Hard News
118 people killed in two days of Iraq protests:
Two days of violence in Iraq have killed 118 people, 99 of them in clashes and attacks involving security forces, protesters and their supporters, officials said on Wednesday. The violence also wounded 245 people, 194 of them in protest-related unrest, they said.
Kirkuk buries Hawijah victims amid apparent wave of revenge attacks:
Apparent revenge attacks after clashes between protesters and Iraqi security forces entered a second day on Wednesday, killing 12 people, while three more died in other unrest, officials said.
Iraqi deputy pm resigns after Hawijah incidents:
Iraqiya group deputy Al-Mutlaq presented his resignation after 58 people were killed and 114 were wounded in Hawijah where the army intervened during public protests.
22 people killed in clashes in a central Sunni town sealed off by gunmen:
Iraqi officials say 22 people killed in clashes in a central Sunni town sealed off by gunmen.
At least 15 people killed after clashes in North Iraq:
Four army helicopters were bombing the centre of Sulaiman Pek 160 km (100 miles) north of the capital Baghdad, to drive gunmen out of the town, witnesses told Reuters by telephone.
Baghdad car bomb kills at least seven: officials:
The bomb exploded in a mobile phone market in Al-Husseiniyah in east Baghdad, they said, bringing the toll since Tuesday from a country-wide wave of violence to 125 dead and 268 wounded.
U.K. businessman James McCormick convicted of selling golf ball finders as bomb detectors to Iraq:
A millionaire businessman who sold fake bomb detectors that were based on a novelty golf ball finder to countries including Iraq was convicted Tuesday of fraud in a British court. Police investigators said the bogus devices put people's safety at risk.
Syria: Mortar shells target Damascus countryside, seven killed:
Up to seven Syrian civilians were killed and 25 others injured after an armed group fired two mortar shells at Jaramana city in Damascus Countryside, SANA News Agency reported on Wednesday.
Magnetic bomb kills Syria ministry official:
A senior civil servant at Syria's electricity ministry was killed by a magnetic bomb attached to his car on Wednesday in central Damascus, state news agency SANA reported.
Kidnapped Syrian Orthodox bishops still missing:
Two Syrian bishops who were abducted near Aleppo on Monday are still missing, sources within Syria's Orthodox church said on Wednesday, contradicting earlier reports that they had been released
Syrian army seizes strategic town near capital:
Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad seized a strategic town east of Damascus on Wednesday, breaking a critical weapons supply route for the rebels, activists and fighters said.
Qatar faces backlash among rebel groups in Syria:
"Qatar is working to establish an Islamic state in Syria," Abu Ziad, the commander of a brigade in the Damascus suburb, said.
Obama meets with Qatar emir to discuss Syria crisis:
"Obviously we've been cooperating closely with Qatar and other countries in seeking to bring about an end to the slaughter that's taking place there (and) the removal of president (Bashar Assad)," Obama told reporters.
Engineering Consent For Attack On Syria: Kerry:
NATO needs plan for Syrian chemical weapons:
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged NATO on Tuesday to prepare for the possible use of chemical weapons by Syria on the same day that a senior Israeli military intelligence official said Syrian President Bashar Assad had used such weapons last month in his battle against insurgents.
Syria: We wouldn't use chemical arms against Israel:
Damascus will not use chemical weapons against its own citizens, or in the event of war with its neighbor Israel, Syria's Information Minister was quoted as saying on Wednesday.
US, Russia Clash Over Syria at NATO Meeting:
Russia says the shape of a Syrian political settlement must be decided by the Syrians themselves, including President Assad. At a news conference, Foreign Minister Lavrov accused Western nations of blocking a series of peace efforts, and said if that continues, Syria could come under the control of radical Islamists.
Engineering Consent For Attack On Iran: Israel:
Iranian Nuke Program an 'Express Train':
UN Ambassador: as Iranian program hurtles forward, attempts to stop it crawl like a slow bus.
Iran offers to be West's 'partner' in Mideast :
Iranian envoy urges world powers to take a less confrontational approach in talks on its atom program, positing that extensive economic sanctions are bound to fail.
UN official who tied Boston bombings to Israel must go, U.S. says:
"Outraged by Richard Falk's highly offensive Boston comments. Someone who spews such vitriol has no place at the UN. Past time for him to go," the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Susan Rice, said on Twitter.
Tourists visiting Israel face email inspections:
Security officials given approval to search email accounts of 'suspicious' travellers despite petition over invasion of privacy
U.N. Expert Says Bahrain Canceled Visit in Torture Inquiry:
The cancellation follows a week of clashes between the police and opposition demonstrators in Bahrain, mostly in villages outside Manama, the capital.
20 killed, 480 houses razed in Central African Republic attack:
At least 20 people were killed and more than 480 houses burnt in Central African Republic's central north in an attack by militants of Seleka, which seized power on March 24.
Weapon arsenal discovered in Istanbul on ship heading to Libya;
A total of 990 pump rifles, 199 7.65 mm guns, 210 9 mm guns, 5,000 7.65 mm gun bullets, 260 long-barreled gun cartridges, 261,000 shotgun shells and two gas mask were found according to daily Hürriyet.
China: 21 Killed In Xinjiang Province Clashes:
Amid continuing tensions with ethnic Uighurs in Xinjiang province, the authorities say 21 people have died in clashes with police.
NATO says 13 "insurgents" killed in Afghanistan:
NATO's eastern command said on Wednesday, April 24 that the insurgents were killed in operations that began on Tuesday.
2 Occupation Force Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan:
Two soldiers with the NATO-led coalition forces were killed in an insurgent attack in restive Eastern Afghanistan.
Pakistan: 7 killed in Karachi, Quetta blasts:
Seven persons were killed and over 60 others injured in five bomb attacks in the Pakistani cities of Quetta and Karachi today, including one that was carried out by a suicide bomber who was trying to target the minority Shia Hazara community.
Canada train 'al-Qaeda plot' suspects challenge case:
Mr Jaser's lawyer Mr Norris questioned the timing of the arrests, which came as the Canadian parliament debates an anti-terrorism bill that would reintroduce "preventative detention" and investigative hearings.
Boston bombing suspect flagged on terror databases, questions raised over US govt's handling:
One of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects was reportedly on the US government's database of people it believes to be terrorists. The news raises questions of what federal agencies knew, and whether they could have done more to prevent the attack.
Boston Muslims disavow Tsarnaev brothers:
The brothers weren't particularly diligent about attending prayer services, community members said, adding that the mosque has an ongoing cooperation with authorities to report any suspicious behavior.
The Barbaric Lust to Execute Dzhokhar Tsarnaev: Op-Ed:
The Obama Administration wants this to be a federal capital offense so it went with the weapons of mass destruction charge. Other Democrats, like Charles Schumer and Dianne Feinstein, also want Tsarnaev to be put to death if convicted.
Man Accused Of Sending Tainted Letters Cleared :
"This past week has been a nightmare for myself and my family, my mother has suffered as well as my children. I would like to get back to normal," Curtis said.
Court: US must name military school grads:
The Obama administration must release the names of graduates of a controversial training camp for the Latin American military, a federal district court has ruled.
US hospitals send hundreds of immigrant patients back to home countries to curb cost of care:
Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines took matters into its own hands: After consulting with the patients' families, it quietly loaded the two comatose men onto a private jet that flew them back to Mexico, effectively deporting them without consulting any court or federal agency.
Five killed in small US town, suspect killed by police:
Five people were found dead in their home in a small US town Wednesday, and the suspected gunman was later killed by police in a shootout after a brief pursuit, the Illinois state police said.
Chicago fast food, retail workers strike today:
Workers walk out at some McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts, Macy's in push for higher wages, union.
Factory farms are not farms: They are concentration camps for animals: Op-Ed:
Their abusive industrial system is so disgusting that America's consumers would gag at the sight of it.
===
"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
| 
