for life and liberty

Iraq hit by worst violence since 2008

"Iraq was hit in May by its worst violence in five years, further stoking fears of all-out sectarian strife, as its top two political rivals publicly embraced on Saturday in symbolic move aimed at easing tensions. Authorities have failed to bring the wave of unrest under control, nor addressed the underlying political issues that analysts say are driving the attacks, and the UN envoy to Iraq has warned that the violence is 'ready to explode.' May’s death toll was more than 600, according to officials and more than 1,000, according to the United Nations. The wave of violence comes about 18 months after the last American troops left Iraq, which is neither secure nor stable." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIraq hit by worst violence since 2008

DC ambulance breaks down over EPA emissions controls; passenger dies

"The D.C. fire department is trying to determine why one of its newer diesel ambulances broke down as crews were transporting a patient in cardiac arrest. What is unclear is if the emissions controls can be disconnected or the fire department would have to buy new units without them. When Ambulance 19 broke down, it was transporting 34-year-old Nathaniel McRae, who had just been in a shootout with D.C. police. A medic continued to administer CPR while the crew waited for a second ambulance but McRae was pronounced dead at Howard University Hospital." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDC ambulance breaks down over EPA emissions controls; passenger dies

U.S. levies sanctions on Iranian petrochemical industry

"The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on Iran’s petrochemical industry, vowing to target more of the Islamic regime’s sources of revenue after curbing its vital oil exports. US officials said they were taking action against Iran’s petrochemical industry as it represented the Iranian government’s largest source of revenue after oil, which has been severely curtailed by a US-led sanctions campaign. The United States slapped sanctions that include a ban on US-based financial transactions on the Niksima Food & Beverage Co., a Dubai-based frozen yogurt and dessert company. Since last year, the United States has brandished sanctions against anyone who buys Iran’s oil." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. levies sanctions on Iranian petrochemical industry

Palestinian victims of 1948 war found in mass grave

"The remains of dozens of Palestinians killed by Israelis in fighting following the 1948 foundation of the Israeli state have been found in a mass grave in Tel Aviv’s Jaffa district. The grisly find occurred on Wednesday when ground subsided as workers carried out renovations, revealing six chambers full of skeletons. Jaffa was at the time a Palestinian town, but there was an exodus of most of its Arab population when it fell to the fledgling Israeli army and rightwing Jewish militias. Around 760,000 Palestinians fled or were forced from their homes in what they call the 'Nakba' or 'catastrophe' of 1948 and which Israel refers to as its 'War of Independence'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPalestinian victims of 1948 war found in mass grave

Israel: Syria Missile Defense Acquisition a ‘Red Line’ for Military Action

"In a meeting with EU ambassadors, Israeli National Security Advisor Yaakov Amidror declared the Syrian government’s imminent acquisition of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to be a 'red line' that would obligate Israeli military action to prevent them becoming operational. Syria is eager to acquire them after several recent Israeli air strikes, which their existing defensive systems proved unable to prevent. The comments come just a day after Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon suggested in an interview that Israel might attack the Russian Navy in an attempt to sink the ships and prevent the delivery." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIsrael: Syria Missile Defense Acquisition a ‘Red Line’ for Military Action

China trying new form of ‘Internet censorship’ ahead of Tiananmen Square crackdown anniversary

"China is experimenting with more subtle methods to censor Internet search results ahead of the 24th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, according to a group that monitors blocked websites in the country. In the past, a search for keywords in China related to the events of June 4, 1989, came up with an explicit message saying: 'According to relevant laws, regulations and policies, search results for (the blocked keyword) can not be displayed.' But GreatFire.org said in the lead up to the anniversary certain searches, such as 'June 4 incident', had been intermittently returning a series of 'carefully selected results'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChina trying new form of ‘Internet censorship’ ahead of Tiananmen Square crackdown anniversary

Stockholm’s unrest stoked by unemployment

"Although the social democratic government did succeed in creating more affordable housing by the mid-seventies, little else went to plan. Middle-class Swedes moved out, and when the country in the past decade welcomed hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia, among others, the apartments they were allocated were often in areas like Husby. Housing segregation is often named as one of the reasons it takes the average immigrant to Sweden years, not months, to find work. Even among the second generation, many say they rarely make it to a job interview." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingStockholm’s unrest stoked by unemployment

Prominent Russian Economist Flees Country

"A top Russian economist and government adviser abruptly stepped down from his posts and left the country amid pressure on him from investigators, people familiar with the situation said Tuesday. While Mr. Guriev frequently attacked the Kremlin for its repressive tactics and publicly supported the regime's opponents, he was long considered a loyalist, regularly participating in top-level government advisory panels and conferences, as well as the boards of state companies. He is also the dean of the New Economic School, a Moscow-based university that was recognized as one of Russia's best, with graduates that included top government officials." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingProminent Russian Economist Flees Country

Despite Ongoing Protest, Obama Resumes Drone Attacks in Pakistan

"Despite repeated and recent warnings that such attacks are destabilizing and an affront to its territorial sovereignty, reports indicate the US military executed a pair of drone missile strikes in Pakistan on Wednesday in what appears to be an attempt to assassinate a high-level Taliban commander. It remains unclear whether or not Wali-ur-Rehman—the reported target of the attack— was, in fact, killed, but reports from various media outlets suggest between four and seven fatalities resulted from the attack that occurred in the North Waziristan tribal region." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDespite Ongoing Protest, Obama Resumes Drone Attacks in Pakistan

Turkish PM urges end to Istanbul protests as police pull out after 2 days

"Turkey’s prime minister on Saturday called for an immediate end to violent protests which have engulfed Istanbul for two days, in what were one of the biggest anti-government demonstrations since the Islamist-rooted leadership came to power. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan admitted that 'there have been some mistakes, extremism in police response' and that legal action would be taken against officers who added disproportionately. But he also remained defiant, vowing to push forward with controversial plans to redevelop the iconic Taksim square — the catalyst that had sparked the protests." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTurkish PM urges end to Istanbul protests as police pull out after 2 days