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.
