Hard News
38 "Taliban fighters" killed in Afghan clashes: Report:
Lotfullah
Kamran told dpa that about 1 000 Taliban attacked three villages in
Andar, one of the most dangerous districts in Ghazni province.
At least 20 people killed in latest wave of bombings:
At least 20 people have been killed and dozens more injured after a series of bombings in Iraq.
30 killed in new wave of bombings:
The
attacks came hours after bomb blasts tore through two Baghdad
neighborhoods on Wednesday evening, killing at least 30 people.
20 "militants" killed in Pakistan:
At
least 20 militants were killed in a clash with security forces Friday
in a tribal area in northwest Pakistan on Friday, state-run radio
reported.
Bush- Blair Legacy Of Death Continues As
Iraq sees deadliest month in 5 years:
More
than 500 people were killed in Iraq in May, about 120 of them since
May 27 alone, making it the deadliest month since June 2008, according
to the United Nations.
Six Afghan civilians killed, 12 injured in US-led air strike:
Afghan
security sources said four women and a child were among those killed.
More than twelve others were reportedly injured. The US-led NATO forces
targeted on Thursday an area in northeastern Kapisa Province.
More than 140 were killed in Syria Thursday: Pro-rebel activists say:
The
dead include: 57 civilians, 54 rebel fighters, 1 YPG fighter, 3
defected officers, 5 non-Syrian rebel fighters and at least 24 regular
soldiers.
Rebel reinforcements arrive in Qusair:
Dozens
of fighters have arrived to reinforce rebel units battling to hold off
a Syrian government and Hezbollah assault on the key town of Qusair. -
But the arrival does contradict state media reports the town is
surrounded.
Syrian rebels call for urgent medical and military aid for Qusair: Video -
They
claim they are unable to evacuate 700 wounded people as they are under
persistent attack from Syrian government forces backed by Hezbollah
fighters.
Assad begins to gain upper hand in Syrian civil war:
On
the battlefield and in the corridors of diplomacy, the civil war in
Syria has begun to swing the way of President Bashar Assad.
Michigan Woman Killed Fighting Alongside Syrian Al Qaeda Rebels:
CNN
reports that forces loyal to President Bashar Al-Assad found maps,
weapons, and the Al Nusra Front flag on the dead westerners.
Family confirms: Flint woman, 33, killed by Syrian government forces:
A
33-year-old Flint woman who converted to Islam after meeting an Arab
immigrant was killed in Syria while fighting for opposition forces,
family members told the Free Press tonight.
How Libyan Weapons and Know-How Reach Syrian "Rebel" Fighters:
The
reason for this night's meeting, was to help the Libyans figure out
how to get some of Libya's vast and loose stockpiles of machine guns,
artillery, ammunition and antiaircraft systems from supplies donated to
the Libyan rebels by the oil-rich Gulf nation of Qatar - to Assad's
opponents.
U.S. Weapon Makes a Surprise Reappearance in Syria: Video -
M40s
somehow came into the hands of rebels in Libya and Syria. Suddenly,
the 106mm - light, cheap, easily transportable, simple to operate, and
packing a punch all out of proportion to its modest size - has emerged
as a possible Great Asymmetric Weapon of the Day.
McCain crosses paths with rebel kidnapper:
U.S.
Senator John McCain was photographed with a known affiliate of the
rebel group responsible for the kidnapping of 11 Lebanese Shiite
pilgrims one year ago, during a brief and highly publicized visit
inside Syria this week.
FSA Merges with Jabhat al-Nusra in Aleppo: Video - :
Three
militant groups, Ahrar al-Sham, Jabhat al-Nusra and the Free Syrian
Army are seen represented by commanders, are seen announcing a merger.
Russia may revise ban on Syrian arms exports - Minister:
Russia
is disappointed with the EU move to end the ban on arms sales to the
Syrian opposition and may reconsider its own commitments to
restrictions on weapons deliveries to the war-torn country, Defense
Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday.
Netanyahu indicated to Putin: 'We'll destroy your missiles if you deliver them to Assad':
Putin
reportedly guaranteed that Assad wouldn't transfer the S-300s to a
third party, such as Hezbollah, and that should Israel strike such an
arms convoy, Russia didn't believe Syria would retaliate. Despite this,
Netanyahu reportedly made clear that Israel was concerned over the
deal in and of itself.
Russia to Sell at Least 10 MiG Fighters to Syria:
Russia's
MiG aircraft maker said Friday it plans to sign a new agreement to
ship at least 10 fighter jets to Syria, a move that comes amid
international criticism of earlier Russian weapons deals with Syrian
President Bashar Assad's regime.
Syria's opposition won't attend international peace talks:
The best hope yet for ending Syria's civil war has suffered a serious setback
Syria's Bashar Assad says a peace pact would face a referendum:
Syrian
President Bashar Assad says voters would have the ultimate say on any
peace deal arising from talks sponsored by the U.S. and Russia.
U.N. investigators say most Syria rebels not seeking democracy:
Most
Syrian rebel fighters do not want democracy and the country's civil
war is producing ever worse atrocities and increasing radicalization,
independent U.N. investigators said on Tuesday.
Turkey returns fire after troops shot at from Syria:
The
troops returned fire after three to five gunmen shot between 15 and 20
rounds at the vehicle patrolling a stretch of the shared border in
Turkey's southern Hatay province on Wednesday
Turkey arrests 12 in raids on Syrian 'terrorist' organization planning chemical attack:
Turkish
newspapers had reported that 12 people from Syria's al Qaeda-linked
al-Nusra Front who allegedly had been planning an attack inside Turkey
and were in possession of 2 kg (4.5 pounds) of sarin, had been detained
in Adana.
Turkish police 'arrest 12 (Al-Nusra Front) terror suspects' in raids:
Adana provincial governor Huseyin Avni Cos did say that unknown chemicals had been found and were being investigated.
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad: We now have Russia's advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missiles:
The
announcement, reportedly made by president Bashar al-Assad to
Lebanon's Hezbollah-owned television station, will further ramp up
tensions in the region and could undermine efforts to hold UN peace
talks in the region.
Israeli defense chief indicates if Russia ships advanced missiles to Syria, they could be hit:
Israel's
defense chief said Tuesday a Russian plan to supply sophisticated
anti-aircraft missiles to Syria was a "threat" and signaled that Israel
is prepared to use force to stop the delivery.
Assad: Syria will strike back at any future Israeli attack:
President
Bashar Assad has said that Syria "will respond in kind" to any future
Israeli airstrike on its territory and expressed confidence in the
victory over the foes of the Syrian state, RIA Novosti reported.
Kerry: Russia's plans to send S-300 missiles to Assad put Israel at risk:
U.S.
Secretary of State and his German counterpart warn Russia against
sending Assad regime sophisticated air defense system, say this would
harm Syria peace efforts.
Iran cuts Hamas funding for failing to show support for Assad: Report:
Hamas
has denied that it is in financial crisis but says it faces liquidity
problems stemming from inconsistent revenues from tax collection in the
Gaza Strip and foreign aid.
Israel OK's 300 new illegal settler units:
Housing
Ministry spokesman Ariel Rosenberg said on Thursday that the new units
will be built in Ramot neighborhood, which lies in the territory
Israeli occupied in 1967.
Libya becomes 'the new Mali' as Islamists shift in Sahara:
Security
officials say lawless southern Libya has become the latest haven for
al Qaeda-linked fighters after French-led forces drove them from
strongholds in northern Mali this year, killing hundreds.
UN expert demands freeze on robot weapons:
The
international community must impose a moratorium on robot weapons, a
UN expert told the world body's top human rights forum Thursday,
warning that they could enable war crimes to go unpunished.
Retired Gen. David Petraeus Heads To Wall Street: :
Retired
Gen. David Petraeus is headed to Wall Street where he will join
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, a firm that invests globally in everything
from real estate to coffee to biotech.
Guantánamo Bay hunger strike worsens:
On
the eve of Obama's address, there were 103 prisoners on hunger strike,
with 31 being force-fed by military authorities and one in hospital.
Since then, not a single prisoner has stopped their strike, and now 36
of the detainees are being force-fed to keep them alive, with five of
them being hospitalised.
The Inside Story Of The Hunger Strike And Force-Feeding At Guantanamo:
The
international community, including the United Nations, unanimously
agree that the Conventions are being violated daily in Guantanamo."
Guantánamo Bay hunger strikers demand new doctors in letter of protest:
Force-fed detainees tell military doctors 'dual loyalties make trusting you impossible' and insist upon independent treatment
Guantanamo guard converts to Islam, demands release of detainees :
Terry
Holdbrooks was deployed to the Guantanamo Bay detention center to
guard detainees. The Phoenix, Ariz., resident has become a devout
Muslim and an unlikely advocate for the prisoners' rights.
Ecuador says UK violating WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's 'human rights':
"What
greater affront to human rights is there than to have a person unable
to leave an embassy, when the state concerned has granted him political
asylum?" Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa said in a radio interview.
Student Activist, Says She Was Violated During TSA Pat-Down (VIDEO)
A
27-year-old Ph.D. student says a TSA agent touched her vaginal area
during a pat-down at a California airport; however, a representative
told The Huffington Post the agents followed procedure.
Euro zone unemployment hits record high - again:
Eurostat
figures found that an additional 95,000 people lost their jobs -
bringing the total of unemployed Europeans to a painful 19.38 million,
on track to pass 20 million this year.
Germany fears revolution if Europe scraps welfare model: -
German
Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble warned on Tuesday that failure to
win the battle against youth unemployment could tear Europe apart, and
dropping the continent's welfare model in favor of tougher U.S.
standards would spark a revolution.
Wisconsin proposal would reduce benefits to unemployed:
Benefits
paid to unemployed people in Wisconsin would be more difficult to
receive, thereby saving the state $37 million over the next two years,
under an expansive Republican-backed plan approved Wednesday by the
Legislature's budget committee.
Richest 20 percent get half the overall savings from U.S. tax breaks, CBO says:
The
richest 1 percent of households, those with at least $327,000 in
annual income, get an especially big haul - about 17 percent of the
total savings, according to the report by the Congressional Budget
Office.
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"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
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