| Hard News
Iran exiles claim Iraq killed 47 members:
The People's Mujahedeen Organisation of Iran (PMOI), also claimed security forces set fire to the group's property in the camp, all of which was denied by Iraqi officials. Local hospitals reported two Iraqi soldiers were killed and three were wounded, which officials attributed to angry camp residents attacking an army brigade responsible for the camp.
Seven killed, nine injured in suicide bombing W. Baghdad:
Seven Iraqis were killed and nine others injured in a suicide bombing in the central city of Ramadi, west of the Iraqi capital, a police source said on Sunday.
Nearly 90 Syria rebels killed in 48 hours: Activists say:
At least 29 of those killed, among them non-Syrians, died in an army ambush Monday in Adra, northeast of Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
France says 281 killed in Syria chemical attack.
Figure was markedly lower than that provided by US which said at least 1,400 deaths
John Kerry: US 'has evidence of Syrian sarin use':
The US has evidence that the chemical nerve agent sarin was used in a deadly attack in Damascus last month, Secretary of State John Kerry says. He said samples from hair and blood gathered after the attack "tested positive for signatures of sarin".
Obama told Netanyahu of plan on Syria before public announcement: Officials:
The US president telephoned Netanyahu ahead of his speech in the White House on Saturday to inform him of the plan to delay a possible military attack against Syria.
Syria's Assad warns of 'regional war' if West strikes:
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told French daily Le Figaro Monday that use of nerve gas against targets in rebel-held parts of Syria would have been "illogical", while warning that an attack on his country could set off a "regional war".
US politicians skeptical as Obama administration puts case for Syria strike:
Presented with the awkward scenario that Congress would not back Obama, Kerry stressed that the president had the power to act anyway. But Kerry said he was confident of a yes vote. "We don't contemplate that the Congress is going to vote no," Kerry told CNN.
The 5 ways that Congress is splitting on Syria:
Based on our reporting and the statements issued by lawmakers in the last 24 hours, here's a general outline of how we believe lawmakers are dividing on the issue of military action in Syria:
All the Previous Declarations of War:
Congress has formally declared war only 11 times in U.S. history, and authorized the use of military force 11 times. As we head into a period of vigorous congressional debate over whether to authorize the use of force against Syria, it's instructive to look back at America's history of congressional war declarations.
Source: Syria's Air Defense Can Intercept Incoming Enemy Missiles 10 min before Strike:
"Syria's surface-to-sea missiles are capable of targeting any object at sea within a range of 600 to 700 kilometers off the Syrian coasts," a Syrian army source told FNA in Damascus on Sunday.
Syria urges UN to prevent 'US-led foreign aggression':
Letters delivered to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and President of the UN Security Council, Maria Cristina Perceval call on the international body to maintain its role of protector of international legitimacy and prevent US-led aggression against Damascus, Syria's permanent representative to the UN Bashar al-Jaafari told Sana.
U.S. strike could kill Geneva-2 meet: Lavrov:
"There are a lot of inconsistencies and absurdities in what our American, British and French partners have shown us before, as well as now. It does not convince us at all," Mr Lavrov said on Monday.
China concerned about unilateral military action: FM spokesman;
"Any action by the international community should respect the rules of the UN Charter and basic rules of international relations," Hong said,adding that taking actions should avoid further complicating the Syria issue and avoid bringing more disaster to the Middle East.
Bolivian president questions U.S. motives for planned attack on Syria: -
Bolivian President Evo Morales questioned on Sunday the United States' stated motives for a military strike against Syria, saying access to oil or regional control of the Middle East may be the real reason.
FBI increases surveillance of Syrians in US:
The FBI has beefed up its surveillance of Syrians living in the United States ahead of a possible US military attack on Syria, The New York Times reported Sunday.
Suez Canal Authority says attack attempted on container ship: -
A "terrorist" staged an unsuccessful attack on a container ship passing through the Suez Canal on Saturday, in an attempt to disrupt the flow of ships through the waterway, the head of the Suez Canal Authority Mohab Memish said.
Hamas slams Egyptian plan to create buffer zone with Gaza:
The Hamas government said Sunday it was "surprised" to hear that Egypt is planning to create a buffer zone along the border with the Gaza Strip. Ehab Ghissin, spokesman for the Hamas government, said that there should be no buffer zones "between brothers and friendly countries."
Egypt: President Morsi to stand trial on charges of inciting killing, 'thuggery':
Apart from Morsi, those referred to trial include Essam el-Erian, the deputy leader of the Brotherhood's political party, who's currently in hiding, and leading Brotherhood member Mohammed el-Beltagy, arrested this week. No date was announced for the trial.
Armed conflict kills two in Libya:
Abdulfettah Muhammed, President of the Sirte Local Council, said two people were kiled and six others injured in an armed conflict between Gadhafi supporters and security forces on the anniversary of Gadhafi's overthrew of King Idris I of Libya.
Jordanian plane hijacked in Libya:
A Royal Jordanian airlines airplane scheduled to take off for Amman was hijacked in Tripoli International Airport, sources said.
18 people killed in Afghanistan:
A suicide bomber detonated his explosives near a bank and a police checkpoint in southern Afghanistan, while a NATO service member was killed in the eastern part of the country.
Special Forces Kill Seven Insurgents in Herat:
Local Herat officials said on Sunday that seven Taliban insurgents, including two commanders, were killed in an operation launched by the Afghan National Army (ANA) Special Forces Saturday night in western Herat province.
Afghans find dumped bodies of 7 abducted soldiers:
The badly beaten, bullet-riddled bodies of seven Afghan soldiers were found dumped in an eastern province Sunday, apparent victims of insurgents, authorities said.
Roadside bomb kills nine Pakistan soldiers on Afghan border:
At least nine Pakistani servicemen were killed on Sunday when a roadside bomb hit an army convoy passing through the troubled region of North Waziristan near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, security sources said.
In public relations exercise:
Pakistan condemns US drone strike:
The statement stressed upon Pakistan's repeated emphasis on bringing an immediate end to drone strikes.
Russia to deploy 'star wars' missile system in 2017, report says:
Russia's defence ministry plans to deploy in 2017 a sophisticated new air missile defence system that can hit targets in space, a senior ministry source told Russian news agencies on Friday.
NSA Targeted French Foreign Ministry:
Espionage by the US on France has already strained relations between the two countries, threatening a trans-Atlantic trade agreement. Now a document seen by SPIEGEL reveals that the NSA also spied on the French Foreign Ministry.
Swelling Colombian Protests Against Free Trade Met With Militarization:
Hundreds of protesters clashed with police in support of farmers who have being blockading highways for a week for an assortment of demands that include reduced gasoline prices, increased subsidies and the cancellation of free trade agreements.
Researchers: Poverty Lowers IQ:
Those who suggest that individuals with a poor work ethic are the source of societal poverty have it backwards, reports a new study.
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"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
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