters to stand firm against the authorities.
Nigerian army blockades Boko Haram base:
The military said on Sunday that its offensive against the group, which followed a declaration of a state of emergency in three northeastern states, was aimed at re-establishing Nigeria's "territorial integrity".
Sinai hostages 'can no longer stand torture' call on Mursi for help:
A video posted on Sunday by an anonymous account on YouTube appeared to show the seven hostages, blindfolded and with their hands on their heads, identifying themselves.
10 Afghan cops killed:
Taliban attacks killed at least ten Afghan police on Sunday, officials said.In one of the incidents, Taliban fighters attacked a security check post in the Muqur district of Ghazni province in southern Afghanistan, killing six police
Ex UK soldier exposes Afghan war horror:
A former British soldier in Afghanistan, who was jailed for refusing to fight, has revealed the horror behind the mask of "Britain as a force for good, liberty and democracy".
Pakistan court grants Musharraf bail in Bhutto murder:
The bail does not mean his automatic release as he also faces legal cases over the sacking of judges when he imposed emergency rule in 2007, and the 2006 death of a Baluch rebel leader.
Car bombs kill eight in Russia's Dagestan: investigators:
Two car bombs exploded in Dagestan on Monday, killing at least eight people and wounding about 20 others, investigators said, one of the deadliest attacks this year in a region plagued with violence linked to an Islamist insurgency.
Obama's false promises about Guantánamo:
The Obama administration has carried out virtually the same "war on terror" policies--often exactly the same policies--as its predecessors in the Bush administration, including the indefinite detention of prisoners at Guantánamo.
How the FBI's online wiretapping plan could get your computer hacked:
The FBI is pushing for expanded power to eavesdrop on private Internet communications. The law enforcement agency wants to force online service providers to build wiretapping capabilities into their products.
1984?
Tipping law enforcement to possible terrorist activity is purpose of 13-county program:
The site provides examples of red flags to watch for, such as people with an unusual interest in building plans or who are purchasing materials useful in bomb making. Important places to watch include hobby stores and dive shops.
'Environmental genocide': Native Americans quit talks over Keystone XL pipeline:
Leaders from 11 Native American tribes stormed out of a meeting with US federal officials in Rapid City, South Dakota, to protest the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which they say will lead to 'environmental genocide.'
Bill Nye Boo'd In Texas For Saying The Moon Reflects The Sun:
As even most elementary-school graduates know, the moon reflects the light of the sun but produces no light of its own. But don't tell that to the good people of Waco, who were "visibly angered by what some perceived as irreverence," according to the Waco Tribune.
BARRON'S: There Were Two Gigantic, Suspicious Sales Of Gold On Friday That Caused The Price To Plunge:
Gold went down the toilet again on Friday, and is now close to revisiting its April lows.
Taxes on some wealthy French top 100 pct of income: paper:
More than 8,000 French households' tax bills topped 100 percent of their income last year, the business newspaper Les Echos reported on Saturday, citing Finance Ministry data.
UK: Father dies in a fireball after being hounded by payday loan companies over £1,600 debt:
A debt-ridden father doused himself in petrol and turned himself into a human fireball after being harassed for money by payday loan firms.
Treasury Prepares to Take Measures to Avoid Default:
The Obama administration notified Congress on Friday that it was taking steps to free up about $260 billion so that it can keep paying the nation's bills when a temporary suspension in the debt ceiling lapses this weekend.
Central banks saved world economy, now beware the fallout: IMF:
In new research, they also said central banks could face severe losses when they begin to withdraw the extraordinary sums of money they have pumped into financial systems around the world.
Wal-Mart, Kohl's, Nordstrom Sales Drop:
Some of the biggest names in shopping had a tough first quarter as cautious consumers reduced spending. Wal-Mart, Nordstrom and Kohl's all reported a small decline in sales, largely because of the rise in payroll taxes that took a bite out of household spending.
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"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
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