Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Thursday 14 May 2015

Op-Ed Articles
  
France's Hollande Salesman Extraordinaire

By Finian Cunningham

The military blockade of Yemen by the US-coordinated, Saudi-led bombing has placed 80 per cent of the country's 24 million population in dire humanitarian hardship.


'Why I'm aboard the Rescue Ship to Yemen'

By Caleb T. Maupin

As someone from the United States, nothing disturbs me more than the fact that the cruise missiles and other weapons used to terrorize and kill innocent Yemenis are provided by my own government.


Obama's Gulf Meeting Protocol
Shake Hands, Smile, Ignore Repression, Repeat

By Medea Benjamin, Nalini Ramachandran

Why does the US, the alleged beacon of liberty and freedom, maintain such close ties with such an oppressive regime?


Israel's New Knesset Mainstreams Fascist Rhetoric

By Bruno Jantti

The era of Israel enjoying a reputation of a vibrant, cosmopolitan, progressive fortress besieged by backward and regressive peoples and nations is coming to an end.


Hell Unleashed

By Paul Craig Roberts

Defeat abroad and at home could be Washington's future.


Yet Another Huge Diplomatic Victory for Russia

By The Saker

this means that the so-called "isolation of Russia" is now officially over, even for the "Indispensable Empire".


Bin Laden's End: The Truth Comes Out

By Justin Raimondo

The ailing and elderly Osama bin Laden was a prisoner, and had been since 2006.


The Latest Blow in the Government's War on Journalism

By Norman Solomon

It's a warning shot-not only against whistleblowing but against basic communication with journalists by government employees.


Greatest Threat to Free Speech Comes Not From Terrorism, But From Those Claiming to Fight it

By Glenn Greenwald

The UK, Australia, France, New Zealand and Canada - joining the U.S. - have a seemingly insatiable desire to curb freedoms in the name of protecting them.


Lest We Forget
30 Years Ago Philadelphia Police Bombed a Black Neighborhood

By TeleSur

Eleven were killed, over 60 homes were destroyedand and not one city official or police officer was ever prosecuted.

          
Hard News    


70 Syrian troops killed, 40 militants killed in fighting - monitor:
Islamic State fighters killed at least 70 government troops in a major assault by the militant group on Syrian army-held areas in the central Syrian province of Homs, and at least 40 militants also were slain, a human rights monitor said on Wednesday.


Islamic State makes gains in Syria's central province:
The Islamic State group on Wednesday seized more territory in Syria's central province of Homs amid clashes with government forces that left dozens dead and wounded on both sides, activists said.


Hezbollah, Syrian army make big gains in border battle:
Lebanon's Hezbollah and Syria's army made big advances against insurgents in mountains north of Damascus on Wednesday, Hezbollah and Syrian state media said, shoring up President Bashar al-Assad's grip on the border zone.


Saudi Airstrikes Kill 48 in Yemen despite Truce:
Saudi Arabia's airstrikes against the western Yemeni provinces of Hajjah and al-Hudaydah have killed at least 48 people just a few hours after Riyadh declared the start of a five-day ceasefire in the war-wracked country.


Yemen truce broadly holds, but reports of violations:
Residents of the southern provinces of Shabwa and Lahj, which have witnessed heavy ground clashes between local militiamen and the Houthis, also reported airstrikes overnight.


Iran Warns of War if Aid Ship to Yemen Attacked:
The deputy chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces warned on Tuesday that Iran would retaliate in force against any country, which attacks an Iranian ship heading to Yemen with humanitarian aid cargo on board..


Iraq: 6 people from the same family killed in a "wrong" strike northern Baiji:
Iraqi medics and other security sources said on Wednesday, that six people from one family were killed by an aerial bombardment targeted them by mistake. The sources told Shafaq News, that the missile strike from a drone aircraft targeted a family in al-Masehak area northern Baiji, killing six from its members


Islamic State deputy leader 'killed':
The second-in-command of Islamic State, Abu Alaa al-Afari, has been killed in a US-led coalition air strike, the Iraqi government says.


'Sponsor of terrorism': Obama slams Iran months after saying it's off terrorist list:
US President Barack Obama has labeled Iran a "state sponsor of terrorism" and countries in the Gulf region have a right to be concerned about Tehran's activities. The move comes less than three months after Iran was taken off a US terror list.


Israeli Air Force Team Up With Greeks to Train Against S-300 Missile System:
The Israeli Air Force carried out a joint training exercise in which it performed missions against the S-300 Surface to Air Missile system, which is due to be delivered to Iran from Russia.


'Hold Israel accountable for occupation', eminent former European officials urge EU:
A group of prominent former European officials have called on the EU foreign chief to review the bloc's policy towards the Palestinian issue and find an effective way to hold Israel accountable for its actions in the occupied territories.


Vatican recognizes state of Palestine in new treaty:
The treaty, makes clear that the Holy See has switched its diplomatic relations from the Palestinian Liberation Organization to the state of Palestine.


In Attempt to Discredit Hamas:
Israeli general sees common interests with Hamas:
Israel and Hamas share common interests, and the Palestinian Islamists must stay in power in the Gaza Strip to prevent the enclave descending into chaos, an Israeli general was quoted as saying on Tuesday


Freedom Flotilla III heads for Gaza:
The ship Marianne of Gothenburg set sail Monday night on its journey to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. It's journey will mark five years since the Israeli navy forcibly boarded the first Freedom Flotilla's ship Mavi Marmara, killing nine Turkish activists.


43 killed as armed men open fire on bus in Pakistan:
The bus belonged to the Ismaili Shia Muslim sect, and was targeted by gunmen at the Safoora Chowk intersection in the eastern part of Pakistan's largest city on Wednesday.


IS claims deadly attack on Karachi Shiites, first in Pakistan:
"Thanks be to Allah, 43 apostates were killed and around 30 were wounded in an attack carried out by Islamic State soldiers on a bus transporting Shiite Ismaili infidels in the city of Karachi," the extremist group said in an Arabic statement, citing a higher number of injured than Pakistani officials.


Taliban Gunmen Kill Seven in Assault on Afghan Religious Council:
Two gunmen outfitted with assault rifles and hand grenades targeted a group of clerics that had assembled for the weekly meeting of the local Ulemma Council - Afghanistan's highest religious authority


Afghanistan: 'Five dead' in Kabul siege, including US citizen:
Afghan police say that at least five people have been killed in an attack on a Kabul hotel that was packed with foreigners awaiting a concert. The US embassy in Afghanistan has confirmed that a US citizen was killed at the Palace Park Hotel.


Gunmen storm Kabul hotel popular with foreigners: officials:
 Gunmen stormed a guesthouse in the Afghan capital popular with both foreigners and locals Wednesday night, launching a siege of the building and apparently taking some guests hostage, authorities said.


The occupation will continue:
NATO to remain in Afghanistan after the end of mission in 2016:
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said "Today, we took a major decision which shows that we stay committed to Afghanistan. We agreed that we will maintain a presence in Afghanistan.


Obama just made a quiet nuclear deal with China:
The deal would allow Beijing to buy more U.S.-designed reactors and pursue a facility or the technology to reprocess plutonium from spent fuel. China would also be able to buy reactor coolant technology that experts say could be adapted to make its submarines quieter and harder to detect.


Pentagon weighs sending planes, ships near disputed South China Sea reefs:
The Pentagon is considering sending U.S. military aircraft and ships to assert freedom of navigation around rapidly growing Chinese-made artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea, a U.S. official said on Tuesday.


Nigeria: Many killed as troops repel insurgents' attack on Maiduguri:
 Multinational troops take fight against Boko Haram to Sambisa forestTroops of the 7 division Nigerian Army have successfully repelled a planned attack on Maiduguri, the Borno State capital by Boko Haram insurgents.


Four Egyptian Soldiers, Four Civilians Killed in Blast:
 Four soldiers and four civilians were today killed in separate bomb attacks in Egypt's Sinai peninsula, where security forces are fighting an Islamist insurgency. Two soldiers and two officers were killed in an explosion in the North Sinai city of Rafah, which borders the Gaza Strip, officials said.


Libya: Benghazi IS attack kills 4 children:
 Four children were killed in rocket attack on an area of the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi where Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for a mortar attack, officials said on Wednesday.


Libyans 'warned us with bombs' says Tuna-1 officer:
A captain who was onboard the Turkish cargo ship attacked off the Libyan coast on Sunday has said the only warning they received from the authorities was "with bombs." Zafer Kalayci, second captain of the "Tuna-1", told reporters in Turkey on Tuesday that the vessel came under fire with no warning.


Libya warns against sending ships to its waters:
Libya's internationally recognised government warned countries on Tuesday against sending vessels into its territorial waters without authorisation, after it attacked a Turkish-owned ship and killed a seaman at the weekend.


British troops could be deployed on the ground in Libya:
Leaked EU papers yesterday revealed plans for an air and naval blitz on the people-smuggling networks responsible for putting migrants on boats making perilous journeys across the Mediterranean. But the document also suggests ground operations might be needed to destroy the smugglers' vessels and assets, such as fuel dumps.


Burundi's Ex-Intelligence Chief Announces Coup Amid Protests:
"Burundian President Nkurunziza is no longer president," Major-General Godefroid Niyombare said in a broadcast on state radio in the capital, Bujumbura, on Wednesday. "The government is dissolved, permanent secretaries of ministries will ensure" day-to-day business, he said.


Burundi coup bid: President Nkurunziza's return 'thwarted':
Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza's attempt to return home to tackle a coup has failed and he has returned to Tanzania where he was attending a summit, officials there told the BBC. Another source said the plane turned back after 10 minutes as it would have been unable to land safely in Burundi.


Macedonian Conflict: The Pot of Arab Spring Boils Over the Balkans?:
Analysts believe that the recent events in Macedonia "do not resemble a total war but a rather intention to extend the line of confrontation between Russia and the West in the Balkans."


Greece Invited to Join New BRICS Development Bank :
 Greece could become the sixth member of the BRICS Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will reportedly participate in the World Economic Forum of St. Petersburg after being invited by Russia on Monday to become the sixth member of the BRICS Development Bank.


Greece Not Allowed Leave EU - Says Marc Faber: -
 Greek default will trigger massive losses for ECB and European banks


Migrant crisis: EU quota plan to take 20,000 refugees:
The EU aims to bring 20,000 refugees to Europe in the next two years, as part of the plan, at a cost of €50m (£36m). The Commission is urging EU states to share the burden of processing asylum claims. Italy and Greece, facing a migrant surge, are struggling to cope.


Britain refuses EU refugee quote plan:
Britain has said that it will not participate in a EU refugee resettlement plan and will instead focus on targeting people smugglers instead.


UK: New laws to target radicalisation:
The bill will include new immigration rules, powers to close down premises used by extremists and "extremism disruption orders".


Press Freedom Groups Denounce NSA Spying on AJ Bureau Chief:
Ahmad Muaffaq Zaidan doesn't deny that he's had contact with terrorist groups. But the fact that Zaidan is a respected investigative journalist and the Islamabad bureau chief for Al Jazeera didn't seem to faze the U.S. National Security Agency, which not only spied on him, but went as far as to brand him a likely member of Al Qaeda and put him on a watch list.


Warrantless airport seizure of laptop "cannot be justified," judge rules:
The US government's prosecution of a South Korean businessman accused of illegally selling technology used in aircraft and missiles to Iran was dealt a devastating blow by a federal judge. The judge ruled Friday that the authorities illegally seized the businessman's computer at Los Angeles International Airport


The Vindication of Edward Snowden: News Analysis -
A federal appeals court has ruled that one of the NSA programs he exposed was illegal.


Honduras: 'They have silenced us completely':
Human rights activists, journalists and LGBT citizens are regularly targeted by right-wing killers


Judges Dismiss Nisman Allegations Against Argentine President :
A high-level court definitively dismissed a complaint against President Fernandez that alleged she orchestrated a cover-up of a bombing in 1994.


Video Shows Deputy Smash Autistic Man's Skull into the Ground, Killing Him for Joking Around:
During the booking process, Dehmann would not make it 15 feet into the station before his life would be ended.


Officer in Tony Robinson Shooting Will Not Face Charges:
Dane County DA says no charges against Madison Police Officer Matthew Kenny, who shot and killed unarmed 19-year-old in March, will be filed


6 Months On, Police Who Shot Tamir Rice Yet to Be Interviewed :
The police officers involved in the shooting of a 12 year old nearly six months ago haven't been questioned by investigators.


Tony Robinson shooting: Wisconsin officials release dashcam footage:
Officer Matt Kenny was not wearing a body camera during the 6 March incident but can be seen firing a single shot from outside the apartment


Mentally ill inmates abused in 5,000 US detention centers - HRW:
Human Rights Watch has issued a report stating that mentally ill prisoners are being abused in detention facilities across the US, and that these practices are happening in over 5,000 facilities.


Amtrak crash: Congress prepares to slash millions from rail network funding :
Railroad fatalities have also been on an upswing: Last year's preliminary total of 813 deaths was 20 percent higher than just three years ago


US railway crisis blamed on lack of funding, crumbling infrastructure:
The railway budget bill could see the funding for Amtrak slashed, from $1.4 to 1.13 billion. In comparison, China's railway budget for the next fiscal year is an estimated $128 billion