62 killed, 139 wounded in wave of attacks across Iraq:
Unidentified gunmen opened fire on Iraqi security forces guarding oil facilities on the road between Haditha and Baiji in northern Iraq, killing 11 soldiers, a police source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
UN warns Iraq violence could lead to civil war:
"Iraq is really at a crossroads. I wouldn't say we're at a civil war yet, but the figures are not looking good," Francesco Motta said.
Shelling kills 15 in Damascus, including 6 in city center: activists:
Fifteen people were killed on Friday in shelling on Damascus, among them six in the heart of the capital, as the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan entered its third day, a watchdog said
Syrian rebels prepare to abandon Homs:
The last opposition-held areas of Homs are set to fall within days to the Syrian army after rebel forces decided to "sacrifice" the country's third-largest city to the regime of Bashar al-Assad, according to diplomats and opposition sources.
Free Syrian Army commander killed by al-Qaeda:
Commander shot in the head by al-Qaeda-linked fighters in attack that signals growing strife between rebel groups.
New front opens in Syria as rebels say al-Qaeda attack means war:
Syrian rebels said on Friday the assassination of one of their top commanders by militants linked to al-Qaeda was tantamount to a declaration of war, opening a new front for the Western-backed fighters struggling against President Bashar al-Assad's forces.
Money, guns flowing from Kuwait to Syria's most radical rebel factions:
Syrian rebels have a new source of weapons and cash from inside Kuwait, and their benefactors in the oil-rich state are sending the aid to the most militant and anti-West factions involved in the fight to topple Bashar al-Assad.
Comrades in Arms: How Libya sends weapons to Syria's rebels:
As the United States prepares to send weapons to the Syrian opposition, former Libyan rebels are now going public with the news that they have been doing exactly that for the last year.
U.S. plan to arm Syrian rebels stalls amid congressional disagreements:
To the growing frustration of those who won a long and contentious internal administration debate over the issue of supplying arms, members of the Senate and House intelligence committees remain divided on the proposal to send light weapons and ammunition to the rebel forces.
Poll: No arms to Syrian rebels, most Americans say:
Sixty-one percent of voters, including a majority of both parties, say it is not in America's interest to become involved, while only 27 percent disagree. Similarly, 59 percent of voters oppose providing arms and military supplies to Syrian rebel groups, while only 27 percent would support such a move.
Russia slams West's 'propaganda storm' on Syria chemical arms:
Ambassador Vitaly Churkin on Tuesday presented U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon a Russian analysis that Churkin said showed how a projectile containing sarin that hit Khan al-Assal in the northern Aleppo province on March 19, killing 26 civilians and military personnel, was fired by rebels.
UN officials accept Syria's invitation for talks on chemical weapons probe:
The United Nations disarmament chief and the head of the team probing the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria have accepted the Government's invitation to visit Damascus for talks on carrying out the investigation.
One person killed in mass brawl caused by Syrian refugees in Turkey:
A mass fight has broken out amongst Syrian refugees in a tent camp in the Turkish province of Batman, Haberturk TV channel said on Friday. A 40-year-old Syrian was killed and several people were injured during the fight. The injured were taken to the nearest hospital.
The CIA: Al-Qaeda Dispatched 16 Tons of Explosives to Lebanon:
Nearly a week before the July 9 bombing in Beirut, the Lebanese security services received tip-offs from their US counterparts indicating that al-Qaeda had prepared two large explosive devices for detonation in Dahiyeh, in parallel with plans by the terrorist group to target officials in Hezbollah and the Lebanese army, as well as diplomats from the Gulf, Russia, and China.
Cast as Hezbollah supporters, Lebanese Shiites are expelled from Sunni Gulf amid sectarian war:
When Ali Farhat was summoned to the immigration department in the United Arab Emirates, the 33-year-old Lebanese restaurant worker knew he would have to pack up his family and leave fast.
Israel tests rocket system: ministry:
Israeli media, citing analysts, said the test appeared to be of a version of the Jericho ballistic missile with a range of at least 5,000 kilometres (3,100 miles), easily capable of hitting arch-foe Iran.
Pakistan: Three killed, 12 injured in Kohat mosque blast
The first day of the holy month of Ramazaan was marred with bloodshed in Kohat division Thursday afternoon where the heartless terrorists carried out a deadly blast near a mosque some 25 kilometers from the city killing at least three persons and seriously wounding 12 others moments after the Zuhr prayers.
Afghanistan: Bomber Killed, Civilians Wounded in Afghanistan Car Bombing:
While police chased it, the vehicle was detonated at a security checkpoint, the official added.
Canadian military still investigating Afghanistan sex assault claim:
Probe investigates claims Canadian soldiers told by superiors to ignore incidents in which Afghan boys were assaulted by allied soldiers
Bomb blast targeting Mogadishu airport kills 2:
At least two people have been killed due to a powerful explosion and ensuing gunfire near the heavily-fortified Mogadishu International Airport, Somali security officials say.
Militants in Egypt's Sinai kill police officer:
The officials say the attack happened early on Friday south the city of el-Arish when militants fired an RPG at an armored car at the checkpoint, killing 40-year-old Lt. Col. Ahmed Mahmoud.
Egypt's Christians face backlash for Morsi ouster:
With a mob of Muslim extremists on their tail, the Christian businessman and his nephew climbed up on the roof and ran for their lives, jumping from building to building in their southern Egyptian village. Finally they ran out of rooftops.
Million person march? Morsi supporters plan huge rally in Cairo:
Supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi called for one million people to march on Friday to demand his reinstatement.
Morsi's son: He's a legitimate leader:
In interview with CNN, Osama Morsi says 'There is no revolution in the world that brings military rule. There is no revolution in the world that cancels the ballot box'
US: Morsi's government was undemocratic:
In an apparent reversal of US policy, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Morsi's government "wasn't a democratic rule ... What I mean is what we've been referencing about the 22 million people who have been out there voicing their views and making clear that democracy is not just about simply winning the vote at the ballot box".
Germany calls for Mursi release in Egypt:
Germany on Friday called for the release of ousted Egyptian president Mohammad Mursi amid mounting tensions between supporters and opponents over his overthrow.
Luxembourg's Prime Minister Resigns:
The longest-serving government leader in the European Union, Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg, resigned as prime minister on Thursday amid a ballooning intelligence service scandal that began with revelations that the duchy's former spy chief taped official meetings with a recorder disguised as a wristwatch.
EU subservient to US - Irish MP who called Obama 'war criminal':
Standing up to one's government is becoming the only way for citizens to stop the spread of Western imperialism and its double standards, said Clare Daly, the now famous Irish MP who lambasted President Obama at Northern Ireland's G8 summit.
How Microsoft handed the NSA access to encrypted messages:
Secret files show scale of Silicon Valley co-operation on Prism
Report: How Skype secrets got into the hands of the NSA:
Microsoft granted the National Security Agency access to private emails and Skype calls through its Prism spying program as early as 2011, according to documents obtained by The Guardian.
Chevron Granted Access to Activists' Private Internet Data:
A federal judge in New York approved a subpoena by Chevron to obtain any documents Microsoft has related to the identity of 30 anonymous individuals allegedly of interest in the litigation, including every IP address over a period of nine years.
Jailed Journalist Barrett Brown Faces 105 Years For Reporting on Hacked Private Intelligence Firms:
Journalist Barrett Brown spent his 300th day behind bars this week on a range of charges filed after he used information obtained by the hacker group Anonymous to report on the operations of private intelligence firms
Yahoo wants Fisa objections revealed:
Company says court papers would show the public it fought strenuously against intelligence agencies accessing its data
Julian Assange: How cryptography is a key weapon in the fight against empire states: Op-Ed:
What began as a means of retaining individual freedom can now be used by smaller states to fend off the ambitions of larger ones
Edward Snowden to meet Amnesty and Human Rights Watch at Moscow airport - live coverage:
He wants help in guaranteeing his safe passage to Latin America, she says. He will submit an asylum claim to Russia today, but he plans to go to Latin America eventually, she says.
NSA Even Spied on Google Maps Searches, Documents Suggest:
The NSA can monitor a person's Google Maps activity-and use this as a basis to follow up any activity deemed suspicious with further investigation. The slide notes:
What the government pays to snoop on you:
How much are your private conversations worth to the U.S. government? Turns out, it can be a lot, depending on the technology.
Russian guard service reverts to typewriters after NSA leaks:
Leaks by US whistleblower Edward Snowden have fuelled Russian suspicions over electronic communications.
Experts: Obama's plan to predict future leakers unproven, unlikely to work:
President Barack Obama has ordered federal employees to report suspicious actions of their colleagues based on behavioral profiling techniques that are not scientifically proven to work, according to experts and government documents.
Government Responsible for Perception WikiLeaks Aided Enemies, Argues Defense in Bradley Manning's Trial:
David Coombs, told the judge this is important because it shows "how a journalistic organization is basically and especially in this country" changed from "being a legitimate journalistic organization to being a terrorist organization based upon the response of the government."
Greenwald gets his Pincus corrections:
The Guardian's Glenn Greenwald has finally forced The Washington Post's Walter Pincus to issue corrections on an article that raised questions about Edward Snowden's relationship with WikiLeaks.
Chairman: FBI Has 'Chosen to Obstruct' Oversight:
Tensions between the House Homeland Security Committee and the FBI escalated Wednesday, with the agency's decision to skip a hearing on the Boston Marathon bombings drawing sharp criticism and questions from the panel.
Guantánamo Hunger Striker Abu Wa'el Dhiab:
"The Mistreatment Now is More Severe than During Bush": This is an account of life in Guantánamo, the reasons for the hunger strike, and the horrible reality of force feeding, as provided by Abu Wa'el Dhiab, a Syrian prisoner, whose motion calling for a judge to stop the government from force-feeding prisoners was reluctantly turned down this week.
Judge blocks Guantanamo groin searches:
"The motivation for the searches is not to enhance security but to deter counsel access."
California warns prisoners over hunger strike:
More than 12,000 inmates in California jails have missed nine consecutive meals over three days in a hunger strike against solitary confinement and prison authorities are now threatening to discipline them.
Arab-American group claims bank discrimination:
The Arab-American Civil Rights League filed a class-action lawsuit against Huntington National Bank after allegations that accounts of more than a hundred people of Middle Eastern descent were closed without cause or explanation.
Chase Made Errors in Nine Percent of Credit-Card Collection Lawsuits:
Reporters got hold of an internal bank survey of its credit-card collections suits. It turns out that Chase's own survey found that huge numbers of lawsuits filed by the bank contained errors.
18 and Counting: Plum Ambassador Posts Go to Obama Campaign Bundlers:
President Obama on Tuesday nominated two major campaign bundlers to two of the most prized ambassadorships available anywhere - London and Rome - part of a pattern that has seen him reward at least 18 top fundraisers with plum diplomatic positions since 2009.
48 Senators In The Hall Of Shame For Rejecting Student Loan Rollback:
It is clear that Republicans and those Democrats that voted against this bill to freeze rates do not care what happens to our students - not in the short run or the long run.
The Republican plan to cut food stamps even more:
Three weeks after the House killed a farm bill that included massive food stamp cuts, Republicans are reportedly considering rolling the cuts into a separate piece of legislation. - If the plan works, then food stamp cuts may ultimately be even deeper than anticipated.
Man Has Home Ransacked by Police for Paying Cash:
Of the many crimes that have been committed by governments against their citizens in their global war on cash (alsohere), perhaps this is the most bizarre. Here is the story
