Hard News
Iraqi helicopter shot down as 18 killed nationwide:
Militants
shot down an Iraqi military helicopter on Wednesday, killing four
security forces members, as at least 14 people died in other violence,
officials said.
Syria: 12 killed in clashes between Army, al-Qaeda fighters at Damascus:
Activists
reported heavy clashes between Syrian troops and al-Qaeda-linked
fighters in northern Damascus have killed at least 12 soldiers and
pro-government militiamen.
Syria: massacre reports emerge from Assad's Alawite heartland:
Alawites are fleeing their homes, recounting gruesome tales of executions and other atrocities
Foreign extremists dominate Syria fight:
Foreign
fighters from across the Arab world and beyond are playing an
increasingly dominant role in the battle for control of Syria, which
has emerged as an even more powerful magnet for jihadist volunteers
than Iraq and Afghanistan were in the past decade.
UN urges immediate aid access to Syria:
Security Council issues statement calling on parties involved in conflict to agree on humanitarian pauses in fighting.
German Report: How Wealthy Saudi Sheikhs are Exploiting Syria's Girls
Video - [English Subtitles]
Syria chemical weapons: used by terrorists, smuggled to Iraq - Russian FM:
Russia
has evidence that chemical weapons components are used by terrorists
in Syria and smuggled into Iraq for possible provocations, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday
Armed Syrian Rebels Could Join Peace Talks, Russia Says:
Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov told journalists during a press conference that
the West should help encourage those rebels who don't harbor
"extremist or terrorist views" to join the talks to settle the 2
1/2-year conflict.
Syria's National Coalition agrees to participate in Geneva 2 on certain terms:
The
National Coalition for Syrian Opposition and Revolutionary Forces said
it will participate in the Geneva II conference only if the leading
Arab countries guarantee the formation of an interim government after
the conference, said the National Coalition's foreign relations
coordinator in Europe Munzer Mahos.
NYT: Netanyahu sabotaging Obama's Iran efforts:
Newspaper dishes out fierce criticism of PM following General Assembly address, says Netanyahu 'seems eager for a fight.
Iranian cyber warfare commander shot dead in suspected assassination:
The
head of Iran's cyber warfare programme has been shot dead, triggering
further accusations that outside powers are carrying out targeted
assassinations of key figures in the country's security apparatus.
Blast kills seven near Pak-Afghan border?:
According
to security sources, the suicide attacker was trying to enter Pakistan
from Afghanistan and detonated his explosive-laden vest when he was
stopped at the border by FC personnel
Afghan government slams US for sending arms to Taliban:
A
senior Afghan lawmaker revealed that American forces are giving
military aid to Taliban militants active in the troubled region.
US generals fired for Afghan security breach:
Head of US Marine Corps dismisses two generals in rare public censure over last year's Taliban attack on Camp Bastion.
Pakistani Taliban Offers Cease-Fire :
The
hard-line Pakistani Taliban (Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan) has offered
to honor a cease-fire if the government declares a truce first.
Fear grips west Myanmar, 5 Muslims killed:
TERRIFIED
women and children are hiding in forests and security forces are
patrolling tense villages in western Myanmar, residents say, after
sectarian clashes which left five Muslims dead.
Libyan colonel killed:
Gunmen
shot dead a Libyan marine colonel on Wednesday in the eastern city of
Benghazi where militants have increasingly targeted security forces in a
challenge to central government control.
Gunmen attack Russian embassy in Tripoli:
Russia's
embassy in the Libyan capital of Tripoli came under attack on
Wednesday and gunmen tried to enter the compound, a spokesman for
Russia's Foreign Ministry said.
Libya: 27 Tortured to Death in Jails Run by Militias, U.N. Report Says:
Torture
is widespread in Libyan jails run by militias that toppled the Qaddafi
government in 2011, according to a United Nations report released
Tuesday
China Testing New Space Weapons:
China conducts satellite capture in space as part of Star Wars military program
Venezuelan diplomats expelled by U.S. in retaliation:
Three
Venezuelan diplomats were ordered out of the United States on Tuesday
in response to their government's decision to boot three U.S. officials
from Venezuela, including the highest-ranking U.S. envoy in the
country.
Irish schoolchildren to learn about atheism:
The
lessons on atheism, agnosticism and humanism for thousands of
primary-school pupils in Ireland will be drawn up by Atheist Ireland
and multi-denominational school provider Educate Together, in an
education system that the Catholic church hierarchy has traditionally
dominated.
US authorities shut Silk Road website, arrest owner:
US
authorities said Wednesday they had arrested the owner of the Silk
Road website, where illegal drugs were bought and sold using the
virtual currency Bitcoin.
'War' on illegal drugs is failing: study:
The
global war on heroin, cocaine and cannabis is failing to stem supply,
as prices of these drugs have tumbled while seizures of them have
risen, according to a study published Monday.
Terminal Cancer Patient in Iowa, Entire Family, Face Drug Charges Over His Medical Marijuana Use: .
Mackenzie
uses medical marijuana to manage his pain, including a cannabis oil
for his skin lesions some doctors say make his experience worth
studying for other patients.
Herman Wallace Freed After 41 Years Of Solitary:
A
71-year-old Louisiana prisoner who spent 41 years in solitary
confinement and is now dying of cancer was released late Tuesday from
prison, his attorneys said.
Va. starting to develop a master identity database:
Using
Department of Motor Vehicles records as its core, the state government
is quietly developing a master identity database of Virginia residents
for use by state agencies.
California governor signs law defying cooperation with NDAA indefinite :
California
Governor Jerry Brown has signed a law barring state cooperation with
any attempt by the federal government to indefinitely detain people.
The legislation targets the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act
(NDAA).
More Americans Struggle to Afford Food:
Americans' overall access to basic needs is close to record-low
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"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
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