Hard News
12 killed by three bomb attacks in Iraq, officials say:
The attack followed a day when at least 51 people were killed in a wave of bombs and shootings across Iraq.
Maliki accuses foreign countries of being behind Sunday bombings in Iraq:
In his speech during the central ceremony of the Iraqi Political Prisoners Day held in Baghdad on Monday "Certain foreign countries which claim democracy are responsible for the repeated bombings in Iraq, the last of which the bombings of last Sunday."
Car bomb at checkpoint in Syrian capital kills 10 soldiers, activists say:
A car bomb targeting a checkpoint near a military airport in an upscale neighbourhood of the Syrian capital has killed 10 soldiers and wounded 10 others, activists said Monday.
Huge blast rocks Damascus military airport:
A powerful explosion has gone off at a military airport on the outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus, according to witness reports and local media.
Israel not commenting on report IDF attacked Syrian airport:
The IDF was not commenting on a report on a Syrian TV station associated with the rebel forces that Israel attacked on Sunday night the military airbase Al-Miza, West of Damascus, Israel Radio reported.
US masses soldiers near Syrian border:
Operation Eager Lion will see 4,500 US troops, as well as soldiers from 18 other countries including 500 from Britain, engage in manoeuvres in neighbouring Jordan.
Putin warns West not to arm organ-eating Syrian rebels: -
Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned on Sunday why the West would want to arm Syrian rebels who he said ate human organs, saying plans to give them weapons contradicted basic human values.
Assad: Europe will 'pay the price' if it delivers arms to rebel forces in Syria:
"If the Europeans deliver weapons, the backyard of Europe will become terrorist and Europe will pay the price for it," he said in the advance extract of the interview due to be published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Tuesday.
POLL: Americans Oppose Obama On Arms To Syria:
70 percent of Americans oppose the Administration's recently-revealed plans to send light weaponry to the Syrian rebels, according to a new poll from the Pew Center.
Turkey threatens to deploy army to end unrest:
Deputy PM says army could be called into action to restore order, as unions go on strike to protest police crackdown.
Five Turkish trade unions begin nationwide demonstrations with one-day strike;
Five trade unions are set to begin today a nationwide demonstration campaign and one-day strike following the harsh police intervention in Taksim the night of June 15, daily Hürriyet has reported.
Turkey Protests: Government Targets Doctors Who Treated Injured Demonstrators:
The Health Ministry had demanded a list of the names of all doctors who treated demonstrators from the Turkish Medical Association (TBB), the association said on Friday 14 June.
Congressmen Get Free Travel to Parts of the Ottoman Empire:
Five members of Congress traveled to Istanbul, Turkey, and Baku, Azerbaijan, for a free weeklong trip at the end of May. The Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians paid for the free trips
US House Committee votes to triple Israeli Iron Dome funding:
Moneys for missile defense collaboration are separate from the average $3 billion annually in defense assistance Israel receives from the United States.
In case you missed it:
Israel To Seek US-Backed Loan for Mega Arms Deal:
US government guarantees would allow MoD to initiate near-term contracts for advanced, Pentagon-offered weaponry with cut-rate cash from commercial banks. Israel would pay only interest and servicing fees on the government-backed loan, with principle repaid from a new, 10-year military aid package that President Barack Obama
Barf alert:
Bill Clinton: Peres one of world's great visionaries :
President Shimon Peres' 90th birthday celebrations kicked off Monday evening at the Peres Academic Center in Rehovot with a speech by former US President Bill Clinton.
In case you missed it:
Peres Academic Center pays Bill Clinton $500,000 for gala event:
The Peres Academic Center has paid former US president Bill Clinton $500,000 for a headlining appearance in Rehovot on June 17.
When Israel Is Mighty:
Listen to Israeli journalist Yossi Gurvitz, who was raised as an Orthodox Jew and graduated from a religious yeshiva, describe what non-Jews can expect from Judaism "when Israel is mighty."
Iranian President Elect Pledges 'Constructive Interaction' With World:
"I believe that mutual trust and greater transparency within the framework of international rules and regulations are solutions to put an end to sanctions," the newly-elected president stated.
Nigeria: 11 killed during Islamist attack on school in Nigeria:
SEVEN students, two teachers and two insurgents were killed when suspected members of Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram attacked a school in the northeastern town of Damaturu, the military said.
Somalia: Five Killed in Wanlaweyne Bombing:
An improvised explosive device attack in the Wanlaweyne district of Lower Shabelle region killed at least five people and injured at least 10 Saturday (June 15th), Somalia's Garowe Online reported.
Afghan Officials Say 10 Soldiers Killed In Bomb Attacks:
The ministry's statement on June 17 said five soldiers were killed in roadside bombings in the southern province of Helmand, while five others died in separate incidents in Badakhshan Province in the northeast, Kandahar Province in the south, and Logar Province in the east.
3 Civilians Killed, 2 Wounded in E. Afghanistan's Assaults:
Three civilians were killed and two others wounded early Monday morning in an attack on two trucks in Eastern Afghan province of Laghman, said the provincial government in a statement.
Guantanamo hunger strikers face off with US military:
For more than three months, the US military has faced off with defiant prisoners on hunger strike at Guantanamo Bay, strapping down as many as 44 each day to feed them a liquid nutrient mix through a nasal tube.
Stop Guantánamo force-feedings:
It's right that the international medical community should be outraged by the unethical activities reportedly taking place at the Guantánamo Bay detention centre.
UK: 'No Progress' In Julian Assange Talks With Ecuador:
Talks between Britain and Ecuador ended with no breakthrough over Julian Assange, the British Foreign Office said on Monday, nearly a year after the WikiLeaks founder fled to the Ecuadorean embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden.
British intelligence intercepted foreign politicians' communications at G20 summits:
Documents uncovered by the NSA whistleblower, Edward Snowden, reveal surveillance of G20 delegates' emails and BlackBerrys.
NSA targeted Dmitry Medvedev at London G20 summit:
Leaked documents reveal Russian president was spied on during visit, as questions are raised over use of US base in Britain
Russia and Turkey react with fury to spying revelations:
The foreign ministry in Ankara said it was unacceptable that the British government had intercepted phonecalls and monitored the computers of Turkey's finance minister as well as up to 15 others from his visiting delegation. If confirmed, the eavesdropping operation on a Nato ally was "scandalous", it added.
Edward Snowden Q&A: NSA whistleblower answers Guardian readers questions: :
The whistleblower behind the biggest intelligence leak in NSA history is answering your questions about the NSA surveillance revelations - follow it live now
Sen Bernie Sanders proposes limits on surveillance:
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced legislation to put strict limits on sweeping powers used by the National Security Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation to secretly track telephone calls by millions of innocent Americans who are not suspected of any wrongdoing.
First lady Michelle Obama claims ritzy digs during Irish visit:
The cost of the two-day trip in Ireland and Northern Ireland has been estimated at around $5 million. U.S. taxpayers pay the cost of the first family's travel.
Detroit City Announces $2.5bn Debt Default:
Detroit said it will stop making payment on $2.5 billion of the city's massive $18.5 billion debt and has asked creditors to accept 10 cents in the dollar of what the city owes them in a bid to avoid the largest municipal bankruptcy filing in US history.
Rotting, Decaying And Bankrupt - If You Want To See The Future Of America Just Look At Detroit:
People kept foolishly lending money to the city of Detroit, and now many of them are going to get hit really hard.
Lenders seek court actions against homeowners years after foreclosure:
Lenders are filing new motions in old foreclosure lawsuits and hiring debt collectors to pursue leftover debt, plus court fees, attorneys' fees and tens of thousands in interest that had been accruing for years.
Faces of the Minimum Wage:
AT least one part of the labor force has expanded significantly since the recession hit: the low-wage part, made up of burger flippers, home health aides and the like.
Retiree Nest Eggs Look More Fragile:
MANY Americans don't have enough money to carry them through retirement - and many of them know it.
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"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
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