Hard News
Saudi Arabia Kills More Than 120 Civilians In Yemen:
More than 120 civilians were killed and over 150 wounded in Saudi Arabia-led airstrikes in the southern Yemeni province of Taiz on Friday evening. A large number of women, children and elderly people are among those killed, the officials told the AP.
Yemen clashes kill 20, as fighting rages:
Fierce battles between Shiite Houthi rebels and pro-government forces in Yemen's Marib province and the city of Taiz on Friday killed 20 people, according to officials.
Saudi-led coalition declares 5-day Yemen truce:
The cease-fire will take effect from midnight Sunday, a statement Saturday said, with the coalition reserving the right to respond to "military activity or movement" by the rebels.
Civilian suffering in Yemen at 'unprecedented' level: Red Cross:
In Aden and Taiz, "it is becoming increasingly difficult for us to reach affected areas, to evacuate the dead and the wounded and to provide life-saving assistance," Grand added.
US to sell Saudis 355 missiles amid war on Yemen:
The US Defense Department has awarded major weapons maker Raytheon to provide the Persian Gulf Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with 355 air-to-ground missiles amid its persisting campaign of aerial strikes against civilian and economic targets in neighboring Yemen.
Suicide Car Bombers Kill 21 Iraqi Troops, Allied Militia North Of Fallujah:
Germany's dpa news agency reports that suspected IS suicide bombers rammed two military vehicles into army posts north of the IS-controlled city of Fallujah near Therthar Lake.
Bomb attacks at swimming pool in northern Iraq kill at least 12:
At least 12 people were killed on Saturday when two suicide bombers attacked a crowded swimming pool in northern Iraq, a local official and police sources said. The attacks in the town of Tuz Khurmatu, about 175 km (110 miles) north of the capital Baghdad, left 45 others wounded.
At least 8 killed, 40 wounded in bomb attacks in Iraq: -
At least eight people were killed and 40 others wounded on Saturday in bomb attacks in a town in Iraq's northern central province of Salahudin, a local police source said.
ISIS Kidnaps 182 Children In Northern Iraq; Coalition Airstrikes Kill 23 ISIS Fighters In Baiji, Ramadi:
The children, aged between 10 and 15, were abducted by ISIS to be trained with weapons, before being recruited to fight for the extremist group.
Turkey strikes ISIL inside Syria, reportedly killing 35 militants:
Turkish warplanes for the first time bombed the terrorist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) inside Syria early on Friday, reportedly killing 35 militants, only hours after ISIL attacked an area of the Syrian border, killing one Turkish officer.
Turkish jets strike Kurds in Iraq:
Turkish jets struck camps belonging to Kurdish militants in northern Iraq, authorities said Saturday, the first strikes since a peace deal was announced in 2013, and again bombed ISIS positions in Syria.
Turkey says parts of Syria to become 'safe zones':
"We have always defended safe zones and no-fly zones in Syria. People who have been displaced can be placed in those safe zones."
Turkey approves U.S.-led coalition's use of air bases against Islamic State:
Turkey has approved the use of its air bases by U.S. and coalition aircraft in the fight against Islamic State, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday, marking a major change in policy after a suicide bombing by the militants this week.
Turkish police water cannon, tear gas demonstrators in Ankara:
Turkish police fired water cannon and tear gas to disperse about 1,000 demonstrators who had gathered in the capital Ankara to protest against military strikes in Syria and northern Iraq, a Reuters cameraman at the scene said.
Syria's Assad grants amnesty for draft dodgers, defectors:
The special decree is the second amnesty in just over a year, but it stipulates that defectors must hand themselves in within two months, and draft dodgers within one month.
Fatah official assassinated in Ain al-Hilweh:
A Fatah official in the southern Palestinian refugee camp of Ain al-Hilweh was assassinated Saturday by unidentified gunmen, a security source told The Daily Star
Israeli attack on Iran would be 'huge mistake with consequences' - Kerry:
"That'd be an enormous mistake, a huge mistake with grave consequences for Israel and for the region, and I don't think it's necessary," Kerry answered.
Iran hits out at John Kerry's 'empty threats' over nuclear deal:
Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said remarks by the US that military force is still on the table should be consigned to the last century
Israel Gives Military Aid To Jordan: Israeli Cobras gifted to Jordan for 'border security':
US source says about 16 decommissioned attack helicopters given to Jordan last year to fend off potential attacks from ISIS.
Jonathan Pollard: Convicted Isreali spy 'likely to be released':
In a statement, the Justice Department signalled that the government was not planning to oppose the release, noting that Pollard is "presumptively eligible for mandatory parole."
Boko Haram blamed for killing `at least 25` in NE Nigeria:
"The terrorists stormed Maikadiri around 9:00 am (0800 GMT Friday) and opened fire on hapless citizens," resident Simon Templer said. "They laid siege in daylight because there are no soldiers or police nearby," said another survivor, Markus Ali, adding: "We counted 21 corpses."
Egypt's army says it killed 12 'terrorists' in North Sinai:
Egypt's army said it has killed 12 terrorists in the early hours of Friday in the North Sinai town of Sheikh Zuweid in their latest efforts in the fight against an Islamist militant insurgency that has spiked in the past two years.
Burundi President Nkurunziza wins disputed election:
Pierre Claver Ndayicariye, head of the electoral commission, told reporters on Friday that Nkurunziza had garnered 69.41 percent of the votes cast in the polls that took place on Tuesday.
US interests in Africa: Four things you need to know:
As US President Barack Obama heads to Kenya for a global business summit, Africans point out he has done less for the continent than George W. Bush. How involved is the US in Africa, and do its interests go beyond military bases and the "war on terror"?
13 Afghan soldiers martyred in the latest wave of violence:
Afghan soldiers killedAt least 13 Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers lost their lives in the latest wave of violence across the country in the past 48 hours.
7 Taliban insurgents killed during counter-terrorism operations:
At least 7 Taliban militants were killed and 3 others were wounded following counter-terrorism operations conducted jointly by Afghan national security forces.
Heavy clashes continue between Afghan forces and Taliban in Wardoj:
The local officials said dozens of militants launched a coordinated attack on Friday night for the third time and heavy clashes continue between the Afghan forces and Taliban militant.
Flare-up in tensions as Armenian troops kill Azerbaijani soldier:
Azerbaijan on Saturday accused arch-foe Armenia's troops of killing its soldier in a new clash amid a Western-mediated push to cauterize the protracted conflict in the South Caucasus.
U.S. troops to train regular Ukrainian military troops: State Department:
"This training is part of our long-running defense cooperation with Ukraine and is taking place at the invitation of the Ukraine government. This additional program brings our total security assistance committed to Ukraine since 2014 to over $244 million," State Department Mark Toner said.
Greece Invites IMF to New Talks Greece needs US$93 million over three years to stave off bankruptcy. :
Greece has requested a new loan from the International Monetary Fund. On Friday the IMF confirmed Greece had officially requested a new loan, despite Athens previously claiming it had no intention to ask the organization for another loan.
Murray Dobbin: Harper Is Right: This Election Is about Security Versus Risk: Op-Ed:
It's our nation's ruthless economic insecurity that Canadians must weigh.
US judge rules immigrants' detention breaches agreement:
Federal judge rules justice department's system of detaining families after crossing border violates court settlement.
More Texas immigrants sue health services after US-born kids denied birth certificates:
The suit argues that in denying kids their birth certificates, the Department of Health Services might have discriminated against the children's 14th Amendment rights, under which all children born in the US are considered US citizens.
The Counted: Database Of People Killed By Police In The US:
How many people have been killed in your state by police?
Video Shows Good Samaritan Voice Concern Over Woman's Brutal Arrest, So He's Tased & Arrested:
A disturbing video was uploaded to Twitter yesterday that shows a heated arrest ending with a man being tasered.
Feds Regularly Monitored Black Lives Matter Since Ferguson:
The Department of Homeland Security has been monitoring the Black Lives Matter movement since anti-police protests erupted in Ferguson, Missouri last summer, according to hundreds of documents obtained by The Intercept through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Mass imprisonment policy in US begets more crime - study:
The American practice of imprisoning people for even the most trivial offences, not only ruins lives, but tends to act as a college for crime.
House Passes DARK Act, Banning States From Requiring GMO Labels on Food:
The bill preempts state and local authority to label and regulate genetically engineered (GE) foods.
Sanders Surges, Clinton Sags in U.S. Favorability:
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' favorable rating among Americans has doubled since Gallup's initial reading in March, rising to 24% from 12% as he has become better known. Hillary Clinton's rating has slipped to 43% from 48% in April. At the same time, Clinton's unfavorable rating increased to 46%
Donald Trump bans Des Moines Register from Iowa campaign event:
"We're not issuing credentials to anyone from The Des Moines Register based on the editorial that they wrote earlier in the week," Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told the newspaper.
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