ReutersIsrael strikes Gaza tunnels after rocket launch
Reuters (press release) - Ori Lewis, Mark Trevelyan - 21 minutes ago
They have repeatedly accused Hamas, which rules Gaza, of preventing them from launching rockets at Israel, and say it sometimes arrests those attempting to ...
Video: Israeli air strike hits the Gaza strip ITN NEWS
Haneya: Palestinians agree on rebuffing direct talks with Israel Xinhua
PNA asks international community to stop Israel's action in East Jerusalem Xinhua
Ynetnews - Ha'aretz
all 1,171 news articles »Ha'aretzArab leaders back Palestinian Authority president on Israel talks
Washington Post - Jul 29, 2010
Arab nations on Thursday backed the Palestinian president's refusal to immediately restart direct talks with Israel despite heavy US pressure. ...
Mahmoud Abbas preparing to hold direct talks with Israel, say diplomats Telegraph.co.uk
AL endorses Palestinians on direct talks with Israel Xinhua
Arab League Endorses Abbas For Resumption Of Direct Talks With Israel RTT News
Voice of America - New York Times
all 1,824 news articles »Los Angeles Times (blog)The LACMA-Israel Museum connection
Los Angeles Times (blog) - 13 hours ago
Geographically isolated from the Western art world, the Israel Museum has thrived, in part, by developing support groups and cultivating relationships with ... Telegraph.co.ukFury as Israel president claims English are 'anti-semitic'
Telegraph.co.uk - David Harrison, Adrian Blomfield - 9 hours ago
Israel's president has accused the English of being anti-semitic and claimed that MPs pander to Muslim voters. By David Harrison and Adrian Blomfield in ...
Lee Smith Ups The Ante The Atlantic (blog)
Re: Can you cast the first stone? The Union of Grass Valley
Michigan: Muslims in Dearbornistan Trying to Erect Statue of Jooo-Hater Helen ... Weasel Zippers (blog)
The People's Voice (blog) - Tablet Magazine
all 10 news articles »FOXSports.comAmare Stoudemire is in Israel exploring his Jewish roots
Los Angeles Times (blog) - Jul 30, 2010
Amare Stoudemire believes he may have some Hebrew roots and is in Israel "researching it," according to his Twitter page. Stoudemire, who recently signed ...
Amare Stoudemire is Jewish; When is the Bris? The Faster Times
Stoudemire discovering roots in Israel New York Post
New York Knicks Star Amare Stoudemire in Israel Nerdles (blog)
New York Times (blog) - Rotoworld.com
all 246 news articles »Lebanon better able to catch alleged Israeli spies
Los Angeles Times - 6 hours ago
A monthlong war between Hezbollah and Israel ended four years ago, and Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon ended a decade ago. ...
Berri: STL is Israel's Main Concern because it Aims to Cause Strife in Lebanon Naharnet
Berri joins Hezbollah in denouncing STL Ya Libnan
Lebanon simmers Foreign Policy (blog)
Monday Morning
all 51 news articles »Seattle Post IntelligencerCatholic patriarch scolds Israel for allowing gay parade
Salt Lake Tribune - Jul 30, 2010
Jerusalem • The Catholic Church's highest official in the Holy Land has sharply criticized Israeli authorities for permitting a gay pride march through the ...
ISRAEL: Jerusalem Pride will march to parliament for equality Los Angeles Times (blog)
Jerusalem gay pride: what do the locals think? Ha'aretz
A rainbow across the sky of Jerusalem Xinhua
Jerusalem Post - Today's THV
all 268 news articles »France24US to activate missile shield over south Europe
AFP - 2 hours ago
The US military is also working with Israel and allies in the Persian Gulf to build and upgrade their missile defense capabilities, the report said. ...
US nears key step in European defense shield against Iranian missiles Washington Post
all 30 news articles »Ha'aretzIsrael amenable to UN probe of Gaza flotilla incident
Ha'aretz - Barak Ravid - 7 hours ago
Netanyahu could become the first Israeli prime minister to agree to a UN investigation into an Israel Defense Forces operation. By Barak Ravid Tags: Israel ...
Jewish leaders give up efforts to prevent Arab-backed inquiry WND.com
UN to assemble Gaza flotilla investigation team Sunday Sify
Investigating the Freedom Flotilla Attack The Palestine Telegraph
Federal News Service (subscription)
all 17 news articles »Washington PostTour Operators, Israel Reject Claims That Jordan River Is Unsafe for Baptisms
FOXNews - Jul 29, 2010
But water tests released this week prove otherwise, Eli Dror of Israel's Nature and Parks Authority told Reuters. "There's absolutely no problem with the ...
Environmentalists say pollution makes baptism at sacred spot in Jordan River ... Washington Post
Israel, green group dispute Jordan River's safety The Associated Press
Pollution levels at baptism site acceptable: Israel AFP
The Guardian - Voice of America
all 196 news articles »
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Egypt: US assurances may boost direct peace talks
Obama sent Mubarak letter expressing commitment to exert efforts toward direct peace negotiations aimed at creating Palestinian state
Pastors generally silent on 'pot vote'
Over a period of almost a week, I tried repeatedly to contact a half-dozen large, well-known Southern California churches, seeking a statement. Unfortunately, out of the six large churches I contacted, only one senior pastor responded:
Russia signs law to expand KGB style power
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday signed into a law a bill expanding the powers of the successor to the Soviet-era KGB security service, the Kremlin said in a statement.
Philistine Temple Ruins Uncovered in Goliath's Hometown
The temple and a number of ritual items dating back to the 10th century BCE were discovered at Tel Tsafit (Tell es-Safit/Gath) by Professor Aren Maeir of BIU's Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology and his international team. The tel is located about halfway between Ashkelon and Jerusalem...
The case for impeachment: Obama's socialist takeover must be stopped
President Obama has engaged in numerous high crimes and misdemeanors. The Democratic majority in Congress is in peril as Americans reject his agenda. Yet more must be done: Mr. Obama should be impeached. ...He is undermining our constitutional system of checks and balances; subverting democratic procedures and the rule of law; presiding over a corrupt, gangster regime; and assaulting the very pillars of traditional capitalism.
Iran sets major exercise; Ahmadinejad sees war by November
Iran, warning of an imminent war, has been preparing for another major military exercise. The Iranian Air Force has scheduled a week-long exercise in the western part of the country near Iraq and the Gulf. Officials said the exercise would seek to enhance interoperability as well as night missions.
Controversy in Saudi Arabia over Fatwa Permitting Breastfeeding of Adults
Sheikh ‘Abd Al-Muhsin Al-’Obikan, an advisor at the Saudi Justice Ministry, recently issued a fatwa allowing the breastfeeding of adults. The fatwa is aimed at enabling an unrelated man and woman to be secluded in the same room, a situation which Islam considers forbidden gender mixing. The rationale behind the fatwa is that breastfeeding creates a bond of kinship between the man and woman, rendering the man her mahram,[1] thus making it acceptable for them to be together in seclusion.
Worst floods in a decade in China, 30,000 trapped
Floods caused by heavy rains in northeastern China stranded tens of thousands of residents without power Wednesday, as the worst flooding in more than a decade continued to besiege areas of the country. Floods this year have killed at least 823 people with 437 missing and have caused tens of billions of dollars in damage, the State Flood Control and Drought Prevention reported.
Proposal for one-state solution gains favor among Israelis and Palestinians
The idea of a single state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem is gaining renewed currency with a twist: this time around the proposition is supported not only by Palestinians but also by Israeli right-wingers. Analysts say debate in Israel as well as among Palestinians about a new approach to Middle East peace involving a one-state solution reflects a sense on both sides of the Arab-Israeli divide that US-sponsored efforts to create a Palestinian state alongside Israel are likely to fail.
Report: Israel aiding plot for bloodless coup in Gulf emirate
Israel is helping an exiled Arab sheikh to plot a bloodless coup in the Gulf emirate of Ras al-Khaimeh, the Britain's Guardian newspaper reported on Wednesday. According to the Guardian report, Sheikh Khalid bin-Saqr al-Qasimi - the exiled crown prince of Ras al-Khaimeh - met with Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Ron Prosor in March.
Netanyahu: Israel's government will fall if settlement freeze continues
Continuing the construction freeze in West Bank settlements after it expires on September 26 would be impossible politically and would bring down the coalition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Moratinos told Netanyahu that the European Union's position was that Israel should continue the freeze.
Syrian president to visit Lebanon
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad is to visit Lebanon tomorrow along with Saudi King Abdullah amid fears of renewed conflict in the tiny Mediterranean country, a top government official said yesterday. "We have been informed that he is expected to travel to Beirut with the king," the official said. There was no immediate confirmation from the Syrian government.
Russia gives powers to FSB to prosecute 'thought crime'
The bill, criticised by rights groups, would allow the Federal Security Service (FSB) to issue official warnings to individuals whose actions are deemed to be creating the conditions for crime. Rights groups say the bill would essentially put the special service above the law and harks back to Soviet times when the much-feared FSB predecessor KGB used warnings to persecute dissidents.
Egypt: US assurances may boost direct peace talks
Egypt said Wednesday it has received US assurances that may help in restarting direct peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel. Egyptian presidential spokesman Suleiman Awwad did not disclose details of the US assurances, which come on the eve of a crucial Arab League meeting to determine the future of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
GE pays $23m after Iraq probe
General Electric has agreed to pay $23.5m to settle allegations from US regulators that its subsidiaries bribed Iraqi officials to win contracts under the United Nations Oil for Food Programme between 2000 and 2003. The settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission is the second in as many years for GE. Last year, the company agreed to pay $50m to resolve charges of accounting fraud relating to hedging activities in 2002 and 2003.
Under fire from civil liberties groups, the FBI is defending domestic surveillance guidelines that critics fear could unfairly target innocent Muslims
So much for transparency. Under a little-noticed provision of the recently passed financial-reform legislation, the Securities and Exchange Commission no longer has to comply with virtually all requests for information releases from the public, including those filed under the Freedom of Information Act.
FBI defends guidelines for domestic surveillance
Under fire from civil liberties groups, the FBI is defending domestic surveillance guidelines that critics fear could unfairly target innocent Muslims in terrorism and other criminal investigations. ...In a statement, the bureau said its procedures are designed to ensure that FBI probes don't zero in on anyone on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion or the exercise of any other constitutional right.
Japanese tanker damaged off Oman, cause unclear
A Japanese oil tanker damaged in an explosion in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping lanes, was being diverted to a port in the UAE on Wednesday. ..."A crew member saw light on the horizon just before the explosion, so (ship owner Mitsui O.S.K.) believes there is a possibility it was caused by an outside attack," Japan's ministry said in a statement. Oman's coastguard said there was no evidence of any attack on the tanker and instead cited an earthquake.
UN declares clean water a 'fundamental human right'
The UN has declared that access to clean water and sanitation is a fundamental human right. About 1.5m children under five die each year from water and sanitation-related diseases. The resolution was passed with 122 nations in favour, none against and 41 abstentions. Abstaining countries said the resolution could undermine a process in the UN's Human Rights Council in Geneva to build a consensus on water rights.
South African unions threaten to strike 'in seven days'
South African public sector workers have told the government they will go on strike in seven days if their pay demands are not met. The coalition of unions, representing as many as 900,000 people, has said it will walk out indefinitely. The unions turned down an above-inflation offer last week.
Budget review recommends up to 60,000 public jobs cut
Up to 60,000 people working in the public sector in Scotland could lose their jobs, according to an independent review commissioned by ministers. The panel which considered options for future expenditure recommended a fall in public sector employment of between 5.7% and 10% by 2014-15. It called for reductions to be made as far as possible by natural wastage.
Arizona to appeal against blocks on immigration law
People in Arizona give their views of the federal block on state immigration law Arizona's governor says she will appeal against a federal court's decision to block parts of an anti-immigration law hours before it comes into effect. The court issued a temporary injunction against a requirement that police check the immigration status of suspects they had stopped while enforcing other laws.
Norway tops up funding scheme for south-eastern EU states
Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein on Wednesday (28 July) agreed to donate €1.79 billion to the EU's poorer southern and eastern members in the coming five years for green projects, labour rights, research and human resources, a top-up of 22 percent compared to the previous period.
New EU police investigation co-operation alarms civil liberties watchdogs
Long a refusenik in the realm of European co-operation on justice and home affairs, the UK has decided to opt in to a proposal that will simplify requests by police in other EU member states to investigate suspects in criminal cases. The British government is calling the move a new "invaluable tool" in the fight against transborder crime, but civil liberties watchdogs say that the move will force police to investigate individuals for acts that are not considered crimes in their home country.
US seeking fuel-swap meeting with Iran
The US is looking to arrange high-level talks with Iran on a potential nuclear fuel swap deal proposed last year but never acted on by Teheran. “We hope to have the same kind of meeting coming up in the coming weeks that we had last October,” US State Department spokesman PJ Crowley told reporters Wednesday, referring to a meeting the permanent UN Security Council members – the US, France, Britain, Russia and China – plus Germany, had with Iran in Geneva.
Abbas seeks Arab backing to nix talks
...Despite pressure from the US and the EU, Abbas has signaled in recent days that he does not intend to enter direct talks until Israel stops all settlement construction, as well as construction in east Jerusalem, and commits itself to the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967, lines. He is expected to seek Arab League support for these positions.
Obama sent Mubarak letter expressing commitment to exert efforts toward direct peace negotiations aimed at creating Palestinian state
Pastors generally silent on 'pot vote'
Over a period of almost a week, I tried repeatedly to contact a half-dozen large, well-known Southern California churches, seeking a statement. Unfortunately, out of the six large churches I contacted, only one senior pastor responded:
Russia signs law to expand KGB style power
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday signed into a law a bill expanding the powers of the successor to the Soviet-era KGB security service, the Kremlin said in a statement.
Philistine Temple Ruins Uncovered in Goliath's Hometown
The temple and a number of ritual items dating back to the 10th century BCE were discovered at Tel Tsafit (Tell es-Safit/Gath) by Professor Aren Maeir of BIU's Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology and his international team. The tel is located about halfway between Ashkelon and Jerusalem...
The case for impeachment: Obama's socialist takeover must be stopped
President Obama has engaged in numerous high crimes and misdemeanors. The Democratic majority in Congress is in peril as Americans reject his agenda. Yet more must be done: Mr. Obama should be impeached. ...He is undermining our constitutional system of checks and balances; subverting democratic procedures and the rule of law; presiding over a corrupt, gangster regime; and assaulting the very pillars of traditional capitalism.
Iran sets major exercise; Ahmadinejad sees war by November
Iran, warning of an imminent war, has been preparing for another major military exercise. The Iranian Air Force has scheduled a week-long exercise in the western part of the country near Iraq and the Gulf. Officials said the exercise would seek to enhance interoperability as well as night missions.
Controversy in Saudi Arabia over Fatwa Permitting Breastfeeding of Adults
Sheikh ‘Abd Al-Muhsin Al-’Obikan, an advisor at the Saudi Justice Ministry, recently issued a fatwa allowing the breastfeeding of adults. The fatwa is aimed at enabling an unrelated man and woman to be secluded in the same room, a situation which Islam considers forbidden gender mixing. The rationale behind the fatwa is that breastfeeding creates a bond of kinship between the man and woman, rendering the man her mahram,[1] thus making it acceptable for them to be together in seclusion.
Worst floods in a decade in China, 30,000 trapped
Floods caused by heavy rains in northeastern China stranded tens of thousands of residents without power Wednesday, as the worst flooding in more than a decade continued to besiege areas of the country. Floods this year have killed at least 823 people with 437 missing and have caused tens of billions of dollars in damage, the State Flood Control and Drought Prevention reported.
Proposal for one-state solution gains favor among Israelis and Palestinians
The idea of a single state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem is gaining renewed currency with a twist: this time around the proposition is supported not only by Palestinians but also by Israeli right-wingers. Analysts say debate in Israel as well as among Palestinians about a new approach to Middle East peace involving a one-state solution reflects a sense on both sides of the Arab-Israeli divide that US-sponsored efforts to create a Palestinian state alongside Israel are likely to fail.
Report: Israel aiding plot for bloodless coup in Gulf emirate
Israel is helping an exiled Arab sheikh to plot a bloodless coup in the Gulf emirate of Ras al-Khaimeh, the Britain's Guardian newspaper reported on Wednesday. According to the Guardian report, Sheikh Khalid bin-Saqr al-Qasimi - the exiled crown prince of Ras al-Khaimeh - met with Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Ron Prosor in March.
Netanyahu: Israel's government will fall if settlement freeze continues
Continuing the construction freeze in West Bank settlements after it expires on September 26 would be impossible politically and would bring down the coalition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Moratinos told Netanyahu that the European Union's position was that Israel should continue the freeze.
Syrian president to visit Lebanon
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad is to visit Lebanon tomorrow along with Saudi King Abdullah amid fears of renewed conflict in the tiny Mediterranean country, a top government official said yesterday. "We have been informed that he is expected to travel to Beirut with the king," the official said. There was no immediate confirmation from the Syrian government.
Russia gives powers to FSB to prosecute 'thought crime'
The bill, criticised by rights groups, would allow the Federal Security Service (FSB) to issue official warnings to individuals whose actions are deemed to be creating the conditions for crime. Rights groups say the bill would essentially put the special service above the law and harks back to Soviet times when the much-feared FSB predecessor KGB used warnings to persecute dissidents.
Egypt: US assurances may boost direct peace talks
Egypt said Wednesday it has received US assurances that may help in restarting direct peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel. Egyptian presidential spokesman Suleiman Awwad did not disclose details of the US assurances, which come on the eve of a crucial Arab League meeting to determine the future of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
GE pays $23m after Iraq probe
General Electric has agreed to pay $23.5m to settle allegations from US regulators that its subsidiaries bribed Iraqi officials to win contracts under the United Nations Oil for Food Programme between 2000 and 2003. The settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission is the second in as many years for GE. Last year, the company agreed to pay $50m to resolve charges of accounting fraud relating to hedging activities in 2002 and 2003.
Under fire from civil liberties groups, the FBI is defending domestic surveillance guidelines that critics fear could unfairly target innocent Muslims
So much for transparency. Under a little-noticed provision of the recently passed financial-reform legislation, the Securities and Exchange Commission no longer has to comply with virtually all requests for information releases from the public, including those filed under the Freedom of Information Act.
FBI defends guidelines for domestic surveillance
Under fire from civil liberties groups, the FBI is defending domestic surveillance guidelines that critics fear could unfairly target innocent Muslims in terrorism and other criminal investigations. ...In a statement, the bureau said its procedures are designed to ensure that FBI probes don't zero in on anyone on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion or the exercise of any other constitutional right.
Japanese tanker damaged off Oman, cause unclear
A Japanese oil tanker damaged in an explosion in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping lanes, was being diverted to a port in the UAE on Wednesday. ..."A crew member saw light on the horizon just before the explosion, so (ship owner Mitsui O.S.K.) believes there is a possibility it was caused by an outside attack," Japan's ministry said in a statement. Oman's coastguard said there was no evidence of any attack on the tanker and instead cited an earthquake.
UN declares clean water a 'fundamental human right'
The UN has declared that access to clean water and sanitation is a fundamental human right. About 1.5m children under five die each year from water and sanitation-related diseases. The resolution was passed with 122 nations in favour, none against and 41 abstentions. Abstaining countries said the resolution could undermine a process in the UN's Human Rights Council in Geneva to build a consensus on water rights.
South African unions threaten to strike 'in seven days'
South African public sector workers have told the government they will go on strike in seven days if their pay demands are not met. The coalition of unions, representing as many as 900,000 people, has said it will walk out indefinitely. The unions turned down an above-inflation offer last week.
Budget review recommends up to 60,000 public jobs cut
Up to 60,000 people working in the public sector in Scotland could lose their jobs, according to an independent review commissioned by ministers. The panel which considered options for future expenditure recommended a fall in public sector employment of between 5.7% and 10% by 2014-15. It called for reductions to be made as far as possible by natural wastage.
Arizona to appeal against blocks on immigration law
People in Arizona give their views of the federal block on state immigration law Arizona's governor says she will appeal against a federal court's decision to block parts of an anti-immigration law hours before it comes into effect. The court issued a temporary injunction against a requirement that police check the immigration status of suspects they had stopped while enforcing other laws.
Norway tops up funding scheme for south-eastern EU states
Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein on Wednesday (28 July) agreed to donate €1.79 billion to the EU's poorer southern and eastern members in the coming five years for green projects, labour rights, research and human resources, a top-up of 22 percent compared to the previous period.
New EU police investigation co-operation alarms civil liberties watchdogs
Long a refusenik in the realm of European co-operation on justice and home affairs, the UK has decided to opt in to a proposal that will simplify requests by police in other EU member states to investigate suspects in criminal cases. The British government is calling the move a new "invaluable tool" in the fight against transborder crime, but civil liberties watchdogs say that the move will force police to investigate individuals for acts that are not considered crimes in their home country.
US seeking fuel-swap meeting with Iran
The US is looking to arrange high-level talks with Iran on a potential nuclear fuel swap deal proposed last year but never acted on by Teheran. “We hope to have the same kind of meeting coming up in the coming weeks that we had last October,” US State Department spokesman PJ Crowley told reporters Wednesday, referring to a meeting the permanent UN Security Council members – the US, France, Britain, Russia and China – plus Germany, had with Iran in Geneva.
Abbas seeks Arab backing to nix talks
...Despite pressure from the US and the EU, Abbas has signaled in recent days that he does not intend to enter direct talks until Israel stops all settlement construction, as well as construction in east Jerusalem, and commits itself to the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967, lines. He is expected to seek Arab League support for these positions.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
54% Favor Justice Department Action Against Sanctuary Cities
Fifty-four percent (54%) of U.S. voters say the Justice Department should take legal action against cities that provide sanctuary for illegal immigrants. Even more think the federal government should cut off funds to these “sanctuary cities.”
Massachusetts passes bill awarding electoral votes to winner of national popular vote
“We’ve had a lot of bad ideas come through this chamber over the years, but this is going to be one of the worst ideas that has surfaced and actually garnered some support,” said Tisei, who is also the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor.
Obama The Muslim
Would President Obama pass my mother’s “is he a Muslim” test? Let’s see. President Obama says there is nothing more beautiful than the Muslim call to prayer in the evening. He says that the United States was not founded as a Christian nation.
Obama Warns Abbas: ‘Start Talks or Else’
A secret 36-page memo based on Obama administration statements indicates that the president warned Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to start direct talks with Israel or risk losing American support for the recognition of the PA as a country.
Sanctions Stem Gasoline Flow to Iran
According to a shipping document seen by a Reuters reporter, only three cargoes of gasoline reached Iran in July so far. Iran usually needs 11 to 13 cargoes of gasoline a month during the summer months, a Dubai-based trader said.
Tablet Discovered by Hebrew U Matches Code of Hammurabi
The fragments that have now been discovered, written in Akkadian cuneiform script, refer to issues of personal injury law relating to slaves and masters, bring to mind similar laws in the famous Babylonian Hammurabi Code of the 18th century B.C.E. that were found in what is now Iran over 100 years ago.
Waqf Bulldozers on Temple Mount May Be Destroying Jewish History
Jewish residents report that Waqf works at the Dome of the Rock have restarted 'under cover', likely destroying Jewish archaeological artifacts.
China at risk of bad loans, warns IMF
...The IMF has "highlighted the need for regulatory and supervisory vigilance to manage any deterioration in credit quality, and for increased transparency in lending to local government vehicles," said the notes to the Article IV consultation, which has not been released in full. According to senior Chinese officials, Chinese banks are facing serious default risks on more than a fifth of the 7,700bn yuan they have lent to local governments across the country.
Egyptian Cleric Hussam Fawzi Jabar: Hitler was right to do what he did to the Jews
Hussam Fawzi Jabar: "This is the nature of the Jews. By nature, they abhor keeping their commitments. By nature, they hate peace. By nature, they love treachery, betrayal, deception, killing, and blood. This is their nature. [...] ..."One of the most amazing things I have read is that Hitler said: 'I could have annihilated all the Jews of the world, but I left some of them, so that you would understand why I did this to them.' Hitler was right to say what he said and to do what he did to the Jews. [...]
France declares war against al-Qaida in response to aid-worker’s death
France has declared war on al-Qaida, and matched its fighting words with a first attack on a base camp of the terror network’s North African branch, after the terror network killed a French aid worker it took hostage in April. ...“We are at war with al-Qaida,” Prime Minister Francois Fillon said Tuesday, a day after President Nicolas Sarkozy announced the death of 78-year-old hostage Michel Germaneau.
US in 'full court press' to restart direct Mideast talks
The United States said Tuesday it is making a "full-court press" to encourage the Israelis and Palestinians to resume direct peace talks that lapsed in late 2008. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke at the weekend by telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as her counterparts from Jordan and Qatar, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.
Mass. Legislature approves plan to bypass Electoral College
The Massachusetts Legislature has approved a new law intended to bypass the Electoral College system and ensure that the winner of the presidential election is determined by the national popular vote. ...Opponents say the current system works. They are concerned about a possible scenario where Candidate X wins nationally, but Candidate Y has won in Massachusetts. In that case, all of the state's 12 electoral votes would go to Candidate X, the candidate who was not supported by Massachusetts voters.
US Congress approves new funding for Afghan war
The US House of Representatives has approved funds to pay for President Barack Obama's increase in US troop numbers in Afghanistan. The 308 to 114 vote comes at a time when some lawmakers are growing sceptical about the nine-year-old war. The bill, which Mr Obama will sign into law, provides roughly $59bn (£45.4bn) for 30,000 more troops in Afghanistan and other programmes.
Lebanese ruling party wants Muslims to protect Christians
Lebanon’s ruling party on Monday issued a call to save the Christian communities of the Middle East. Ahmad Hariri, secretary-general of the Lebanese Future Movement, said he was “extremely worried about the repercussions of the Christian emigration from some Middle East countries.”
Synagogue in Maryland vandalized
Police were investigating the appearance of anti-Semitic graffiti on the outside of the B’Nai Shalom Synagogue in Olney, Maryland, NBC Washington reported. Parents arrived to drop their children off at the synagogue's summer camp on Monday morning and were shocked to discover the anti-semitic words and symbols that had been spray-painted across the building.
Blast hits Japan oil tanker near Iran
An explosion hit a Japanese oil tanker in the early hours of Wednesday in the Strait of Hormuz near Iran and Oman, and the crew attributed the blast to an attack, the transport ministry said. One crew member was injured and the ship, belonging to Mitsui OSK Lines, was partly damaged but able to continue sailing after the blast hit at 00.30am local time (0630 AEST), the Japanese ministry said.
Al Qaeda No. 2 Threatens More U.S. Attacks
Al Qaeda's second in command Ayman Al-Zawahiri has surfaced again, this time threatening more attacks against the U.S. and the West. "Oh American people…We offered you a peace plan, and mutual benefit; but your governments were proud and haughty, and so the attacks against you followed one after another, everywhere – from Indonesia to Times Square, by way of Madrid and London. And the attacks are ongoing, and more will come one after another," said Zawahiri, he also continued his promise of near victory in Iraq and Afghanistan. Zawahiri
Pak plane carrying 152 crashes, 8 survivors found
A passenger jet carrying 152 people crashed into the hills surrounding Pakistan's capital on a rainy Wednesday morning, officials said. The cause of the Airblue crash was not immediately clear-Officials at first thought it was a small plane, but later revised that. George said 146 passengers were on the flight along with six crew members.
Explosion at China factory injures 100
State media says an explosion at a factory in eastern China has injured about 100 people. The official Xinhua News Agency says the Wednesday morning blast occurred at a plastics factory in downtown Nanjing city in eastern Jiangsu province. Nearly 100 people were injured and rushed to the hospital, Xinhua said, citing witnesses and hospital sources.
Fifty-four percent (54%) of U.S. voters say the Justice Department should take legal action against cities that provide sanctuary for illegal immigrants. Even more think the federal government should cut off funds to these “sanctuary cities.”
Massachusetts passes bill awarding electoral votes to winner of national popular vote
“We’ve had a lot of bad ideas come through this chamber over the years, but this is going to be one of the worst ideas that has surfaced and actually garnered some support,” said Tisei, who is also the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor.
Obama The Muslim
Would President Obama pass my mother’s “is he a Muslim” test? Let’s see. President Obama says there is nothing more beautiful than the Muslim call to prayer in the evening. He says that the United States was not founded as a Christian nation.
Obama Warns Abbas: ‘Start Talks or Else’
A secret 36-page memo based on Obama administration statements indicates that the president warned Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to start direct talks with Israel or risk losing American support for the recognition of the PA as a country.
Sanctions Stem Gasoline Flow to Iran
According to a shipping document seen by a Reuters reporter, only three cargoes of gasoline reached Iran in July so far. Iran usually needs 11 to 13 cargoes of gasoline a month during the summer months, a Dubai-based trader said.
Tablet Discovered by Hebrew U Matches Code of Hammurabi
The fragments that have now been discovered, written in Akkadian cuneiform script, refer to issues of personal injury law relating to slaves and masters, bring to mind similar laws in the famous Babylonian Hammurabi Code of the 18th century B.C.E. that were found in what is now Iran over 100 years ago.
Waqf Bulldozers on Temple Mount May Be Destroying Jewish History
Jewish residents report that Waqf works at the Dome of the Rock have restarted 'under cover', likely destroying Jewish archaeological artifacts.
China at risk of bad loans, warns IMF
...The IMF has "highlighted the need for regulatory and supervisory vigilance to manage any deterioration in credit quality, and for increased transparency in lending to local government vehicles," said the notes to the Article IV consultation, which has not been released in full. According to senior Chinese officials, Chinese banks are facing serious default risks on more than a fifth of the 7,700bn yuan they have lent to local governments across the country.
Egyptian Cleric Hussam Fawzi Jabar: Hitler was right to do what he did to the Jews
Hussam Fawzi Jabar: "This is the nature of the Jews. By nature, they abhor keeping their commitments. By nature, they hate peace. By nature, they love treachery, betrayal, deception, killing, and blood. This is their nature. [...] ..."One of the most amazing things I have read is that Hitler said: 'I could have annihilated all the Jews of the world, but I left some of them, so that you would understand why I did this to them.' Hitler was right to say what he said and to do what he did to the Jews. [...]
France declares war against al-Qaida in response to aid-worker’s death
France has declared war on al-Qaida, and matched its fighting words with a first attack on a base camp of the terror network’s North African branch, after the terror network killed a French aid worker it took hostage in April. ...“We are at war with al-Qaida,” Prime Minister Francois Fillon said Tuesday, a day after President Nicolas Sarkozy announced the death of 78-year-old hostage Michel Germaneau.
US in 'full court press' to restart direct Mideast talks
The United States said Tuesday it is making a "full-court press" to encourage the Israelis and Palestinians to resume direct peace talks that lapsed in late 2008. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke at the weekend by telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as her counterparts from Jordan and Qatar, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.
Mass. Legislature approves plan to bypass Electoral College
The Massachusetts Legislature has approved a new law intended to bypass the Electoral College system and ensure that the winner of the presidential election is determined by the national popular vote. ...Opponents say the current system works. They are concerned about a possible scenario where Candidate X wins nationally, but Candidate Y has won in Massachusetts. In that case, all of the state's 12 electoral votes would go to Candidate X, the candidate who was not supported by Massachusetts voters.
US Congress approves new funding for Afghan war
The US House of Representatives has approved funds to pay for President Barack Obama's increase in US troop numbers in Afghanistan. The 308 to 114 vote comes at a time when some lawmakers are growing sceptical about the nine-year-old war. The bill, which Mr Obama will sign into law, provides roughly $59bn (£45.4bn) for 30,000 more troops in Afghanistan and other programmes.
Lebanese ruling party wants Muslims to protect Christians
Lebanon’s ruling party on Monday issued a call to save the Christian communities of the Middle East. Ahmad Hariri, secretary-general of the Lebanese Future Movement, said he was “extremely worried about the repercussions of the Christian emigration from some Middle East countries.”
Synagogue in Maryland vandalized
Police were investigating the appearance of anti-Semitic graffiti on the outside of the B’Nai Shalom Synagogue in Olney, Maryland, NBC Washington reported. Parents arrived to drop their children off at the synagogue's summer camp on Monday morning and were shocked to discover the anti-semitic words and symbols that had been spray-painted across the building.
Blast hits Japan oil tanker near Iran
An explosion hit a Japanese oil tanker in the early hours of Wednesday in the Strait of Hormuz near Iran and Oman, and the crew attributed the blast to an attack, the transport ministry said. One crew member was injured and the ship, belonging to Mitsui OSK Lines, was partly damaged but able to continue sailing after the blast hit at 00.30am local time (0630 AEST), the Japanese ministry said.
Al Qaeda No. 2 Threatens More U.S. Attacks
Al Qaeda's second in command Ayman Al-Zawahiri has surfaced again, this time threatening more attacks against the U.S. and the West. "Oh American people…We offered you a peace plan, and mutual benefit; but your governments were proud and haughty, and so the attacks against you followed one after another, everywhere – from Indonesia to Times Square, by way of Madrid and London. And the attacks are ongoing, and more will come one after another," said Zawahiri, he also continued his promise of near victory in Iraq and Afghanistan. Zawahiri
Pak plane carrying 152 crashes, 8 survivors found
A passenger jet carrying 152 people crashed into the hills surrounding Pakistan's capital on a rainy Wednesday morning, officials said. The cause of the Airblue crash was not immediately clear-Officials at first thought it was a small plane, but later revised that. George said 146 passengers were on the flight along with six crew members.
Explosion at China factory injures 100
State media says an explosion at a factory in eastern China has injured about 100 people. The official Xinhua News Agency says the Wednesday morning blast occurred at a plastics factory in downtown Nanjing city in eastern Jiangsu province. Nearly 100 people were injured and rushed to the hospital, Xinhua said, citing witnesses and hospital sources.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Ahmadinejad: US, 'Zionists' to start new Mideast wars
Iranian president says his country has 'precise information' on American plot to stymie his country's growth and 'save Zionist regime' through military confrontation
WikiLeaks' postings a serious issue
A senior Army strategist and Pentagon advisor says the recent release of sensitive information on the Afghanistan war by an online "whistleblower" is a very serious matter and could result in serious harm to U.S. troops.
Muslim Brotherhood Jockeys for Power in Egypt
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has terminal stomach cancer, and is not expected to survive beyond another year. Mubarak has anointed his son Gamal as his successor; however, the Brotherhood, from which sprang both Hamas and al Qaeda, could attempt to seize power upon the elder Mubarak’s death,
Russia says Ahmadinejad comments 'unacceptable'
Ahmadinejad last week dubbed his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev the "mouthpiece" of Iran's enemies, in his strongest attack yet on Moscow after months of rising tensions between the Kremlin and the Islamic republic.
Japan summer heat wave blamed for 66 deaths
A blistering summer heat wave in Japan has sent 15,000 people to hospital with heat stroke and caused at least 66 deaths in the past two months, the government said Tuesday.
European Union Puts the Clamps on Iran, Passes New Energy Sancti
The European Union followed the lead of the United States Monday and approved tough energy sanctions on Iran, which already is feeling hard times.
The Sins of Damascus
The atmosphere in our area is heating up and the smell of war is in the air. Reports of long range rockets sent to Syria from Iran are only part of the story.
Natural gas could lead to new Lebanon-Israel war
The discovery of large natural gas reserves under the waters of the eastern Mediterranean could potentially mean a huge economic windfall for Israel and Lebanon, both resource-poor nations - if it doesn't spark new war between them. The Hezbollah militant group has blared warnings that Israel plans to steal natural gas from Lebanese territory and vows to defend the resources with its arsenal of rockets. Israel says the fields it is developing do not extend into Lebanese waters, a claim experts say appears to be correct, but the maritime boundary between the two countries - still officially at war - has never been precisely set.
West Siberian research institute to help clean up Deepwater Horizon spill
Russian scientists from a research institute in the West Siberian town of Tyumen will help clean up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico under a contract signed with U.S. Global Remediation Group, the institute's marketing specialist said on Tuesday. ...Under a contract signed by the Research and Development Institute of Ecology and the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources (RSI), Tyumen scientists will carry out a set of measures to clean up the leak, recycle waste oil and clean the coast contaminated by the ecological disaster, Elena Filipchuk said.
Saudi King to visit Lebanon
Saudi King Abdullah will visit Lebanon on Friday and urge rival parties to exercise restraint amid tensions over the possible implication of Hizbollah in the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, a government official said yesterday. ..."He is going to tell all the parties to remain cool." He was referring to mounting fears of a conflict in Lebanon following last week's announcement by Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah that he knew the UN tribunal probing Hariri's 2005 murder was set to indict Hizbollah members.
Ahmadinejad: US, 'Zionists' to start new Mideast wars
Iran's hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the United States is planning to launch two wars in the Middle East in order to pressure Tehran, English-language Press TV reported on Tuesday. "We have precise information that the Americans have devised a plot ... they plan to attack at least two countries in the region within the next three months," he said in remarks Press TV posted on its website from an interview with him late Monday.
Franken warns that GOP Congress would bring ‘truly dangerous agenda’
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), addressing a convention of liberal bloggers and activists Saturday evening, implored the left to fight to stay in power in the midterm elections. “If Republicans take back Congress they’ll implement a truly dangerous agenda,” Franken told the Netroots Nation gathering in Las Vegas. “Everything is on the table, from repealing healthcare reform to privatizing Social Security.”
Majority of Small Business Sector Facing Higher Taxes Under Obama Plan
The Obama Administration and Congressional Democrats have said that they want to raise taxes in the top two income tax rates in January 2011. Under their plan, the 33 percent rate will rise to 36 percent, and the 35 percent rate will rise to 39.6 percent automatically in January. These rates affect families and small business owners earning at least $200,000 per year.
China Three Gorges flooding set to peak
China says flood waters at the Three Gorges Dam will peak within the next 24 hours, after torrential rain further up the Yangtze river over the weekend. More heavy rain is expected in parts of southern China from now until Thursday. News has only just emerged of a bridge collapse in Henan province on Saturday in which 33 people died and up to 21 are still missing.
US 'fails to account' for Iraq reconstruction billions
A US federal watchdog has criticised the US military for failing to account properly for billions of dollars it received to help rebuild Iraq. The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction says the US Department of Defence is unable to account properly for 96% of the money. Out of just over $9bn (£5.8bn), $8.7bn is unaccounted for, the inspector says.
Critics slams Europe's rescue mechanisms as a threat to social peace
A member of a German quintet of professors that is currently challenging the legality of Europe's recently-devised support measures has said they threaten to create enormous tensions between EU citizens if allowed to stand. In a telephone interview with EUobserver on Thursday (22 July), Wilhelm Nolling, professor of economics at the University of Hamburg, said the idea that Greece would be able to pay back its loans to EU states was simply "ridiculous," given the country's level of indebtedness and lack of competitiveness.
Iran: US, EU policies are 'ridiculous'
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed that US and European efforts to economically isolate his country would backfire in an interview with CBS News that aired Monday night in the US. Ahmadinejad also rejected during the interview suggestions that Teheran was providing assistance to Taliban forces in Afghanistan. "I think the policies by the Europeans and the Americans are ridiculous. They think they are going to influence the life of the Iranian society," said Ahmadinejad. He continued, " In fact, they're imposing sanctions against themselves.
'Gaza cannot remain a prison camp'
Israel's May 31 interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla was "completely unacceptable," British Prime Minister David Cameron said Tuesday during an address to Turkish businessmen. In a reference to Israel's blockade of the Strip, he said: "Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp." He also commented that the world needs Turkey's help in pushing Iran to address international concerns about its suspected nuclear weapons program.
Iranian president says his country has 'precise information' on American plot to stymie his country's growth and 'save Zionist regime' through military confrontation
WikiLeaks' postings a serious issue
A senior Army strategist and Pentagon advisor says the recent release of sensitive information on the Afghanistan war by an online "whistleblower" is a very serious matter and could result in serious harm to U.S. troops.
Muslim Brotherhood Jockeys for Power in Egypt
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has terminal stomach cancer, and is not expected to survive beyond another year. Mubarak has anointed his son Gamal as his successor; however, the Brotherhood, from which sprang both Hamas and al Qaeda, could attempt to seize power upon the elder Mubarak’s death,
Russia says Ahmadinejad comments 'unacceptable'
Ahmadinejad last week dubbed his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev the "mouthpiece" of Iran's enemies, in his strongest attack yet on Moscow after months of rising tensions between the Kremlin and the Islamic republic.
Japan summer heat wave blamed for 66 deaths
A blistering summer heat wave in Japan has sent 15,000 people to hospital with heat stroke and caused at least 66 deaths in the past two months, the government said Tuesday.
European Union Puts the Clamps on Iran, Passes New Energy Sancti
The European Union followed the lead of the United States Monday and approved tough energy sanctions on Iran, which already is feeling hard times.
The Sins of Damascus
The atmosphere in our area is heating up and the smell of war is in the air. Reports of long range rockets sent to Syria from Iran are only part of the story.
Natural gas could lead to new Lebanon-Israel war
The discovery of large natural gas reserves under the waters of the eastern Mediterranean could potentially mean a huge economic windfall for Israel and Lebanon, both resource-poor nations - if it doesn't spark new war between them. The Hezbollah militant group has blared warnings that Israel plans to steal natural gas from Lebanese territory and vows to defend the resources with its arsenal of rockets. Israel says the fields it is developing do not extend into Lebanese waters, a claim experts say appears to be correct, but the maritime boundary between the two countries - still officially at war - has never been precisely set.
West Siberian research institute to help clean up Deepwater Horizon spill
Russian scientists from a research institute in the West Siberian town of Tyumen will help clean up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico under a contract signed with U.S. Global Remediation Group, the institute's marketing specialist said on Tuesday. ...Under a contract signed by the Research and Development Institute of Ecology and the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources (RSI), Tyumen scientists will carry out a set of measures to clean up the leak, recycle waste oil and clean the coast contaminated by the ecological disaster, Elena Filipchuk said.
Saudi King to visit Lebanon
Saudi King Abdullah will visit Lebanon on Friday and urge rival parties to exercise restraint amid tensions over the possible implication of Hizbollah in the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, a government official said yesterday. ..."He is going to tell all the parties to remain cool." He was referring to mounting fears of a conflict in Lebanon following last week's announcement by Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah that he knew the UN tribunal probing Hariri's 2005 murder was set to indict Hizbollah members.
Ahmadinejad: US, 'Zionists' to start new Mideast wars
Iran's hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the United States is planning to launch two wars in the Middle East in order to pressure Tehran, English-language Press TV reported on Tuesday. "We have precise information that the Americans have devised a plot ... they plan to attack at least two countries in the region within the next three months," he said in remarks Press TV posted on its website from an interview with him late Monday.
Franken warns that GOP Congress would bring ‘truly dangerous agenda’
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), addressing a convention of liberal bloggers and activists Saturday evening, implored the left to fight to stay in power in the midterm elections. “If Republicans take back Congress they’ll implement a truly dangerous agenda,” Franken told the Netroots Nation gathering in Las Vegas. “Everything is on the table, from repealing healthcare reform to privatizing Social Security.”
Majority of Small Business Sector Facing Higher Taxes Under Obama Plan
The Obama Administration and Congressional Democrats have said that they want to raise taxes in the top two income tax rates in January 2011. Under their plan, the 33 percent rate will rise to 36 percent, and the 35 percent rate will rise to 39.6 percent automatically in January. These rates affect families and small business owners earning at least $200,000 per year.
China Three Gorges flooding set to peak
China says flood waters at the Three Gorges Dam will peak within the next 24 hours, after torrential rain further up the Yangtze river over the weekend. More heavy rain is expected in parts of southern China from now until Thursday. News has only just emerged of a bridge collapse in Henan province on Saturday in which 33 people died and up to 21 are still missing.
US 'fails to account' for Iraq reconstruction billions
A US federal watchdog has criticised the US military for failing to account properly for billions of dollars it received to help rebuild Iraq. The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction says the US Department of Defence is unable to account properly for 96% of the money. Out of just over $9bn (£5.8bn), $8.7bn is unaccounted for, the inspector says.
Critics slams Europe's rescue mechanisms as a threat to social peace
A member of a German quintet of professors that is currently challenging the legality of Europe's recently-devised support measures has said they threaten to create enormous tensions between EU citizens if allowed to stand. In a telephone interview with EUobserver on Thursday (22 July), Wilhelm Nolling, professor of economics at the University of Hamburg, said the idea that Greece would be able to pay back its loans to EU states was simply "ridiculous," given the country's level of indebtedness and lack of competitiveness.
Iran: US, EU policies are 'ridiculous'
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed that US and European efforts to economically isolate his country would backfire in an interview with CBS News that aired Monday night in the US. Ahmadinejad also rejected during the interview suggestions that Teheran was providing assistance to Taliban forces in Afghanistan. "I think the policies by the Europeans and the Americans are ridiculous. They think they are going to influence the life of the Iranian society," said Ahmadinejad. He continued, " In fact, they're imposing sanctions against themselves.
'Gaza cannot remain a prison camp'
Israel's May 31 interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla was "completely unacceptable," British Prime Minister David Cameron said Tuesday during an address to Turkish businessmen. In a reference to Israel's blockade of the Strip, he said: "Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp." He also commented that the world needs Turkey's help in pushing Iran to address international concerns about its suspected nuclear weapons program.
Monday, July 26, 2010
World leaders gather at Global Policy Forum in Yaroslavl
Global Policy Forum “The Modern State: Standards of Democracy and Criteria of Efficiency” will be held under the patronage of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev. Celebrating its millennium in 2010, Yaroslavl will become a place of meeting of heads of states and ministers, authoritative politicians, representatives of the business community, scientists, scholars and experts from around the world.
As Tensions Rise, U.S. and S. Korea Begin Drills
The United States and South Korea began their largest joint war games in years on Sunday, with a nuclear powered American aircraft carrier prowling off the east coast of South Korea while North Korea threatened to retaliate and reportedly put its military on alert for war.
Pakistan Aids Insurgency in Afghanistan, Reports Assert
Americans fighting the war in Afghanistan have long harbored strong suspicions that Pakistan’s military spy service has guided the Afghan insurgency with a hidden hand, even as Pakistan receives more than $1 billion a year from Washington for its help combating the militants, according to a trove of secret military field reports made public Sunday.
Evangelical Lutheran pulpits welcome non-celibate gay pastors
The group is among the first gay, bisexual or transgender Lutheran pastors to be reinstated or added to the rolls of the ELCA since the organization voted last year to lift the policy requiring celibacy.
Carter ripped for anti-Israel statement
The leader of a Messianic Jewish ministry says it's an absolute outrage that former President Jimmy Carter has once again demonstrated that he's a not a friend of Israel.
Top U.S. officer warns Afghan war will get worse
More NATO troops will die in Afghanistan as violence mounts over the summer, but Washington's goal of turning the tide against the insurgency by year's end is within reach, the top U.S. military officer said on Sunday.
Israel Museum Display Dilutes Jewish Connection with Jerusalem
The inauguration of the Israel Museum’s renewed 20-acre campus Sunday evening features a display that aims at changing the "tendency" to view Jerusalem only through a Jewish perspective.
US Insists 'No Change in PA Status' Despite Flag Waving
The United States insists that allowing the Palestinian Authority to fly its flag in Washington does not represent an upgrade in its diplomatic status. The PA said Friday that the American government is changing the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) mission’s designation from “mission" to "special delegation.”
Migrants sell up and flee Arizona ahead of crackdown
"Everyone is selling up the little they have and leaving," said Villasenor, 31, who is headed for Pennsylvania. "We have no alternative. They have us cornered."
Green religion movement hopes spill wins converts
Religious leaders who consider environmental protection a godly mission are making the Gulf of Mexico oil spill a rallying cry, hoping it inspires people of faith to support cleaner energy while changing their personal lives to consume less and contemplate more. "This is one of those rare moments when you can really focus people's attention on what's happening to God's creation," said Walt Grazer, head of the National Religious Partnership for the Environment.
Netanyahu: Palestinians are dodging direct Mideast peace talks
The Palestinian Authority is determined to sabotage attempts to upgrade the ongoing proximity Middle East peace talks with direct negotiations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday, adding that direct talks were the only way to ensure Israel's security interests. ..."If anyone had any doubts regarding the Palestinians' reluctance, it is now crystal clear," Netanyahu said, adding that the PA were "stalling direct talks and relying on the Arab League for support."
MK Zoabi: Israel could ignite 3rd intifada
Arab Knesset member who participated in Gaza-bound flotilla tells British newspaper she rejects path of violence but warns conditions may deteriorate should Israel fail to recognize problem of Arab-Israeli community. ...After having her privileges revoked by the Knesset, MK Hanin Zoabi (Balad) warns of a third intifada in an interview with Britain's Guardian newspaper.
US says Wikileaks could 'threaten national security'
The United States has condemned as "irresponsible" the leak of 90,000 military records, saying publication could threaten national security. The documents released by the Wikileaks website include details of killings of Afghan civilians unreported until now. Three news organisations had advance access to the records, which also show Nato concerns that Pakistan and Iran are helping the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Venezuela head threatens US oil cut over Colombia row
President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has threatened to halt oil exports to the US if his country is attacked by Colombia - a close US ally. The threat comes amid an escalating dispute over allegations that Venezuela is harbouring Colombian rebels. Mr Chavez broke diplomatic ties with Colombia last week and put his army on high alert.
Iran warns EU against imposing sanctions
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said the EU will "regret" the economic sanctions it is planning to impose on Tehran later today (26 July) at a foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels. "Anyone who adopts a measure against the Iranian nation … should know that Iran will react swiftly," Mr Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying on Sunday by Iran's English-language Press TV channel, reports the BBC.
'If Hizbullah strikes, we hit Lebanon'
The IDF will attack Lebanese government institutions if Israel is again subjected to rocket attacks, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in an interview with The Washington Post published Sunday. He told the newspaper that since the Lebanese goverment is allowing Hizbullah to rearm, "we will not run after each Hizbullah terrorist or launcher. . . . We will see it as legitimate to hit any target that belongs to the Lebanese state, not just to Hizbullah."
Global Policy Forum “The Modern State: Standards of Democracy and Criteria of Efficiency” will be held under the patronage of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev. Celebrating its millennium in 2010, Yaroslavl will become a place of meeting of heads of states and ministers, authoritative politicians, representatives of the business community, scientists, scholars and experts from around the world.
As Tensions Rise, U.S. and S. Korea Begin Drills
The United States and South Korea began their largest joint war games in years on Sunday, with a nuclear powered American aircraft carrier prowling off the east coast of South Korea while North Korea threatened to retaliate and reportedly put its military on alert for war.
Pakistan Aids Insurgency in Afghanistan, Reports Assert
Americans fighting the war in Afghanistan have long harbored strong suspicions that Pakistan’s military spy service has guided the Afghan insurgency with a hidden hand, even as Pakistan receives more than $1 billion a year from Washington for its help combating the militants, according to a trove of secret military field reports made public Sunday.
Evangelical Lutheran pulpits welcome non-celibate gay pastors
The group is among the first gay, bisexual or transgender Lutheran pastors to be reinstated or added to the rolls of the ELCA since the organization voted last year to lift the policy requiring celibacy.
Carter ripped for anti-Israel statement
The leader of a Messianic Jewish ministry says it's an absolute outrage that former President Jimmy Carter has once again demonstrated that he's a not a friend of Israel.
Top U.S. officer warns Afghan war will get worse
More NATO troops will die in Afghanistan as violence mounts over the summer, but Washington's goal of turning the tide against the insurgency by year's end is within reach, the top U.S. military officer said on Sunday.
Israel Museum Display Dilutes Jewish Connection with Jerusalem
The inauguration of the Israel Museum’s renewed 20-acre campus Sunday evening features a display that aims at changing the "tendency" to view Jerusalem only through a Jewish perspective.
US Insists 'No Change in PA Status' Despite Flag Waving
The United States insists that allowing the Palestinian Authority to fly its flag in Washington does not represent an upgrade in its diplomatic status. The PA said Friday that the American government is changing the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) mission’s designation from “mission" to "special delegation.”
Migrants sell up and flee Arizona ahead of crackdown
"Everyone is selling up the little they have and leaving," said Villasenor, 31, who is headed for Pennsylvania. "We have no alternative. They have us cornered."
Green religion movement hopes spill wins converts
Religious leaders who consider environmental protection a godly mission are making the Gulf of Mexico oil spill a rallying cry, hoping it inspires people of faith to support cleaner energy while changing their personal lives to consume less and contemplate more. "This is one of those rare moments when you can really focus people's attention on what's happening to God's creation," said Walt Grazer, head of the National Religious Partnership for the Environment.
Netanyahu: Palestinians are dodging direct Mideast peace talks
The Palestinian Authority is determined to sabotage attempts to upgrade the ongoing proximity Middle East peace talks with direct negotiations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday, adding that direct talks were the only way to ensure Israel's security interests. ..."If anyone had any doubts regarding the Palestinians' reluctance, it is now crystal clear," Netanyahu said, adding that the PA were "stalling direct talks and relying on the Arab League for support."
MK Zoabi: Israel could ignite 3rd intifada
Arab Knesset member who participated in Gaza-bound flotilla tells British newspaper she rejects path of violence but warns conditions may deteriorate should Israel fail to recognize problem of Arab-Israeli community. ...After having her privileges revoked by the Knesset, MK Hanin Zoabi (Balad) warns of a third intifada in an interview with Britain's Guardian newspaper.
US says Wikileaks could 'threaten national security'
The United States has condemned as "irresponsible" the leak of 90,000 military records, saying publication could threaten national security. The documents released by the Wikileaks website include details of killings of Afghan civilians unreported until now. Three news organisations had advance access to the records, which also show Nato concerns that Pakistan and Iran are helping the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Venezuela head threatens US oil cut over Colombia row
President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has threatened to halt oil exports to the US if his country is attacked by Colombia - a close US ally. The threat comes amid an escalating dispute over allegations that Venezuela is harbouring Colombian rebels. Mr Chavez broke diplomatic ties with Colombia last week and put his army on high alert.
Iran warns EU against imposing sanctions
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said the EU will "regret" the economic sanctions it is planning to impose on Tehran later today (26 July) at a foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels. "Anyone who adopts a measure against the Iranian nation … should know that Iran will react swiftly," Mr Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying on Sunday by Iran's English-language Press TV channel, reports the BBC.
'If Hizbullah strikes, we hit Lebanon'
The IDF will attack Lebanese government institutions if Israel is again subjected to rocket attacks, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in an interview with The Washington Post published Sunday. He told the newspaper that since the Lebanese goverment is allowing Hizbullah to rearm, "we will not run after each Hizbullah terrorist or launcher. . . . We will see it as legitimate to hit any target that belongs to the Lebanese state, not just to Hizbullah."
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Russia's Heat Wave Wilts Crops, Nation
Russia's worst drought in 130 years became a political issue Friday as the Kremlin held an emergency meeting to combat the impacts of a month long heat wave that is shriveling crops, forcing up food prices, and causing hundreds of drownings as Russians jump into rivers to escape heat funneled up from North Africa.
Berlusconi discusses proximity talks situation with Abbas
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi telephoned Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday to discuss the situation of proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinians, Israel Radio reported Saturday. Berlusconi said at a press conference with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Friday that the two sides need to move direct negotiations as soon as possible.
Iran says it has 100 vessels to confront each US warship
Iran has set aside 100 military vessels to confront each US warship that poses a threat, a former naval chief in the Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Guard said Saturday. Gen. Morteza Saffari was quoted by the conservative weekly Panjereh as saying that troops aboard US warships are "morsels" for Iran to target in the event of any American threat against Iran. In 2008, Iran put its most powerful military force, the Revolutionary Guard, in charge of defending the country's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, a vital oil route.
Turkey exploits 'window of opportunity', moving rapidly to acquire nuclear weapons
A quiet but intense debate is ongoing within senior circles of the governing Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi (Justice and Development Party: AKP) in Turkey over whether or not this is the time to proceed rapidly with the development and acquisition of nuclear weapons. ...Nuclear weapons research has long been underway, under conditions of extreme secrecy, in Turkey, and the AKP leadership is aware that it is probable that this will become public knowledge as the effort becomes more intense.
Series of strong quakes hit Philippines
Four powerful earthquakes struck the Philippines' Moro Gulf early on Saturday just over an hour, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Three of the earthquakes measured between 7.3 and 7.6 points on the Richter scale, and the other one registered 5.4 points. There have been no reports on damage of victims. No tsunami warning was immediately issued following the tremor.
Israel warns of N. Korea missile proliferation in Mideast
Israel has told the UN Security Council's North Korea sanctions panel that ballistic missile proliferation by Pyongyang is destabilizing the Middle East and urged countries to step up efforts to stop it. "Israel would like to express its ongoing concern regarding the proliferation of ballistic missiles from (North Korea), and to encourage the international community to strengthen its efforts in response to these dangers," Israel's UN mission said in a letter to the North Korea sanctions committee.
Some insurers stop writing new coverage for kids
Some major health insurance companies will no longer issue certain types of policies for children, an unintended consequence of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law, state officials said Friday. ...In Florida, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Aetna, and Golden Rule -- a subsidiary of UnitedHealthcare -- notified the insurance commissioner that they will stop issuing individual policies for children, said Jack McDermott, a spokesman for McCarty.
Bernanke Says Extending Bush's Tax Cuts Would Maintain Economic Stimulus
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said extending at least some of the tax cuts set to expire this year would help strengthen a U.S. economy still in need of stimulus and urged offsetting the move with increased revenue or lower spending. “In the short term I would believe that we ought to maintain a reasonable degree of fiscal support, stimulus for the economy,” Bernanke said yesterday under questioning from the House Financial Services Committee’s senior Republican.
Wal-Mart Radio Tags to Track Clothing
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to roll out sophisticated electronic ID tags to track individual pairs of jeans and underwear, the first step in a system that advocates say better controls inventory but some critics say raises privacy concerns. Starting next month, the retailer will place removable "smart tags" on individual garments that can be read by a hand-held scanner.
CNN Host Calls for Crackdown on 'Bloggers'
Should there be a "gatekeeper" regulating internet bloggers? In the aftermath of the Shirley Sherrod incident, that's what CNN promoted on July 23. Anchors Kyra Phillips and John Roberts discussed the "mixed blessing of the internet," and agreed that there should be a crackdown on anonymous bloggers who disparage others on the internet.
Dengue Fever Showing Up In Central Florida
Dengue fever has infected a handful of people in Central Florida, health officials said. “This is not a regular flu virus that you get, you feel a lot worse,” said Dr. Todd Husty. “You get a real great fever, a horrible fever; it's called ‘break bone fever.’ You feel like your bones are breaking, but it's really joint pain,” Husty said.
North Korea warns of nuclear 'sacred war'
North Korea says it will use its "nuclear deterrent" in response to joint US-South Korean military exercises this weekend. Pyongyang was ready to launch a "retaliatory sacred war" at any time, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. Washington and Seoul say the war games are to deter North Korean aggression.
Brown says global economy reliant upon growth in Africa
Gordon Brown has used his first major speech since leaving office to say the future growth of the world economy is reliant upon the development of Africa. Speaking in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, the former UK prime minister said he wanted to see the continent achieve its full potential. Mr Brown also made light of losing the British general election in May. He said he was someone who "spent some time as a politician before becoming a community organiser".
Mass grave in northern Mexico contains 38 bodies
Police found blood on an earthen ramp and traces of petrol at the bottom, where victims may have been tortured. Soldiers in Mexico have uncovered a mass grave with at least 38 bodies in the northern state of Nuevo Leon. Security forces said an anonymous tip-off led them to the site almost the size of a football pitch.
Peru declares emergency over cold weather
The Peruvian government has declared a state of emergency in more than half the country due to cold weather. Most of the areas affected are in the south, where temperatures regularly drop below zero centigrade at this time of year. However, this time temperatures have dropped to as low as -24C.
Ahmadinejad lashes out at Russia
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Russian President Dmitry Medvedev of turning against Teheran and joining US efforts to spread lies about its nuclear program on Friday, in the latest sign that Iran is drifting apart from a one-time key backer. Ahmadinejad said Dmitry Medvedev entered a "propaganda drama" directed by Washington by saying last week that Iran was getting closer to being able to develop nuclear weapons.
Iran studying fusion reactors
Iran's nuclear agency began studies Saturday to build an experimental nuclear fusion reactor, something that has yet to be achieved by any nation. Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi, who also heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, told a conference on the new research program that his agency has set an initial budget of $8 million to conduct "serious" research in the area of nuclear fusion.
Russia's worst drought in 130 years became a political issue Friday as the Kremlin held an emergency meeting to combat the impacts of a month long heat wave that is shriveling crops, forcing up food prices, and causing hundreds of drownings as Russians jump into rivers to escape heat funneled up from North Africa.
Berlusconi discusses proximity talks situation with Abbas
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi telephoned Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday to discuss the situation of proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinians, Israel Radio reported Saturday. Berlusconi said at a press conference with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Friday that the two sides need to move direct negotiations as soon as possible.
Iran says it has 100 vessels to confront each US warship
Iran has set aside 100 military vessels to confront each US warship that poses a threat, a former naval chief in the Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Guard said Saturday. Gen. Morteza Saffari was quoted by the conservative weekly Panjereh as saying that troops aboard US warships are "morsels" for Iran to target in the event of any American threat against Iran. In 2008, Iran put its most powerful military force, the Revolutionary Guard, in charge of defending the country's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, a vital oil route.
Turkey exploits 'window of opportunity', moving rapidly to acquire nuclear weapons
A quiet but intense debate is ongoing within senior circles of the governing Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi (Justice and Development Party: AKP) in Turkey over whether or not this is the time to proceed rapidly with the development and acquisition of nuclear weapons. ...Nuclear weapons research has long been underway, under conditions of extreme secrecy, in Turkey, and the AKP leadership is aware that it is probable that this will become public knowledge as the effort becomes more intense.
Series of strong quakes hit Philippines
Four powerful earthquakes struck the Philippines' Moro Gulf early on Saturday just over an hour, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Three of the earthquakes measured between 7.3 and 7.6 points on the Richter scale, and the other one registered 5.4 points. There have been no reports on damage of victims. No tsunami warning was immediately issued following the tremor.
Israel warns of N. Korea missile proliferation in Mideast
Israel has told the UN Security Council's North Korea sanctions panel that ballistic missile proliferation by Pyongyang is destabilizing the Middle East and urged countries to step up efforts to stop it. "Israel would like to express its ongoing concern regarding the proliferation of ballistic missiles from (North Korea), and to encourage the international community to strengthen its efforts in response to these dangers," Israel's UN mission said in a letter to the North Korea sanctions committee.
Some insurers stop writing new coverage for kids
Some major health insurance companies will no longer issue certain types of policies for children, an unintended consequence of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law, state officials said Friday. ...In Florida, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Aetna, and Golden Rule -- a subsidiary of UnitedHealthcare -- notified the insurance commissioner that they will stop issuing individual policies for children, said Jack McDermott, a spokesman for McCarty.
Bernanke Says Extending Bush's Tax Cuts Would Maintain Economic Stimulus
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said extending at least some of the tax cuts set to expire this year would help strengthen a U.S. economy still in need of stimulus and urged offsetting the move with increased revenue or lower spending. “In the short term I would believe that we ought to maintain a reasonable degree of fiscal support, stimulus for the economy,” Bernanke said yesterday under questioning from the House Financial Services Committee’s senior Republican.
Wal-Mart Radio Tags to Track Clothing
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to roll out sophisticated electronic ID tags to track individual pairs of jeans and underwear, the first step in a system that advocates say better controls inventory but some critics say raises privacy concerns. Starting next month, the retailer will place removable "smart tags" on individual garments that can be read by a hand-held scanner.
CNN Host Calls for Crackdown on 'Bloggers'
Should there be a "gatekeeper" regulating internet bloggers? In the aftermath of the Shirley Sherrod incident, that's what CNN promoted on July 23. Anchors Kyra Phillips and John Roberts discussed the "mixed blessing of the internet," and agreed that there should be a crackdown on anonymous bloggers who disparage others on the internet.
Dengue Fever Showing Up In Central Florida
Dengue fever has infected a handful of people in Central Florida, health officials said. “This is not a regular flu virus that you get, you feel a lot worse,” said Dr. Todd Husty. “You get a real great fever, a horrible fever; it's called ‘break bone fever.’ You feel like your bones are breaking, but it's really joint pain,” Husty said.
North Korea warns of nuclear 'sacred war'
North Korea says it will use its "nuclear deterrent" in response to joint US-South Korean military exercises this weekend. Pyongyang was ready to launch a "retaliatory sacred war" at any time, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. Washington and Seoul say the war games are to deter North Korean aggression.
Brown says global economy reliant upon growth in Africa
Gordon Brown has used his first major speech since leaving office to say the future growth of the world economy is reliant upon the development of Africa. Speaking in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, the former UK prime minister said he wanted to see the continent achieve its full potential. Mr Brown also made light of losing the British general election in May. He said he was someone who "spent some time as a politician before becoming a community organiser".
Mass grave in northern Mexico contains 38 bodies
Police found blood on an earthen ramp and traces of petrol at the bottom, where victims may have been tortured. Soldiers in Mexico have uncovered a mass grave with at least 38 bodies in the northern state of Nuevo Leon. Security forces said an anonymous tip-off led them to the site almost the size of a football pitch.
Peru declares emergency over cold weather
The Peruvian government has declared a state of emergency in more than half the country due to cold weather. Most of the areas affected are in the south, where temperatures regularly drop below zero centigrade at this time of year. However, this time temperatures have dropped to as low as -24C.
Ahmadinejad lashes out at Russia
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Russian President Dmitry Medvedev of turning against Teheran and joining US efforts to spread lies about its nuclear program on Friday, in the latest sign that Iran is drifting apart from a one-time key backer. Ahmadinejad said Dmitry Medvedev entered a "propaganda drama" directed by Washington by saying last week that Iran was getting closer to being able to develop nuclear weapons.
Iran studying fusion reactors
Iran's nuclear agency began studies Saturday to build an experimental nuclear fusion reactor, something that has yet to be achieved by any nation. Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi, who also heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, told a conference on the new research program that his agency has set an initial budget of $8 million to conduct "serious" research in the area of nuclear fusion.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
U.S. ‘Concerned’ About China Buildup
While the US and China seem to have by and large reached a compromise over naval operations in the Western Pacific, American military leaders remain concerned about China’s buildup.“I have moved from being curious about what [the Chinese] are doing to being concerned about what they are doing,” Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told troops at a town hall meeting in South Korea Wednesday. Mullen said the military is concerned that it does not have a clear picture of China’s intentions. The country suspended military-to-military relations with the U.S. earlier this year after the U.S. said it would sell $6.4 billion worth of weapons to Taiwan.
Putin Reverses Grain Intervention Strategy - Due to Drought
The state will begin unloading grain from its stockpiles August 4 to help relief efforts in drought-stricken regions, Agriculture Minister Yelena Skrynnik said Wednesday, ending two years of stockpiling meant to support prices. The government also has said it hopes to help farmers and is considering five-year subsidized loans to purchase grain from stockpiles among other bailout measures to lessen the impact of the drought. Twenty-three regions across Russia have declared a state of emergency as weeks of record-breaking heat have ruined 9.6 million hectares of grain this season.
California city approves pot factories
The controversial plan, which makes Oakland the first in the nation to license wholesale marijuana cultivation, was passed by the city council late Tuesday
Now You See It, Now You Don't: An Infrared Invisibility Cloak Made of Glass
That's exactly what Elena Semouchkina, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Michigan Tech, is doing. She has found ways to use magnetic resonance to capture rays of visible light and route them around objects, rendering those objects invisible to the human eye.
Buddhist Bhutan Proposes Anti-Conversion Law
Christians in this Himalayan nation who are still longing to openly practice their faith were disheartened this month when the government proposed the kind of “anti-conversion” law that other nations have used as a pretext for falsely accusing Christians of “coercion.”
Asia's budding bankers no longer feel need to go West
Lim, aiming for a mergers and acquisitions department, represents a new wave of Asian recruits who don't feel the pull of having to start on Wall Street or in London's City, partly mirroring a broader shift in the global banking sector where talent and transactions are migrating from West to East.
World court Kosovo ruling could have global impact
The World Court rules on Kosovo's unilateral secession from Serbia on Thursday in a case that could have implications for separatist movements around the globe, as well as Belgrade's stalled EU membership talks.
Retired spy hired to run CIA clandestine service
The CIA brought one of its most experienced spies out of retirement to run the far-flung U.S. intelligence network, the agency said Wednesday. John D. Bennett witnessed the emergence of al-Qaida in Africa in the 1990s and was on the front lines of the war on terrorism as the station chief in Pakistan. From his seat in Islamabad, he oversaw the unmanned Predator drone program, which has become the agency's most successful weapon against terrorism.
Russia negotiating Caspian oil deal with Iran
Russia's state oil company Zarubezhneft has been negotiating with Iran for a joint exploration project in the Caspian Sea. Zarubezhneft, which worked in Iran in the 1990s, has sought to begin any project with a contract for exploration in the disputed Caspian.
Five suspected Israel spies reportedly flee Lebanon
Five Lebanese men accused of spying on behalf of Israel have fled their country, the Lebanese newspaper Ad-Diyar reported on Thursday. Rasan al-Jud, a former senior officer in the Lebanese Army, is thought to have escaped to Germany by commercial plane. The friend that drove al-Jud to the airport told the newspaper that he did not know the purpose of his trip.
National Citizenship Service for 16-year-olds launched today
The “National Citizen Service” will bring together 16-year-olds from different backgrounds and around the country to become community volunteers and join in outdoor pursuits. David Cameron has said that he hopes participation in the non-military, voluntary form of national service will become a “rite of passage” for all teenagers.
Gold Coin Sellers Angered by New Tax Law
Those already outraged by the president's health care legislation now have a new bone of contention -- a scarcely noticed tack-on provision to the law that puts gold coin buyers and sellers under closer government scrutiny. ..."Coin dealers not only buy for their inventory from other dealers, but also with great frequency from the public," Piret said. "Most other types of businesses will have a limited number of suppliers from which they buy their goods and products for resale."
Four Iran MPs plan Gaza trip: reports
Four Iranian lawmakers plan to make a trip to the blockaded Gaza Strip next week by travelling through Egypt, state news agency IRNA reported on Wednesday. "This trip will be made next Tuesday," one of the four lawmakers, Mahmoud Ahmadi Bighash, who is also a member of Iranian parliament's foreign policy commission, was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Gov't watchdogs: mortgage program is not working
Government watchdogs told a Senate panel Wednesday that the Obama administration's effort to help homeowners avoid foreclosure isn't working and that the Treasury Department has failed to fix the program. Special inspector general for the financial bailouts Neil Barofsky said the program has not "put an appreciable dent in foreclosure filings," during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the $700 billion bank bailout. He also said the Treasury Department has ignored earlier demands that it set clearer goals for the program.
Obama's Electronic Health Records Czar: HIV Status and Abortions Need Not be Included
Dr. David Blumenthal, the Obama administration's National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, said on Tuesday that patients can choose to omit procedures such as abortions and positive HIV tests from the electronic health records (EHR) that every American is supposed to have by 2014 under the terms of the economic stimulus law that President Barack Obama signed last year.
North Korea anger at US-South Korea war games
The US and South Korea's plans to hold joint military exercises pose a major danger to the region, North Korea says. Some 20 ships and submarines and 100 aircraft are to take part in four days of manoeuvres in the Sea of Japan from Sunday. North Korea has also said new US sanctions against it will violate a UN statement issued after the sinking of a South Korean warship in March.
Venezuela seeks stake in anti-Chavez TV Globovision
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has said his government is due to take control of a minority stake in the country's main anti-Chavez television channel, Globovision. The government would then be entitled to appoint a member of the channel's board of directors, Mr Chavez said. His government has been in conflict with Globovision for several years.
Obama signs sweeping US financial reform into law
President Barack Obama has signed into law the biggest overhaul of American financial regulation in decades. The president said the law will ensure "that everyone follows the same set of rules, so that firms compete on price and quality, not tricks and traps". The law is a major victory for Mr Obama and the Democrats, who passed it with little Republican support after months of political wrangling.
Abbas: Obama is being unclear
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday criticized US President Barack Obama for failing to provide him with clear answers to a number of questions regarding the future of peace talks with Israel. Abbas also confirmed that Obama has been exerting pressure on him to enter direct negotiations with Israel.
F-35 jet purchase decision pending
Israel is expected to make a decision in the coming weeks regarding the purchase of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), senior defense officials said on Wednesday. This would make Israel the first foreign customer to sign a contract to purchase the advanced stealth fighter jet.
UN: Aid convoys to Gaza don't help
Aid convoys like the May 31 Gaza flotilla “are not helpful to resolving the basic economic problems in Gaza and needlessly carry the potential for escalation,” according to a briefing the UN under-secretary-general for political affairs presented to the Security Council on Wednesday. The briefing report also called for the “immediate release” of captive IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, calling the lack of humanitarian access to Schalit “inexcusable.”
EU countries want more Iran sanctions
A new poll shows European countries strongly supportive of international intervention to stop a nuclear-armed Iran, including further sanctions. By overwhelming numbers, citizens of Germany, France and Sweden said that they wanted the international community to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons – by 80 percent, 83% and 90% respectively – rather than agreeing that Iran has the right to develop nuclear weapons
While the US and China seem to have by and large reached a compromise over naval operations in the Western Pacific, American military leaders remain concerned about China’s buildup.“I have moved from being curious about what [the Chinese] are doing to being concerned about what they are doing,” Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told troops at a town hall meeting in South Korea Wednesday. Mullen said the military is concerned that it does not have a clear picture of China’s intentions. The country suspended military-to-military relations with the U.S. earlier this year after the U.S. said it would sell $6.4 billion worth of weapons to Taiwan.
Putin Reverses Grain Intervention Strategy - Due to Drought
The state will begin unloading grain from its stockpiles August 4 to help relief efforts in drought-stricken regions, Agriculture Minister Yelena Skrynnik said Wednesday, ending two years of stockpiling meant to support prices. The government also has said it hopes to help farmers and is considering five-year subsidized loans to purchase grain from stockpiles among other bailout measures to lessen the impact of the drought. Twenty-three regions across Russia have declared a state of emergency as weeks of record-breaking heat have ruined 9.6 million hectares of grain this season.
California city approves pot factories
The controversial plan, which makes Oakland the first in the nation to license wholesale marijuana cultivation, was passed by the city council late Tuesday
Now You See It, Now You Don't: An Infrared Invisibility Cloak Made of Glass
That's exactly what Elena Semouchkina, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Michigan Tech, is doing. She has found ways to use magnetic resonance to capture rays of visible light and route them around objects, rendering those objects invisible to the human eye.
Buddhist Bhutan Proposes Anti-Conversion Law
Christians in this Himalayan nation who are still longing to openly practice their faith were disheartened this month when the government proposed the kind of “anti-conversion” law that other nations have used as a pretext for falsely accusing Christians of “coercion.”
Asia's budding bankers no longer feel need to go West
Lim, aiming for a mergers and acquisitions department, represents a new wave of Asian recruits who don't feel the pull of having to start on Wall Street or in London's City, partly mirroring a broader shift in the global banking sector where talent and transactions are migrating from West to East.
World court Kosovo ruling could have global impact
The World Court rules on Kosovo's unilateral secession from Serbia on Thursday in a case that could have implications for separatist movements around the globe, as well as Belgrade's stalled EU membership talks.
Retired spy hired to run CIA clandestine service
The CIA brought one of its most experienced spies out of retirement to run the far-flung U.S. intelligence network, the agency said Wednesday. John D. Bennett witnessed the emergence of al-Qaida in Africa in the 1990s and was on the front lines of the war on terrorism as the station chief in Pakistan. From his seat in Islamabad, he oversaw the unmanned Predator drone program, which has become the agency's most successful weapon against terrorism.
Russia negotiating Caspian oil deal with Iran
Russia's state oil company Zarubezhneft has been negotiating with Iran for a joint exploration project in the Caspian Sea. Zarubezhneft, which worked in Iran in the 1990s, has sought to begin any project with a contract for exploration in the disputed Caspian.
Five suspected Israel spies reportedly flee Lebanon
Five Lebanese men accused of spying on behalf of Israel have fled their country, the Lebanese newspaper Ad-Diyar reported on Thursday. Rasan al-Jud, a former senior officer in the Lebanese Army, is thought to have escaped to Germany by commercial plane. The friend that drove al-Jud to the airport told the newspaper that he did not know the purpose of his trip.
National Citizenship Service for 16-year-olds launched today
The “National Citizen Service” will bring together 16-year-olds from different backgrounds and around the country to become community volunteers and join in outdoor pursuits. David Cameron has said that he hopes participation in the non-military, voluntary form of national service will become a “rite of passage” for all teenagers.
Gold Coin Sellers Angered by New Tax Law
Those already outraged by the president's health care legislation now have a new bone of contention -- a scarcely noticed tack-on provision to the law that puts gold coin buyers and sellers under closer government scrutiny. ..."Coin dealers not only buy for their inventory from other dealers, but also with great frequency from the public," Piret said. "Most other types of businesses will have a limited number of suppliers from which they buy their goods and products for resale."
Four Iran MPs plan Gaza trip: reports
Four Iranian lawmakers plan to make a trip to the blockaded Gaza Strip next week by travelling through Egypt, state news agency IRNA reported on Wednesday. "This trip will be made next Tuesday," one of the four lawmakers, Mahmoud Ahmadi Bighash, who is also a member of Iranian parliament's foreign policy commission, was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Gov't watchdogs: mortgage program is not working
Government watchdogs told a Senate panel Wednesday that the Obama administration's effort to help homeowners avoid foreclosure isn't working and that the Treasury Department has failed to fix the program. Special inspector general for the financial bailouts Neil Barofsky said the program has not "put an appreciable dent in foreclosure filings," during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the $700 billion bank bailout. He also said the Treasury Department has ignored earlier demands that it set clearer goals for the program.
Obama's Electronic Health Records Czar: HIV Status and Abortions Need Not be Included
Dr. David Blumenthal, the Obama administration's National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, said on Tuesday that patients can choose to omit procedures such as abortions and positive HIV tests from the electronic health records (EHR) that every American is supposed to have by 2014 under the terms of the economic stimulus law that President Barack Obama signed last year.
North Korea anger at US-South Korea war games
The US and South Korea's plans to hold joint military exercises pose a major danger to the region, North Korea says. Some 20 ships and submarines and 100 aircraft are to take part in four days of manoeuvres in the Sea of Japan from Sunday. North Korea has also said new US sanctions against it will violate a UN statement issued after the sinking of a South Korean warship in March.
Venezuela seeks stake in anti-Chavez TV Globovision
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has said his government is due to take control of a minority stake in the country's main anti-Chavez television channel, Globovision. The government would then be entitled to appoint a member of the channel's board of directors, Mr Chavez said. His government has been in conflict with Globovision for several years.
Obama signs sweeping US financial reform into law
President Barack Obama has signed into law the biggest overhaul of American financial regulation in decades. The president said the law will ensure "that everyone follows the same set of rules, so that firms compete on price and quality, not tricks and traps". The law is a major victory for Mr Obama and the Democrats, who passed it with little Republican support after months of political wrangling.
Abbas: Obama is being unclear
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday criticized US President Barack Obama for failing to provide him with clear answers to a number of questions regarding the future of peace talks with Israel. Abbas also confirmed that Obama has been exerting pressure on him to enter direct negotiations with Israel.
F-35 jet purchase decision pending
Israel is expected to make a decision in the coming weeks regarding the purchase of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), senior defense officials said on Wednesday. This would make Israel the first foreign customer to sign a contract to purchase the advanced stealth fighter jet.
UN: Aid convoys to Gaza don't help
Aid convoys like the May 31 Gaza flotilla “are not helpful to resolving the basic economic problems in Gaza and needlessly carry the potential for escalation,” according to a briefing the UN under-secretary-general for political affairs presented to the Security Council on Wednesday. The briefing report also called for the “immediate release” of captive IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, calling the lack of humanitarian access to Schalit “inexcusable.”
EU countries want more Iran sanctions
A new poll shows European countries strongly supportive of international intervention to stop a nuclear-armed Iran, including further sanctions. By overwhelming numbers, citizens of Germany, France and Sweden said that they wanted the international community to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons – by 80 percent, 83% and 90% respectively – rather than agreeing that Iran has the right to develop nuclear weapons
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Quake shakes southern Iran, 15 injured
The quake with a magnitude of 5.8 on the Richter scale affected four villages near the town of Lamerd, the reports said.
Does Presidential Assassination Program Exist?
"American citizens are targeted for killings far away from any battlefield, based exclusively on unchecked accusations by the executive branch that they're involved in terrorism." There are allegedly "dozens of Americans" on this hit list who "pose a threat" to the United States.
Muslim Beheads Wife, Claims Victim Status
The case stands as a classic example of the universal tendency on the part of Islamic supemacists and jihadists to blame everyone but themselves for what they have done.
Lieberman: Israel hopes to upgrade its relations with the EU ‘as soon as possible’
“there is a huge potential to further develop these relations.”
Hizbullah Deploys Thousands of Terrorists Near Border
Hizbullah has deployed 5,000 terrorist fighters near Israel’s northern border.
MK Danon on Temple Mount: Stop Anti-Jewish Discrimination
"It is unacceptable that Muslims can ascend the Mount 24 hours a day, while Jews' freedom of worship is limited,” he said, after touring the Mount with a police escort, and under the watchful eyes of Muslim Wakf
Iran and Saudi Arabia Closing in on Cooperation
Shiite Iran and Wahhabi Saudi Arabia, historically not on the best of terms, are making overtures towards each other. Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that disagreements and differences between the two countries “merely serve the interests of the Zionist regime and enemies of the region and the Muslim world.”
'Call Them Racists'
The "Journolist" scandal has deepened with new revelations that participants in the now-defunct email list for ideologically approved journalists--no conservatives allowed--engaged in efforts to suppress news damaging to then-candidate Barack Obama. ...If the right forces us all to either defend Wright or tear him down, no matter what we choose, we lose the game they've put upon us. Instead, take one of them--Fred Barnes, Karl Rove, who cares--and call them racists.
China flooding kills 701, worst toll in a decade
More than 1,000 people have died or disappeared in severe flooding in China so far this year, and the heaviest rains are still to come, a senior official warned Wednesday. This year's floods, which have caused tens of billions of dollars in damage already, have exacted the highest death toll since 1998, when the highest water levels in five decades claimed 4,150 lives.
China surpasses US as world’s top energy consumer
China is now king of the world in energy consumption, surpassing the U.S. years ahead of forecasts in a milestone that left the Asian giant immediately rejecting its new crown. ...When the Paris-based International Energy Agency released its data on Tuesday, China branded it “unreliable.”
Elderly could still face 'death tax' to pay for care
The elderly could face a bill for tens of thousands of pounds to pay for their care in old age after the Coalition disclosed that a “death tax” was still a possibility. ...Under plans drawn up by the previous government, the elderly faced a fee of up to £20,000 — to be paid in advance or taken from their estate when they died — whether they ended up needing care or not.
New Laser Weapon Blasts Spy Drones Out of the Sky
A U.S. defense company wants to take drone wars to a new level with a laser weapon capable of shooting down unmanned aircraft. Raytheon today touted its new weapon, which brought down four drones over the Pacific Ocean during tests conducted with the U.S. Navy this spring.
I-Dosing: How teenagers are getting 'digitally high' from music they download from internet
They put on their headphones, drape a hood over their head and drift off into the world of ‘digital highs’. Videos posted on YouTube show a young girl freaking out and leaping up in fear, a teenager shaking violently and a young boy in extreme distress. This is the world of ‘i-Dosing’, the new craze sweeping the internet in which teenagers used so-called ‘digital drugs’ to change their brains in the same way as real-life narcotics.
Afghanistan withdrawal possible from 2011, says Cameron
The withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan could start as early as next year, David Cameron has said. US president Barack Obama has talked about beginning the pull-out of American soldiers from July 2011. The prime minister told the BBC the same could be expected of UK forces "based on conditions on the ground".
Senate panel approves Obama Supreme Court pick Kagan
US President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee has won the approval of the US Senate judiciary committee. The nomination now moves to the full US Senate, which is expected to confirm her as the third woman justice on the US's highest court. The panel voted 13-6, with only one Republican supporting the nomination.
Barack Obama: UK relationship is 'truly special'
US President Barack Obama has called his country's relationship with the UK "truly special", following a meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron. The president said the world was "more secure and more prosperous" when the UK and US worked together. During their three-hour meeting, the leaders discussed Afghanistan, the Middle East, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the economy.
US announces new sanctions against North Korea
The US will impose new sanctions on North Korea, following the crisis over the sinking of a South Korean warship. The move was announced by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a visit to South Korea. She said the measures would target Pyongyang's sale and purchase of arms and import of luxury goods, and would help prevent nuclear proliferation.
Report: No missile system to Iran
Israel reacted positively on Tuesday to Moscow’s announcement that it will not deliver S-300 surface-to-air missile defense systems to Iran. Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted a top military official as saying the United Nation’s latest Iran sanctions, which Moscow had backed, ruled out the delivery of missile systems.
'US commitment before direct talks'
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has told his Fatah movement he wants a more specific US commitment on the borders of a future Palestinian state before agreeing to direct talks with Israel. Abbas says he received assurances from US President Barack Obama, but that they weren't clear enough. He says he expects enormous pressure, but that he will not go "blindly" into negotiations.
The quake with a magnitude of 5.8 on the Richter scale affected four villages near the town of Lamerd, the reports said.
Does Presidential Assassination Program Exist?
"American citizens are targeted for killings far away from any battlefield, based exclusively on unchecked accusations by the executive branch that they're involved in terrorism." There are allegedly "dozens of Americans" on this hit list who "pose a threat" to the United States.
Muslim Beheads Wife, Claims Victim Status
The case stands as a classic example of the universal tendency on the part of Islamic supemacists and jihadists to blame everyone but themselves for what they have done.
Lieberman: Israel hopes to upgrade its relations with the EU ‘as soon as possible’
“there is a huge potential to further develop these relations.”
Hizbullah Deploys Thousands of Terrorists Near Border
Hizbullah has deployed 5,000 terrorist fighters near Israel’s northern border.
MK Danon on Temple Mount: Stop Anti-Jewish Discrimination
"It is unacceptable that Muslims can ascend the Mount 24 hours a day, while Jews' freedom of worship is limited,” he said, after touring the Mount with a police escort, and under the watchful eyes of Muslim Wakf
Iran and Saudi Arabia Closing in on Cooperation
Shiite Iran and Wahhabi Saudi Arabia, historically not on the best of terms, are making overtures towards each other. Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that disagreements and differences between the two countries “merely serve the interests of the Zionist regime and enemies of the region and the Muslim world.”
'Call Them Racists'
The "Journolist" scandal has deepened with new revelations that participants in the now-defunct email list for ideologically approved journalists--no conservatives allowed--engaged in efforts to suppress news damaging to then-candidate Barack Obama. ...If the right forces us all to either defend Wright or tear him down, no matter what we choose, we lose the game they've put upon us. Instead, take one of them--Fred Barnes, Karl Rove, who cares--and call them racists.
China flooding kills 701, worst toll in a decade
More than 1,000 people have died or disappeared in severe flooding in China so far this year, and the heaviest rains are still to come, a senior official warned Wednesday. This year's floods, which have caused tens of billions of dollars in damage already, have exacted the highest death toll since 1998, when the highest water levels in five decades claimed 4,150 lives.
China surpasses US as world’s top energy consumer
China is now king of the world in energy consumption, surpassing the U.S. years ahead of forecasts in a milestone that left the Asian giant immediately rejecting its new crown. ...When the Paris-based International Energy Agency released its data on Tuesday, China branded it “unreliable.”
Elderly could still face 'death tax' to pay for care
The elderly could face a bill for tens of thousands of pounds to pay for their care in old age after the Coalition disclosed that a “death tax” was still a possibility. ...Under plans drawn up by the previous government, the elderly faced a fee of up to £20,000 — to be paid in advance or taken from their estate when they died — whether they ended up needing care or not.
New Laser Weapon Blasts Spy Drones Out of the Sky
A U.S. defense company wants to take drone wars to a new level with a laser weapon capable of shooting down unmanned aircraft. Raytheon today touted its new weapon, which brought down four drones over the Pacific Ocean during tests conducted with the U.S. Navy this spring.
I-Dosing: How teenagers are getting 'digitally high' from music they download from internet
They put on their headphones, drape a hood over their head and drift off into the world of ‘digital highs’. Videos posted on YouTube show a young girl freaking out and leaping up in fear, a teenager shaking violently and a young boy in extreme distress. This is the world of ‘i-Dosing’, the new craze sweeping the internet in which teenagers used so-called ‘digital drugs’ to change their brains in the same way as real-life narcotics.
Afghanistan withdrawal possible from 2011, says Cameron
The withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan could start as early as next year, David Cameron has said. US president Barack Obama has talked about beginning the pull-out of American soldiers from July 2011. The prime minister told the BBC the same could be expected of UK forces "based on conditions on the ground".
Senate panel approves Obama Supreme Court pick Kagan
US President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee has won the approval of the US Senate judiciary committee. The nomination now moves to the full US Senate, which is expected to confirm her as the third woman justice on the US's highest court. The panel voted 13-6, with only one Republican supporting the nomination.
Barack Obama: UK relationship is 'truly special'
US President Barack Obama has called his country's relationship with the UK "truly special", following a meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron. The president said the world was "more secure and more prosperous" when the UK and US worked together. During their three-hour meeting, the leaders discussed Afghanistan, the Middle East, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the economy.
US announces new sanctions against North Korea
The US will impose new sanctions on North Korea, following the crisis over the sinking of a South Korean warship. The move was announced by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a visit to South Korea. She said the measures would target Pyongyang's sale and purchase of arms and import of luxury goods, and would help prevent nuclear proliferation.
Report: No missile system to Iran
Israel reacted positively on Tuesday to Moscow’s announcement that it will not deliver S-300 surface-to-air missile defense systems to Iran. Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted a top military official as saying the United Nation’s latest Iran sanctions, which Moscow had backed, ruled out the delivery of missile systems.
'US commitment before direct talks'
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has told his Fatah movement he wants a more specific US commitment on the borders of a future Palestinian state before agreeing to direct talks with Israel. Abbas says he received assurances from US President Barack Obama, but that they weren't clear enough. He says he expects enormous pressure, but that he will not go "blindly" into negotiations.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Russian parliament passes controversial security bill
he Russian parliament Friday passed a controversial bill expanding what rights groups say are already formidable powers of the successor to the Soviet-era KGB security service. The bill would allow the Federal Security Service (FSB) to issue official warnings to individuals whose actions are deemed to be creating the conditions for crime.
U.S. official: More U.S. aid will help Israel make 'tough' decisions
An expanded security aid package would allow Israel to reach tough decisions in its peace talks with the Palestinians, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Andrew J. Shapiro said Friday, adding that Washington planned to provide Israel with its most extensive security aid package in history.
Security by third party, equitable land swap - Abbas' conditions for direct talks
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Israel must agree to the idea of a third party guarding the borders of a future Palestinian state before direct peace talks can begin. In an interview published on Saturday, Abbas said Israel must also agree in principle to an equitable land swap that would compensate the Palestinians for West Bank land absorbed by Jewish settlements in any peace deal.
State Department warns employees about new website highlighting Top Secret facilities
The State Department is bracing for a potentially explosive new feature on the Washington Post website that would publish the names and locations of agencies and firms conducting Top Secret work on behalf of the U.S. government, according to the copy of an email obtained by The Cable. The Diplomatic Security Bureau at State sent out a notice Thursday to all department employees warning them to protect classified information and reject inquiries from the press when the new web feature goes live.
Accusations of child witchcraft rise in Africa
The number of accusations of child witchcraft in sub-Saharan Africa is rising, the UN children's agency says. It warned that African children, some as young as eight, accused of being witches have been been burned, beaten and even killed as punishment. Orphans, street-children, albinos and the disabled are most at risk, according to a new report.
US puts Muslim cleric on terror blacklist
Washington has added a US-born Muslim cleric linked to al-Qaeda to its terrorism blacklist and imposed financial sanctions on him. The move would freeze any US assets of Anwar al-Awlaki, prevent him from travelling to the US and bar Americans from sending him money. Mr al-Awlaki is suspected of helping plan the failed bombing of an airliner over Detroit last Christmas.
Capped Gulf of Mexico oil well 'withstands pressure'
Tests on BP's newly capped Gulf of Mexico oil well show pressure has been building up slightly as hoped with no signs of leakage, BP says. BP vice-president Kent Wells said tests might continue beyond an initial 48-hour period, which had been set to end on Saturday.
Iran blames US for suicide bombing
Iran accused the US and the UK Friday of supporting the terrorist group behind Thursday's suicide bombing in Iran that killed 27 people, including members of the elite Revolutionary Guard. Gen. Hossein Salami, deputy head of the Revolutionary Guard, told worshippers at the main weekly prayers in Teheran that the victims "were martyred by hands of mercenaries of the US and UK."
U.S. Authorities Shut Down WordPress Host With 73,000 Blogs
After the U.S. Government took action against several sites connected to movie streaming recently, nerves are jangling over the possibility that this is just the beginning of a wider crackdown. Now it appears that a free blogging platform has been taken down by its hosting provider on orders from the U.S. authorities on grounds of “a history of abuse”. More than 73,000 blogs are out of action as a result.
Militants kill 16 in Pakistan convoy ambush
A suspected sectarian attack on a civilian convoy in a troubled tribal area of Pakistan has left 16 dead. Several other people were wounded in the ambush in the north west, where the army has carried out operations against Islamist militants
Warsaw prepares to stage big gay rights rally
Tens of thousands of people are expected to take part in a landmark European gay rights rally in Poland's capital Warsaw. It is the first time the annual EuroPride parade is being held in Central and Eastern Europe. The event has attracted controversy in staunchly Roman Catholic Poland.
Assad: Turkey is best mediator
Turkey must remain the mediator between Syria and Israel and is the country most qualified to serve in the position, Syrian President Bashar Assad said Saturday.
Immigrant deaths in Arizona desert soaring in July
The number of deaths among illegal immigrants crossing the Arizona desert from Mexico is soaring so high this month that the medical examiner's office that handles the bodies is using a refrigerated truck to store some of them, the chief examiner said Friday.
Clinton off to Afghanistan as war fears rise
Amid growing concerns about the war in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is heading to South Asia on a mission aimed at refining the goals of the nearly 9-year-old conflict. Clinton's visit comes with American lawmakers increasingly questioning the course of the war as the death toll of U.S. and international forces rises and also expressing concerns about corruption and the utility of massive assistance to both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Car bomb signals new dimension to Mexican drug war
A drug cartel has used a car bomb for the first time in Mexico's decades-long fight against traffickers, setting a deadly trap against federal police in a city across the border from Texas, the mayor of Ciudad Juarez said Friday.
he Russian parliament Friday passed a controversial bill expanding what rights groups say are already formidable powers of the successor to the Soviet-era KGB security service. The bill would allow the Federal Security Service (FSB) to issue official warnings to individuals whose actions are deemed to be creating the conditions for crime.
U.S. official: More U.S. aid will help Israel make 'tough' decisions
An expanded security aid package would allow Israel to reach tough decisions in its peace talks with the Palestinians, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Andrew J. Shapiro said Friday, adding that Washington planned to provide Israel with its most extensive security aid package in history.
Security by third party, equitable land swap - Abbas' conditions for direct talks
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Israel must agree to the idea of a third party guarding the borders of a future Palestinian state before direct peace talks can begin. In an interview published on Saturday, Abbas said Israel must also agree in principle to an equitable land swap that would compensate the Palestinians for West Bank land absorbed by Jewish settlements in any peace deal.
State Department warns employees about new website highlighting Top Secret facilities
The State Department is bracing for a potentially explosive new feature on the Washington Post website that would publish the names and locations of agencies and firms conducting Top Secret work on behalf of the U.S. government, according to the copy of an email obtained by The Cable. The Diplomatic Security Bureau at State sent out a notice Thursday to all department employees warning them to protect classified information and reject inquiries from the press when the new web feature goes live.
Accusations of child witchcraft rise in Africa
The number of accusations of child witchcraft in sub-Saharan Africa is rising, the UN children's agency says. It warned that African children, some as young as eight, accused of being witches have been been burned, beaten and even killed as punishment. Orphans, street-children, albinos and the disabled are most at risk, according to a new report.
US puts Muslim cleric on terror blacklist
Washington has added a US-born Muslim cleric linked to al-Qaeda to its terrorism blacklist and imposed financial sanctions on him. The move would freeze any US assets of Anwar al-Awlaki, prevent him from travelling to the US and bar Americans from sending him money. Mr al-Awlaki is suspected of helping plan the failed bombing of an airliner over Detroit last Christmas.
Capped Gulf of Mexico oil well 'withstands pressure'
Tests on BP's newly capped Gulf of Mexico oil well show pressure has been building up slightly as hoped with no signs of leakage, BP says. BP vice-president Kent Wells said tests might continue beyond an initial 48-hour period, which had been set to end on Saturday.
Iran blames US for suicide bombing
Iran accused the US and the UK Friday of supporting the terrorist group behind Thursday's suicide bombing in Iran that killed 27 people, including members of the elite Revolutionary Guard. Gen. Hossein Salami, deputy head of the Revolutionary Guard, told worshippers at the main weekly prayers in Teheran that the victims "were martyred by hands of mercenaries of the US and UK."
U.S. Authorities Shut Down WordPress Host With 73,000 Blogs
After the U.S. Government took action against several sites connected to movie streaming recently, nerves are jangling over the possibility that this is just the beginning of a wider crackdown. Now it appears that a free blogging platform has been taken down by its hosting provider on orders from the U.S. authorities on grounds of “a history of abuse”. More than 73,000 blogs are out of action as a result.
Militants kill 16 in Pakistan convoy ambush
A suspected sectarian attack on a civilian convoy in a troubled tribal area of Pakistan has left 16 dead. Several other people were wounded in the ambush in the north west, where the army has carried out operations against Islamist militants
Warsaw prepares to stage big gay rights rally
Tens of thousands of people are expected to take part in a landmark European gay rights rally in Poland's capital Warsaw. It is the first time the annual EuroPride parade is being held in Central and Eastern Europe. The event has attracted controversy in staunchly Roman Catholic Poland.
Assad: Turkey is best mediator
Turkey must remain the mediator between Syria and Israel and is the country most qualified to serve in the position, Syrian President Bashar Assad said Saturday.
Immigrant deaths in Arizona desert soaring in July
The number of deaths among illegal immigrants crossing the Arizona desert from Mexico is soaring so high this month that the medical examiner's office that handles the bodies is using a refrigerated truck to store some of them, the chief examiner said Friday.
Clinton off to Afghanistan as war fears rise
Amid growing concerns about the war in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is heading to South Asia on a mission aimed at refining the goals of the nearly 9-year-old conflict. Clinton's visit comes with American lawmakers increasingly questioning the course of the war as the death toll of U.S. and international forces rises and also expressing concerns about corruption and the utility of massive assistance to both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Car bomb signals new dimension to Mexican drug war
A drug cartel has used a car bomb for the first time in Mexico's decades-long fight against traffickers, setting a deadly trap against federal police in a city across the border from Texas, the mayor of Ciudad Juarez said Friday.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Surprisingly Regular Patterns in Hurricane Energy Discovered
Scientists have discovered that this relation corresponds to a power-law, a precise mathematical formula cyclones obey in a surprising manner, regardless of where on the planet and when they appear.
Home-buying applications sink to 13-year low
Demand for loans to purchase U.S. homes sunk to a 13-year low last week, and refinancing demand also slid despite near record-low mortgage rates, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Wednesday.
Deadly typhoon cuts power in Manila, aims at China
Parts of Manila may be without power until Friday after Typhoon Conson hit the Philippines' main island of Luzon, killing at least 11 people with more than 50 missing, and moved toward southern China.
Magnitude 6.5 quake hits central Chile coast
The quake's center was 61 miles north-northwest of Temuco, Chile, at a depth of 17.6 miles, the USGS said. The area is south of Chile's important copper mining region.
Stone Vessel with 'Priestly Inscription' Uncovered In Jerusalem
A rare 2,000-year-old ritual vessel made of limestone and inscribed with 10 lines of text has been discovered in an excavation near the Zion Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem. It is an unprecedented find.
Archaeologists Uncover Goliath's Hometown
The site, inhabited at times by Canaanites and at other times by Philistines, has remnants from many periods of history.
Obama Asks Religious Jew to Cure $1 Trillion Budget Disease
Obama has nominated Deputy Secretary of State Jacob (Jack) Lew, a religious Jew, as his new director of a budget that suffers from a budget deficit approaching $1.3 trillion. The appointment must be confirmed by the Senate, which may question Lew whether he can function while observing the Sabbath.
Mystery epidemic taking toll on Syrian military
The Syrian opposition asserted that an unknown disease has been raging through Syrian Army barracks, particularly in the north. The opposition said the suspected epidemic has killed several people and delayed a recruitment program. "The enrollment of new conscripts has been postponed to the beginning of next month rather than this month," the opposition West Kurdistan Society said.
Russia`s Zarubezhneft to drill Cuba oil shelf in 2011 - CEO
Russian state oil company Zarubezhneft plans to drill a shelf near Cuba in 2011, Zarubezhneft CEO Nikolai Brunich said on Wednesday. "Our plans say that shelf drilling will start in 2011," Brunich told reporters, adding he was talking about the L block.
Sanctions no impediment to Russia-Iran cooperation - ministers
International sanctions against Tehran will not affect Russian-Iranian cooperation, the countries' energy ministers said on Wednesday. ..."Sanctions will not be a hindrance," Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said after talks with visiting Iranian Petroleum Minister Masud Mir-Kazemi. "Sanctions are not affecting Iran's economic and industrial development," Mir-Kazemi said echoing Schmatko's remarks.
President Obama, White House: Al Qaeda is racist
In an interview earlier today with the South African Broadcasting Corporation to air in a few hours, President Obama disparaged al Qaeda and affiliated groups’ willingness to kill Africans in a manner that White House aides say was an argument that the terrorist groups are racist. Speaking about the Uganda bombings, the president said, “What you’ve seen in some of the statements that have been made by these terrorist organizations is that they do not regard African life as valuable in and of itself...
Obama plans to cut up to 40 percent of nukes
A government document reveals that the Obama administration is planning to cut the U.S. nuclear stockpile by up to 40 percent by 2021. The Energy Department document provides details of the reductions that President Barack Obama has called for on a path to eliminating nuclear weapons. The reductions continue a trajectory of cuts that already has reduced U.S. stockpiles by about 75 percent since 1989.
Iran nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri 'heading home'
An Iranian nuclear scientist who once claimed he had been abducted by CIA agents is on his way back to Tehran, Iran says. Foreign Ministry officials, who claim they have evidence Shahram Amiri was abducted last year, told state media he had now left the US. The US state department has insisted he was in the US of his own free will.
Hague calls for closer ties between the UK and China
The foreign secretary has told his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi he wants to build a close working relationship between the two countries. Speaking on his first visit to China since becoming foreign secretary, William Hague also said the UK had concerns about human rights in Tibet. With the Chinese economy growing at around 10% per year, the UK is keen to increase exports to China.
NGOs slam EU-Brazil plans to develop biofuels in Africa
EU and Brazilian leaders are set to announce a new "triangular co-operation" initiative, under which they will aim to work together in some of the world's poorest countries, but NGOs say the duo's scheme is self-centred and will simply make conditions worse. ...The development of renewable energy is likely to be a central theme, and a first step will see the EU and Brazil sign an agreement with Mozambique this week to develop bioelectricity and biofuels projects, EU sources have indicated.
Cotler releases 18-point ‘road map’ against Iran
Iran should be brought before the International Court of Justice at The Hague for its state-sanctioned incitement to genocide, said former Canadian justice minister Irwin Cotler on Tuesday as he unveiled an 18-point road map designed to hold Teheran in check. At a Jerusalem press conference, Cotler called for stiffer action against Iran’s nuclear program, even as he warned that focusing solely on that threat had “sanitized” other significant threats, such as Teheran’s “genocidal incitement,” support of international terrorism and “domestic repression.”
Golan bill to second and third readings
The Golan Heights referendum bill will go to the Knesset House Committee for a second and third reading, after six members of Knesset voted for bill and two opposed. The bill states that any government decision to cede territory under full Israeli control, such as the Golan Heights or east Jerusalem, must be voted by the Knesset and undergo a national referendum within 180 days if passed.
Iron Dome test in South successful
Israel inched a step closer on Wednesday to deploying a missile defense system along the border with the Gaza Strip after the Iron Dome successfully intercepted a number of missile barrages in tests held in southern Israel this week. The tests were overseen by the Defense Ministry, the Israeli Air Force and the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. which developed the Iron Dome, slated to become operational and deployed along the Gaza border in the coming weeks.
'Libyan ship continues to el-Arish'
The IDF on Wednesday confirmed that a Libyan aid ship, the Amalthea, had solved its reported engine problem and was continuing towards Egypt's el-Arish port. According to the Arabic newspaper Asharq Alawsat, the diversion of the Libyan ship was brought about after negotiations which were held between Israeli authorities and the aid ship organizers.
Scientists have discovered that this relation corresponds to a power-law, a precise mathematical formula cyclones obey in a surprising manner, regardless of where on the planet and when they appear.
Home-buying applications sink to 13-year low
Demand for loans to purchase U.S. homes sunk to a 13-year low last week, and refinancing demand also slid despite near record-low mortgage rates, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Wednesday.
Deadly typhoon cuts power in Manila, aims at China
Parts of Manila may be without power until Friday after Typhoon Conson hit the Philippines' main island of Luzon, killing at least 11 people with more than 50 missing, and moved toward southern China.
Magnitude 6.5 quake hits central Chile coast
The quake's center was 61 miles north-northwest of Temuco, Chile, at a depth of 17.6 miles, the USGS said. The area is south of Chile's important copper mining region.
Stone Vessel with 'Priestly Inscription' Uncovered In Jerusalem
A rare 2,000-year-old ritual vessel made of limestone and inscribed with 10 lines of text has been discovered in an excavation near the Zion Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem. It is an unprecedented find.
Archaeologists Uncover Goliath's Hometown
The site, inhabited at times by Canaanites and at other times by Philistines, has remnants from many periods of history.
Obama Asks Religious Jew to Cure $1 Trillion Budget Disease
Obama has nominated Deputy Secretary of State Jacob (Jack) Lew, a religious Jew, as his new director of a budget that suffers from a budget deficit approaching $1.3 trillion. The appointment must be confirmed by the Senate, which may question Lew whether he can function while observing the Sabbath.
Mystery epidemic taking toll on Syrian military
The Syrian opposition asserted that an unknown disease has been raging through Syrian Army barracks, particularly in the north. The opposition said the suspected epidemic has killed several people and delayed a recruitment program. "The enrollment of new conscripts has been postponed to the beginning of next month rather than this month," the opposition West Kurdistan Society said.
Russia`s Zarubezhneft to drill Cuba oil shelf in 2011 - CEO
Russian state oil company Zarubezhneft plans to drill a shelf near Cuba in 2011, Zarubezhneft CEO Nikolai Brunich said on Wednesday. "Our plans say that shelf drilling will start in 2011," Brunich told reporters, adding he was talking about the L block.
Sanctions no impediment to Russia-Iran cooperation - ministers
International sanctions against Tehran will not affect Russian-Iranian cooperation, the countries' energy ministers said on Wednesday. ..."Sanctions will not be a hindrance," Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said after talks with visiting Iranian Petroleum Minister Masud Mir-Kazemi. "Sanctions are not affecting Iran's economic and industrial development," Mir-Kazemi said echoing Schmatko's remarks.
President Obama, White House: Al Qaeda is racist
In an interview earlier today with the South African Broadcasting Corporation to air in a few hours, President Obama disparaged al Qaeda and affiliated groups’ willingness to kill Africans in a manner that White House aides say was an argument that the terrorist groups are racist. Speaking about the Uganda bombings, the president said, “What you’ve seen in some of the statements that have been made by these terrorist organizations is that they do not regard African life as valuable in and of itself...
Obama plans to cut up to 40 percent of nukes
A government document reveals that the Obama administration is planning to cut the U.S. nuclear stockpile by up to 40 percent by 2021. The Energy Department document provides details of the reductions that President Barack Obama has called for on a path to eliminating nuclear weapons. The reductions continue a trajectory of cuts that already has reduced U.S. stockpiles by about 75 percent since 1989.
Iran nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri 'heading home'
An Iranian nuclear scientist who once claimed he had been abducted by CIA agents is on his way back to Tehran, Iran says. Foreign Ministry officials, who claim they have evidence Shahram Amiri was abducted last year, told state media he had now left the US. The US state department has insisted he was in the US of his own free will.
Hague calls for closer ties between the UK and China
The foreign secretary has told his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi he wants to build a close working relationship between the two countries. Speaking on his first visit to China since becoming foreign secretary, William Hague also said the UK had concerns about human rights in Tibet. With the Chinese economy growing at around 10% per year, the UK is keen to increase exports to China.
NGOs slam EU-Brazil plans to develop biofuels in Africa
EU and Brazilian leaders are set to announce a new "triangular co-operation" initiative, under which they will aim to work together in some of the world's poorest countries, but NGOs say the duo's scheme is self-centred and will simply make conditions worse. ...The development of renewable energy is likely to be a central theme, and a first step will see the EU and Brazil sign an agreement with Mozambique this week to develop bioelectricity and biofuels projects, EU sources have indicated.
Cotler releases 18-point ‘road map’ against Iran
Iran should be brought before the International Court of Justice at The Hague for its state-sanctioned incitement to genocide, said former Canadian justice minister Irwin Cotler on Tuesday as he unveiled an 18-point road map designed to hold Teheran in check. At a Jerusalem press conference, Cotler called for stiffer action against Iran’s nuclear program, even as he warned that focusing solely on that threat had “sanitized” other significant threats, such as Teheran’s “genocidal incitement,” support of international terrorism and “domestic repression.”
Golan bill to second and third readings
The Golan Heights referendum bill will go to the Knesset House Committee for a second and third reading, after six members of Knesset voted for bill and two opposed. The bill states that any government decision to cede territory under full Israeli control, such as the Golan Heights or east Jerusalem, must be voted by the Knesset and undergo a national referendum within 180 days if passed.
Iron Dome test in South successful
Israel inched a step closer on Wednesday to deploying a missile defense system along the border with the Gaza Strip after the Iron Dome successfully intercepted a number of missile barrages in tests held in southern Israel this week. The tests were overseen by the Defense Ministry, the Israeli Air Force and the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. which developed the Iron Dome, slated to become operational and deployed along the Gaza border in the coming weeks.
'Libyan ship continues to el-Arish'
The IDF on Wednesday confirmed that a Libyan aid ship, the Amalthea, had solved its reported engine problem and was continuing towards Egypt's el-Arish port. According to the Arabic newspaper Asharq Alawsat, the diversion of the Libyan ship was brought about after negotiations which were held between Israeli authorities and the aid ship organizers.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
PM dreams of 24-hour,multi-language news network
The prime minister’s vision for the IBA includes separate round-the-clock news channels broadcasting in Hebrew, English and Arabic. "A channel such as this could give a great push toward improving Israeli advocacy,” said Netanyahu.
The unholy peace trinity
Whoever advised President Obama to flay Israel publicly until this week should be fired,” he wrote. “And whoever advised Mr. Obama to kneel rhetorically to Mr. Netanyahu in public on Tuesday should also be fired.
US: Lebanon war victims sue al-Jazeera
Plaintiffs claim Qatar-based network 'intentionally reported live coverage of locations of missile strikes inside of Israel to aid Hezbollah'; demand $1.2 billion in damages
White House corrects NASA chief on Muslim comment
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Monday that NASA administrator Charles Bolden was wrong to say that reaching out to the Muslim world was a top priority of the U.S. space agency.
Majority of Americans lack faith in Obama: poll
Nearly 60 percent of American voters say they lack faith in President Barack Obama, according to a public opinion poll published on Tuesday.
Muslim Mob Kills Wife, Children of Christian in Pakistan
A Muslim mob in Jhelum, Pakistan murdered the wife and four children of a Christian last month, but local authorities are too afraid of the local Muslim leader to file charges, according to area Muslim and Christian sources.
EU proposes member states act unilaterally on GM crops
Brussels - European Union member states should be free to decide for themselves whether to allow the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on their territory,
U.S. conservatives form new pro-Israel lobby group
Washington observers may feel there is no obvious shortage of pro-Israel lobbyists in the city – but a group of leading American conservatives thinks otherwise and has set up a new campaign group to attack President Obama over his "anti-Israel" stance, U.S. website Politico reports. The Emergency Committee for Israel presents a potent combination of Republican Party neoconservatives Evangelical Christians.
For first time in nine months, Israel razes Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem
Israeli bulldozers have destroyed three unfinished buildings in contested east Jerusalem, raising Palestinian charges that the municipality is resuming house demolitions after a pause to encourage peace talks. The municipality says the razed structures were not homes, that they were illegally built and not populated.
New megazine to spur terror attacks on US
Al Qaeda's new English-language magazine is an "unfortunately well done" publication aimed at convincing Americans to carry out terrorist attacks at home, a top US official said yesterday. Representative Pete Hoekstra, top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said Inspire magazine showed the group "has shifted its focus" from radicalising recruits in training camps. "It provides Al Qaeda's warped rationale to carry out the attacks and a how-to guide to get the job done. Now they're just hoping someone picks up a copy and is 'inspired' to do it," he said.
Michelle Obama Rouses NAACP Before Vote Condemning 'Racist' Elements of Tea Party
First Lady Michelle Obama brought renewed energy to the NAACP today, delivering the keynote speech at the annual convention one day before the nation's largest civil rights group is expected to condemn what it calls racist elements in the Tea Party movement. The nation's largest and oldest civil rights organization will vote on the resolution Tuesday during its annual convention in Kansas City, Mo.
'Iran nearing nuclear bombs' Russia warns
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Iran is "moving closer" to having the potential to create nuclear weapons. It is one of the first times Moscow has publicly recognised that Iran might be moving towards a nuclear weapon. Russia, which has strong economic and military ties with Iran, has traditionally been an ally of Tehran.
Israel admits Gaza flotilla raid 'mistakes'
An Israeli military inquiry into the naval raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla says commandos were under-prepared and mistakes were made at a senior level. The report says the operation suffered from flawed intelligence-gathering and inadequate planning. But it also praised the commandos involved and found the use of force had been the only way to stop the flotilla.
French cabinet backs retirement age rise
The French government has approved a draft law that would raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. The bill, drawn up by Labour Minister Eric Woerth, would rescind the right to retire at 60, enshrined since 1982. It will pass to parliament in September. Meanwhile Mr Woerth announced that he was resigning as treasurer of the governing centre-right UMP party.
North Korean officials postpone warship talks with US
North Korea has postponed talks scheduled with the US-led United Nations Command about the sinking of a South Korean warship in March. Pyongyang cited administrative reasons for the delay, UN officials said. The sinking of the Cheonan killed 46 people and raised tensions sharply between the North and South Korea.
BP installs new sealing cap on leaking Gulf oil well
BP has successfully installed a new sealing cap on the leaking Gulf of Mexico oil well, company officials say. It is hoped the new cap will stop the leak and help capture all the oil before it can pour into the sea. But BP warned the cap system had never been deployed at such depths and said "its efficiency and ability to contain the oil and gas cannot be assured".
EU tells states to prepare for banks that fail stress tests
European finance ministers have defended stress tests currently being carried out on 91 of the region's banks, amid EU calls for governments to be ready with aid when the results are published on 23 July. With some analysts predicting that between 10-20 banks could require millions of euros in recapitalisations, EU economy commissioner Olli Rehn said on Monday evening (12 July) that national capitals must "prepare for any possible pockets of vulnerability" by getting their "backstops" in place.
Libyan shipowner invites IDF to board
One of the owners of the Libyan vessel Almathea headed towards Gaza said on Tuesday that if Israel will only allow the ship to dock in Ashdod instead of reaching Gaza, the crew will instead unload the humanitarian goods in the Egyptian port of El-Arish. The activists would then transfer the goods by land to Gaza. "If this is the only option put forward by the Israeli authorities, we will choose to sail to the port of El-Arish and transfer the assistance by ground to Gaza," Greek businessman Aleksei Angeolopoulos said in an interview with the Arabic newspaper Ashraq al-Awsat.
The prime minister’s vision for the IBA includes separate round-the-clock news channels broadcasting in Hebrew, English and Arabic. "A channel such as this could give a great push toward improving Israeli advocacy,” said Netanyahu.
The unholy peace trinity
Whoever advised President Obama to flay Israel publicly until this week should be fired,” he wrote. “And whoever advised Mr. Obama to kneel rhetorically to Mr. Netanyahu in public on Tuesday should also be fired.
US: Lebanon war victims sue al-Jazeera
Plaintiffs claim Qatar-based network 'intentionally reported live coverage of locations of missile strikes inside of Israel to aid Hezbollah'; demand $1.2 billion in damages
White House corrects NASA chief on Muslim comment
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Monday that NASA administrator Charles Bolden was wrong to say that reaching out to the Muslim world was a top priority of the U.S. space agency.
Majority of Americans lack faith in Obama: poll
Nearly 60 percent of American voters say they lack faith in President Barack Obama, according to a public opinion poll published on Tuesday.
Muslim Mob Kills Wife, Children of Christian in Pakistan
A Muslim mob in Jhelum, Pakistan murdered the wife and four children of a Christian last month, but local authorities are too afraid of the local Muslim leader to file charges, according to area Muslim and Christian sources.
EU proposes member states act unilaterally on GM crops
Brussels - European Union member states should be free to decide for themselves whether to allow the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on their territory,
U.S. conservatives form new pro-Israel lobby group
Washington observers may feel there is no obvious shortage of pro-Israel lobbyists in the city – but a group of leading American conservatives thinks otherwise and has set up a new campaign group to attack President Obama over his "anti-Israel" stance, U.S. website Politico reports. The Emergency Committee for Israel presents a potent combination of Republican Party neoconservatives Evangelical Christians.
For first time in nine months, Israel razes Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem
Israeli bulldozers have destroyed three unfinished buildings in contested east Jerusalem, raising Palestinian charges that the municipality is resuming house demolitions after a pause to encourage peace talks. The municipality says the razed structures were not homes, that they were illegally built and not populated.
New megazine to spur terror attacks on US
Al Qaeda's new English-language magazine is an "unfortunately well done" publication aimed at convincing Americans to carry out terrorist attacks at home, a top US official said yesterday. Representative Pete Hoekstra, top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said Inspire magazine showed the group "has shifted its focus" from radicalising recruits in training camps. "It provides Al Qaeda's warped rationale to carry out the attacks and a how-to guide to get the job done. Now they're just hoping someone picks up a copy and is 'inspired' to do it," he said.
Michelle Obama Rouses NAACP Before Vote Condemning 'Racist' Elements of Tea Party
First Lady Michelle Obama brought renewed energy to the NAACP today, delivering the keynote speech at the annual convention one day before the nation's largest civil rights group is expected to condemn what it calls racist elements in the Tea Party movement. The nation's largest and oldest civil rights organization will vote on the resolution Tuesday during its annual convention in Kansas City, Mo.
'Iran nearing nuclear bombs' Russia warns
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Iran is "moving closer" to having the potential to create nuclear weapons. It is one of the first times Moscow has publicly recognised that Iran might be moving towards a nuclear weapon. Russia, which has strong economic and military ties with Iran, has traditionally been an ally of Tehran.
Israel admits Gaza flotilla raid 'mistakes'
An Israeli military inquiry into the naval raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla says commandos were under-prepared and mistakes were made at a senior level. The report says the operation suffered from flawed intelligence-gathering and inadequate planning. But it also praised the commandos involved and found the use of force had been the only way to stop the flotilla.
French cabinet backs retirement age rise
The French government has approved a draft law that would raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. The bill, drawn up by Labour Minister Eric Woerth, would rescind the right to retire at 60, enshrined since 1982. It will pass to parliament in September. Meanwhile Mr Woerth announced that he was resigning as treasurer of the governing centre-right UMP party.
North Korean officials postpone warship talks with US
North Korea has postponed talks scheduled with the US-led United Nations Command about the sinking of a South Korean warship in March. Pyongyang cited administrative reasons for the delay, UN officials said. The sinking of the Cheonan killed 46 people and raised tensions sharply between the North and South Korea.
BP installs new sealing cap on leaking Gulf oil well
BP has successfully installed a new sealing cap on the leaking Gulf of Mexico oil well, company officials say. It is hoped the new cap will stop the leak and help capture all the oil before it can pour into the sea. But BP warned the cap system had never been deployed at such depths and said "its efficiency and ability to contain the oil and gas cannot be assured".
EU tells states to prepare for banks that fail stress tests
European finance ministers have defended stress tests currently being carried out on 91 of the region's banks, amid EU calls for governments to be ready with aid when the results are published on 23 July. With some analysts predicting that between 10-20 banks could require millions of euros in recapitalisations, EU economy commissioner Olli Rehn said on Monday evening (12 July) that national capitals must "prepare for any possible pockets of vulnerability" by getting their "backstops" in place.
Libyan shipowner invites IDF to board
One of the owners of the Libyan vessel Almathea headed towards Gaza said on Tuesday that if Israel will only allow the ship to dock in Ashdod instead of reaching Gaza, the crew will instead unload the humanitarian goods in the Egyptian port of El-Arish. The activists would then transfer the goods by land to Gaza. "If this is the only option put forward by the Israeli authorities, we will choose to sail to the port of El-Arish and transfer the assistance by ground to Gaza," Greek businessman Aleksei Angeolopoulos said in an interview with the Arabic newspaper Ashraq al-Awsat.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Budget Panel: $14 Trillion Debt Destroying US Like 'Cancer From Within'
"This debt is like a cancer," Bowles said in a sober presentation nonetheless lightened by humorous asides between him and Simpson. "It is truly going to destroy the country from within."
Medvedev calls for alliances with U.S. and EU
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called on Monday for the formation of new alliances with the United States and the European Union to stimulate trade and investment.
Geo-Neutrinos: Discovery of Subatomic Particles Could Answer Deep Questions in Geology
The discovery could help geologists understand how reactions taking place in the planet's interior affect events on the surface such as earthquakes and volcanoes. Someday, scientists may know enough about the sources and flow of heat in Earth to predict events like the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland.
Netanyahu doubts Mideast peace deal possible by 2012
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he did not envision a negotiated Middle East peace settlement within the next two years, despite his Palestinian counterpart's declared intentions to set up infrastructure for a state by 2011.
Police arrest Women of the Wall leader for praying with Torah scroll
Anat Hoffman, the women's prayer group leader, was arrested and taken in for questioning after she was caught holding a Torah scroll in violation of a High Court ruling prohibiting women from reading the Torah at the Western Wall.
Netanyahu: Jerusalem dispute should not delay direct talks
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the forum of seven senior ministers on Sunday to discuss the possibility of launching direct talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
A Trojan horse in the GOP camp
a radical homosexual group is trying to infiltrate the Republican Party in order to render it less effective in standing up for policies like the ban on homosexuals from military service.
Christians' arrest: 1st step to placate Muslims
"The next step, in what I call the enforcement of sharia law in Dearborn, Michigan, is the arraignment that is going to take place in the Dearborn District Court," he explains.
IRS: We don’t have the resources to handle ObamaCare
the IRS’ independent watchdog says Republicans were right, and that Congressional Democrats and the White House seriously underestimated enforcement costs:
Karzai to ask UN to trim Taliban blacklist
Afghan President Hamid Karzai plans to ask the United Nations to remove as many as 50 former Taliban members from a U.N. blacklist, The Washington Post reported on Monday. The request to remove about a quarter of the 137 names on the list is aimed at advancing reconciliation talks with insurgents, the report said, citing a senior Afghan official.
Christians' arrest: 1st step to placate Muslims
A state representative plans to support four missionaries who are facing an initial court hearing following their arrests at a recent Arab festival in Dearborn, Michigan. The four were passing out leaflets about Christianity in Dearborn, which has a large Muslim population. One of the missionaries was engaging in peaceful conversation with several Muslim youths, while the other three were videotaping the dialogue before they were all arrested on June 18.
JERUSALEM SITUATION A 'TIME BOMB'
A senior Palestinian figure yesterday said that rising tension with Israel over settlement building in the Jerusalem area was a "time bomb" that was eroding trust between the two sides. Ahmed Qurei, a former prime minister and negotiator, joined Tzipi Livni, a former Israeli foreign minister and now opposition leader in parliament, in calling on both sides to work harder to achieve a two-state solution.
EU misjudges pensions
The European Union faces the twin challenges of elderly populations and crippling public debt. One of the ways of meeting them is to cut the cost of pensions. Last week the Greek parliament approved a bill that will raise the retirement age to 65 for all its workers. Britain, Germany and Spain all intend to increase it still further. The one notable laggard is France, which plans a gradual rise from 60 to 62 by 2018.
Probation watchdog: serious crimes may be price to pay for cutting cost of justice
Andrew Bridges questioned whether it was worth keeping thousands of violent and dangerous offenders locked up for longer than the minimum jail term set by a court just to stop a few of them committing new crimes. Some reoffending — even if it involved “serious” new crimes — could be the price that society had to pay for trying to cut down on the huge cost of the country’s rising prison population, said Mr Bridges, the chief inspector of probation.
Report: US should better define, counter Islamic extremism
The Obama administration's recent move to drop references to Islamic radicalism is drawing fire in a new report warning the decision ignores the role religion can play in motivating terrorists. Several prominent counterterror experts are challenging the administration's shift in its recently unveiled National Security Strategy, saying the terror threat should be defined in order to fight it.
Hezbollah says has list of targets in Israel
A senior official with the Hezbollah group says they have a list of military targets inside Israel to hit in any future war. Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon, Sheikh Nabil Kaouk, made his comments Sunday in response to this week's release by Israel's military of maps and aerial photographs of what it described as a network of Hezbollah weapons depots and command centers in southern Lebanon.
Crisis Awaits World’s Banks as Trillions Come Due
The sovereign debt crisis would seem to create worry enough for European banks, but there is another gathering threat that has not garnered as much notice: the trillions of dollars in short-term borrowing that institutions around the world must repay or roll over in the next two years. The European Central Bank, the Bank of England and the International Monetary Fund have all recently warned of a looming crunch, especially in Europe, where banks have enough trouble raising money as it is.
North Korean officials to hold warship talks with US
Officials from North Korea and the US-led UN Command are to meet for talks about the sinking of a South Korean warship, the UN Command has said. The meeting on Tuesday in the truce village of Panmunjom is aimed at paving the way for future higher-level discussions. It comes days after the UN Security Council condemned the sinking but fell short of blaming North Korea.
Total solar eclipse crosses South Pacific
A total solar eclipse has crossed the South Pacific, with thousands of tourists and scientists gathered on Chile's Easter Island to witness it. The eclipse, which was only visible from small sections of land, ended over southern parts of Chile and Argentina. The eclipse started at 1815 GMT about 700km (440 miles) south-east of Tonga, and reached Easter Island by 2011 GMT.
Ireland objects to EU-Israel data deal
Irish minister for justice Dermott Ahern has confirmed that Dublin is seeking to block a new European Commission initiative that would allow the free transfer of personal data on EU citizens to Israel. The minister's statement over the weekend, reported in Israeli daily Haaretz on Monday (12 July), follows recent media reports that Ireland is concerned the data could be misused after eight fake Irish passports were allegedly used by Israel's intelligence agency Mossad in the assassination of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh earlier this year.
"This debt is like a cancer," Bowles said in a sober presentation nonetheless lightened by humorous asides between him and Simpson. "It is truly going to destroy the country from within."
Medvedev calls for alliances with U.S. and EU
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called on Monday for the formation of new alliances with the United States and the European Union to stimulate trade and investment.
Geo-Neutrinos: Discovery of Subatomic Particles Could Answer Deep Questions in Geology
The discovery could help geologists understand how reactions taking place in the planet's interior affect events on the surface such as earthquakes and volcanoes. Someday, scientists may know enough about the sources and flow of heat in Earth to predict events like the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland.
Netanyahu doubts Mideast peace deal possible by 2012
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he did not envision a negotiated Middle East peace settlement within the next two years, despite his Palestinian counterpart's declared intentions to set up infrastructure for a state by 2011.
Police arrest Women of the Wall leader for praying with Torah scroll
Anat Hoffman, the women's prayer group leader, was arrested and taken in for questioning after she was caught holding a Torah scroll in violation of a High Court ruling prohibiting women from reading the Torah at the Western Wall.
Netanyahu: Jerusalem dispute should not delay direct talks
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the forum of seven senior ministers on Sunday to discuss the possibility of launching direct talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
A Trojan horse in the GOP camp
a radical homosexual group is trying to infiltrate the Republican Party in order to render it less effective in standing up for policies like the ban on homosexuals from military service.
Christians' arrest: 1st step to placate Muslims
"The next step, in what I call the enforcement of sharia law in Dearborn, Michigan, is the arraignment that is going to take place in the Dearborn District Court," he explains.
IRS: We don’t have the resources to handle ObamaCare
the IRS’ independent watchdog says Republicans were right, and that Congressional Democrats and the White House seriously underestimated enforcement costs:
Karzai to ask UN to trim Taliban blacklist
Afghan President Hamid Karzai plans to ask the United Nations to remove as many as 50 former Taliban members from a U.N. blacklist, The Washington Post reported on Monday. The request to remove about a quarter of the 137 names on the list is aimed at advancing reconciliation talks with insurgents, the report said, citing a senior Afghan official.
Christians' arrest: 1st step to placate Muslims
A state representative plans to support four missionaries who are facing an initial court hearing following their arrests at a recent Arab festival in Dearborn, Michigan. The four were passing out leaflets about Christianity in Dearborn, which has a large Muslim population. One of the missionaries was engaging in peaceful conversation with several Muslim youths, while the other three were videotaping the dialogue before they were all arrested on June 18.
JERUSALEM SITUATION A 'TIME BOMB'
A senior Palestinian figure yesterday said that rising tension with Israel over settlement building in the Jerusalem area was a "time bomb" that was eroding trust between the two sides. Ahmed Qurei, a former prime minister and negotiator, joined Tzipi Livni, a former Israeli foreign minister and now opposition leader in parliament, in calling on both sides to work harder to achieve a two-state solution.
EU misjudges pensions
The European Union faces the twin challenges of elderly populations and crippling public debt. One of the ways of meeting them is to cut the cost of pensions. Last week the Greek parliament approved a bill that will raise the retirement age to 65 for all its workers. Britain, Germany and Spain all intend to increase it still further. The one notable laggard is France, which plans a gradual rise from 60 to 62 by 2018.
Probation watchdog: serious crimes may be price to pay for cutting cost of justice
Andrew Bridges questioned whether it was worth keeping thousands of violent and dangerous offenders locked up for longer than the minimum jail term set by a court just to stop a few of them committing new crimes. Some reoffending — even if it involved “serious” new crimes — could be the price that society had to pay for trying to cut down on the huge cost of the country’s rising prison population, said Mr Bridges, the chief inspector of probation.
Report: US should better define, counter Islamic extremism
The Obama administration's recent move to drop references to Islamic radicalism is drawing fire in a new report warning the decision ignores the role religion can play in motivating terrorists. Several prominent counterterror experts are challenging the administration's shift in its recently unveiled National Security Strategy, saying the terror threat should be defined in order to fight it.
Hezbollah says has list of targets in Israel
A senior official with the Hezbollah group says they have a list of military targets inside Israel to hit in any future war. Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon, Sheikh Nabil Kaouk, made his comments Sunday in response to this week's release by Israel's military of maps and aerial photographs of what it described as a network of Hezbollah weapons depots and command centers in southern Lebanon.
Crisis Awaits World’s Banks as Trillions Come Due
The sovereign debt crisis would seem to create worry enough for European banks, but there is another gathering threat that has not garnered as much notice: the trillions of dollars in short-term borrowing that institutions around the world must repay or roll over in the next two years. The European Central Bank, the Bank of England and the International Monetary Fund have all recently warned of a looming crunch, especially in Europe, where banks have enough trouble raising money as it is.
North Korean officials to hold warship talks with US
Officials from North Korea and the US-led UN Command are to meet for talks about the sinking of a South Korean warship, the UN Command has said. The meeting on Tuesday in the truce village of Panmunjom is aimed at paving the way for future higher-level discussions. It comes days after the UN Security Council condemned the sinking but fell short of blaming North Korea.
Total solar eclipse crosses South Pacific
A total solar eclipse has crossed the South Pacific, with thousands of tourists and scientists gathered on Chile's Easter Island to witness it. The eclipse, which was only visible from small sections of land, ended over southern parts of Chile and Argentina. The eclipse started at 1815 GMT about 700km (440 miles) south-east of Tonga, and reached Easter Island by 2011 GMT.
Ireland objects to EU-Israel data deal
Irish minister for justice Dermott Ahern has confirmed that Dublin is seeking to block a new European Commission initiative that would allow the free transfer of personal data on EU citizens to Israel. The minister's statement over the weekend, reported in Israeli daily Haaretz on Monday (12 July), follows recent media reports that Ireland is concerned the data could be misused after eight fake Irish passports were allegedly used by Israel's intelligence agency Mossad in the assassination of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh earlier this year.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Print
Flank Steak with Triple-Grilled Onions
main meals
POINTS® Value: 6
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 45 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy
When it’s not BBQ season, cook this on a stove-top grill pan. Leftovers make fabulous steak sandwiches.
Ingredients
3 Tbsp unpacked brown sugar
4 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar
3 medium onion(s), yellow, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1 large Vidalia onion(s), cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
2 medium red onion(s), cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1 tsp table salt, divided
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
1 1/4 pound(s) raw lean flank steak
Instructions
Preheat grill to medium.
In a small bowl, combine sugar and vinegar; brush over onions and then sprinkle onions with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Either skewer onions on metal skewers or place in a grill basket; grill onions until soft and caramelized, turning occasionally, about 45 minutes.
Sprinkle steak with remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper; place on grill 30 minutes after onions. Cook 15 minutes, turning once, until medium rare, or longer for desired degree of doneness. Let steak rest for 10 minutes before thinly slicing against the grain. Yields about 4 ounces of steak and 2/3 cup of onions per serving.
Notes
Cooking times for a grill versus grill pan may vary.
© 2010 Weight Watchers International, Inc. © 2010 WeightWatchers.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
WEIGHT WATCHERS and POINTS are the registered trademarks of Weight Watchers International, Inc. and are used under license by WeightWatchers.com, Inc.
Flank Steak with Triple-Grilled Onions
main meals
POINTS® Value: 6
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 45 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy
When it’s not BBQ season, cook this on a stove-top grill pan. Leftovers make fabulous steak sandwiches.
Ingredients
3 Tbsp unpacked brown sugar
4 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar
3 medium onion(s), yellow, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1 large Vidalia onion(s), cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
2 medium red onion(s), cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1 tsp table salt, divided
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
1 1/4 pound(s) raw lean flank steak
Instructions
Preheat grill to medium.
In a small bowl, combine sugar and vinegar; brush over onions and then sprinkle onions with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Either skewer onions on metal skewers or place in a grill basket; grill onions until soft and caramelized, turning occasionally, about 45 minutes.
Sprinkle steak with remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper; place on grill 30 minutes after onions. Cook 15 minutes, turning once, until medium rare, or longer for desired degree of doneness. Let steak rest for 10 minutes before thinly slicing against the grain. Yields about 4 ounces of steak and 2/3 cup of onions per serving.
Notes
Cooking times for a grill versus grill pan may vary.
© 2010 Weight Watchers International, Inc. © 2010 WeightWatchers.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
WEIGHT WATCHERS and POINTS are the registered trademarks of Weight Watchers International, Inc. and are used under license by WeightWatchers.com, Inc.
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