| Hard News
Iraqi insurgent attacks kill 24:
Insurgent
attacks across Iraq, including a suicide bombing targeting a Shiite
wedding party, killed at least 24 people Thursday, authorities said.
Syrian eyewitness accounts of alleged chemical weapons attack in Damascus: Victim:
I could see people coming out of their homes but they would fall down - there was foam coming out of their mouths
Syria deaths: powerful asphyxiant in strike was probably sarin, say experts:
Specialists say symptoms observed in footage of victims offer strong evidence that nerve agent was used near Damascus
Syrian govt ready to cooperate with UN experts in chemical attack probe - Moscow:
The
Syrian government is ready for "maximum" cooperation with UN experts
working to clarify the alleged use of chemical weapons in attacks,
Russia's Foreign Ministry says. The UN has requested access to Damascus
suburbs to be granted "without delays".
U.S. says unable to conclusively determine chemical weapons used in Syria:
"At
this time, right now, we are unable to conclusively determine CW
(chemical weapons) use," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told
reporters. "We are doing everything possible in our power to nail down
the facts," she added.
US says Syrian rebels incapable of chemical attack: Video -
The
US says the alleged chemical attack in Syria would be 'outrageous and
flagrant escalation' by Assad, if the reports are confirmed. With still
no evidence of the government's involvement in the attack, or any
confirmation about the number of victims, the pressure on the Syrian
government is growing.
In case you missed it:
Toxic Catch: Syria rebels' chemical lab uncovered near Damascus :
Syrian
state TV says the military has found a chemical laboratory which
produces poisonous materials in the town of Jobar on the outskirts of
Damascus. Sources claim the rebels were planning to stuff shells with
the chemicals and use them to attack the capital. RT's Middle East
correspondent Paula Slier reports.
Chemical weapon attack in Syria is obvious: Erdogan:
Speaking
in a live Turkish TV programme, Erdogan said no bullets, no blood
stain and no gun powder was there, and it was appearent that a chemical
weapon attack was staged in the country.
France warns Syria of forceful response over chemical weapon claims:
Calls
for UN investigative team to be allowed immediate access to site of
attack but French foreign minister rules out ground troops
American, Israeli And Jordanian Troops And CIA Agents Have Entered Syria, Le Figaro Reports;
We
have yet to see secondary confirmation of the following breaking news
from the second largest French newspaper, Le Figaro, but if accurate,
it means the Nobel Peace Prize winning president has just engaged in
yet another unsanctioned by Congress war.
Report: Hezbollah supporter among 3 killed in north Lebanon:
Gunmen
in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli killed at least three people
when they opened fire on a supporter of the Lebanese Shi'ite militant
group Hezbollah outside his house in the early hours of Thursday,
security sources said.
Two Egyptian army soldiers killed in attack in Ismailia:
Two
Egyptian army soldiers were killed on Thursday in an attack on a
military patrol in the Suez Canal province of Ismailia, security and
medical sources told Anadolu Agency.
Egypt PM says country can survive without US military aid:
Egypt's
interim prime minister said it would be a mistake on the part of the
US to halt its substantial military aid to Cairo, while indicating in a
defiant tone that Egypt would "live with the circumstances" if
Washington decided to cease aid.
Did Amnesty International unwittingly assist the Egyptian military in its bloody crackdown on protesters?:
The
Egyptian coup have publicly quoted from its reports as part of their
justification for the slaughter of pro-Mohamed Morsi activists
Hosni Mubarak Leaves Prison In Helicopter:
Former
Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has been released from prison and
flown by helicopter to a military hospital. Television pictures showed
the 85-year-old leaving Tora prison on the southern outskirts of Cairo
and landing minutes later in the nearby suburb of Maadi. He is expected
to be placed under house arrest at the hospital on the orders of
Egyptian prime minister Hazem el-Beblawi.
Israel warns US: Alienating Egyptian army could risk peace talks:
Israel
has urged the US to back the Egyptian military, saying losing Egypt to
Islamists could pose a risk the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, The
Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.
Israel accuses 'global jihad elements' of rocket attack launched from Lebanon:
Three missiles fired from Hezbollah stronghold raise tensions along the volatile front
Israel Seeking More US Military "Aid":
Israel
is seeking a surge in future US Foreign Military Financing (FMF)
grants not only to support its growing security requirements, but to
offset the impact of increasingly advanced US arms sales to other
countries in the volatile region.
Jimmy Carter peace award sparks outrage from pro-Israeli camp:
"I
can't imagine a worse candidate for any kind of a human rights award,"
said Harvard law professor and pro-Israel author Allan Dershowitz, to
the Washington Free Beacon. "He has more blood on his hands than
practically any other president."
'Iran would barely retaliate if its nuclear program were attacked':
Israel
doesn't need a US green light to strike Tehran's nukes, says Yuval
Steinitz; Iran couldn't cause much damage in response
US Export of Cluster Bombs to Saudi Arabia at Odds with International Ban Treaty;
"We
are disappointed with the US decision to export cluster bombs to Saudi
Arabia as both countries acknowledge the negative humanitarian impact
of these weapons on civilians,"
Somalia: Kenya Killed 20 Al-Shabaab Militiamen:
Kenyan
authorities said that their defence forces killed 20 Al-Shabaab
militiamen near the border town of Hulugho, Garissa. This is according
to MoFA.
Nigeria: 13 Killed in Boko Haram Attacks on Borno Towns:
Thirteen
persons were feared killed, when suspected Boko Haram members stormed
Gwoza and Gamboru/Ngala towns in Borno State, ostensibly on a reprisal
attack.
12 reported dead after clashes in Central African Republic capital:
A Red Cross official says at least 12 people are dead following clashes in the capital of volatile Central African Republic.
Insurgents dressed as soldiers kill 4 in Nigeria:
Suspected
Islamist extremists dressed as soldiers opened fire on residents of a
town in northeastern Nigeria on Wednesday after luring them out of
their homes, killing four people, residents said.
Surrounded: How the U.S. Is Encircling China with Military Bases:
The
U.S. military is encircling China with a chain of air bases and
military ports. The latest link: a small airstrip on the tiny Pacific
island of Saipan.
Growing US presence in Australia to include aircraft:
The
U.S. is preparing to add aircraft to its military presence in
Australia, which will include 2,500 Marines rotating through the
northern port of Darwin starting in 2016.
David Miranda wins partial court victory over data seized by police:
Court restricts authorities 'inspecting, copying or sharing' data
US doesn't know what Snowden took, sources say:
Sources
said authorities believe the trove of unreleased materials includes
details of data collection by U.S. allies, including the U.K., Canada,
Australia and New Zealand. These English-speaking allies, known along
with the U.S. as the "Five Eyes," are critical to U.S. intelligence
efforts.
Brazilians mull anti-US-spook law:
Businesses
selling online to Brazil-based consumers could be forced to store any
personal data they collect about those individuals on local servers
under proposed new laws under consideration in the country.
Report: NSA spied on Salt Lake City before 2002 Olympics:
It monitored the content of all email and text communications in the Salt Lake City area.
Bradley Manning Announces She Will Live as a Woman:
Manning's
lawyer appeared on the Today show to read an exclusive statement from
Manning announcing that he is slated to begin hormone therapy in a push
towards gender reassignment, and would like to be referred to as
Chelsea Manning by the media at large, and with feminine pronouns
Homeless Couple Now Millionaires After Being Shot 15 Times by LAPD:
Justice
has been served in favor of a homeless LA couple. The two were
tragically shot by LA sheriff's deputies more than 15 times. In short,
they aren't homeless anymore...they're millionaires.
Columbia plan's to remove homeless people from the city center:
Perhaps
the most controversial feature of the plan involves increasing police
patrols in a 36-block business district and at the riverfront shelter
to direct the homeless there for help. If they refuse, they could be
arrested under a range of public nuisance laws that include loitering,
public intoxication, public urination, aggressive panhandling or
trespassing.
10 Shocking Examples of Police Killing Innocent People in the "War on Drugs":
Many innocent victims have become collateral damage in our pointless, destructive drug war.
===
"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
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