Mainstream News

Obama promises mayors unilateral action on guns

"Stymied by Congress in his gun control efforts, President Obama told a group of big-city mayors Tuesday that he would take more executive actions to reduce gun violence. The closed-door meeting at the White House included Attorney GeneralEric H. Holder Jr., who discussed 'strategies to reduce youth violence,' the White House said in a statement. Mr. Obama 'vowed to continue doing everything in his power to combat gun violence through executive action and to press Congress to pass common-sense reforms like expanding the background check system and cracking down on gun trafficking,' the White House said in a statement." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama promises mayors unilateral action on guns

U.S. ‘conferring with allies on potential punitive strikes’

"US officials declined to comment on whether the military action under consideration would go beyond the use of cruise missiles and require fighter aircraft to enter Syrian airspace. 'We’re exploring every option,' the official said. If the United States took no military action against Damascus, then it would send a dangerous signal to other regimes with chemical stockpiles, including North Korea, the official said. Citing North Korea, the official said 'what’s to say, as they (the North Koreans) watch this play out in Syria, they wouldn’t use weapons like this?' Obama’s aides were still working to define the precise objective of any potential intervention, a second administration official said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. ‘conferring with allies on potential punitive strikes’

Israeli intelligence ‘intercepted Syrian regime talk about chemical attack’

"The bulk of evidence proving the Assad regime's deployment of chemical weapons – which would provide legal grounds essential to justify any western military action – has been provided by Israeli military intelligence. The 8200 unit of the Israeli Defence Forces, which specialises in electronic surveillance, intercepted a conversation between Syrian officials regarding the use of chemical weapons, an unnamed former Mossad official told Focus. The content of the conversation was relayed to the US, the ex-official said. Israel and the US had a 'close and co-operative relationship in the intelligence field', he added, but declined to comment specifically on the Focus report." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIsraeli intelligence ‘intercepted Syrian regime talk about chemical attack’

Lawmakers urge Obama to allow public debate on military action against Syria

"The United States is poised to launch a military strike on Syria in coming days after determining that President Bashar al-Assad’s regime used chemical weapons during an attack outside Damascus last week which killed hundreds of civilians. Several lawmakers sought to put the brakes on what Republican congressman Scott Rigell, who drafted the letter to Obama, said could be potential abuse of presidential authority if he decides to attack Syria without a congressional green light. Rigell and others are bristling at a possible executive order of use of force without the House and Senate weighing in, as was the controversial case in Libya." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLawmakers urge Obama to allow public debate on military action against Syria

United States and allies build case for military action in Syria

"The ground for a military intervention was set out by US Vice President Joe Biden, who for the first time said last week’s attack, thought to have killed hundreds, could only have been perpetrated by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. Britain joined the US in saying regime forces were behind the strikes, and Prime Minister David Cameron said London and its allies had to consider whether targeted military action was required to 'deter and degrade the future use of chemical weapons'. Senior officials in Washington told NBC news that possible strikes against targets in Syria could take place as early as Thursday." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUnited States and allies build case for military action in Syria

Britain to submit UN resolution on Syria

"Britain will submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council condemning suspected chemical attacks in Syria and demanding 'all necessary measures' to protect civilians. The announcement came as the US and its allies pressed their case for likely military action against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain would present a resolution 'condemning the chemical weapons attack by Assad' to a meeting of the Security Council’s five permanent members in New York on Wednesday. The developments came after US Vice President Joe Biden said the chemical attacks could only have been perpetrated by Assad’s forces." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBritain to submit UN resolution on Syria

British prime minister: We’re not considering regime change in Syria

"Any action against Syria would be aimed at 'degrading' the regime’s alleged chemical weapons’ capability, British Prime Minister David Cameron said Tuesday. But any military action against Syria would have to be proportionate and legal, the prime minister said. Cameron said no decisions had been taken but Britain and its allies had to consider whether targeted military action was required to 'deter and degrade the future use of chemical weapons'. Earlier, British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg denied that the aim would be to topple the regime of President Bashar al-Assad." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBritish prime minister: We’re not considering regime change in Syria

Russia evacuates citizens in Syria ahead of military strikes in the ‘next few days’

"A Russian emergency situations ministry aircraft carrying aid landed in Syria on Tuesday, and is set to take Russians and other CIS citizens out of the country on its return flight. Russia said it had evacuated all of its defence personnel from Syria in June, but a foreign ministry spokesman said at the time that about 30,000 other Russians were still living across the country. Russia's deputy prime minister, Dmitry Rogozin, said on Twitter: 'The West behaves towards the Islamic world like a monkey with a grenade.' The build up to military action continued today when Chuck Hagel, the United States defence secretary, said that American forces are now ready to act on an order to strike Syria." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRussia evacuates citizens in Syria ahead of military strikes in the ‘next few days’

Regulator on Bitcoin: Same Rules Apply

"The top U.S. anti-money-laundering regulator on Monday told a Bitcoin trade group that exchanges for the virtual currency must follow the same rules as established financial institutions, highlighting the government's efforts to keep tabs on a small but growing segment of the financial world. The Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or Fincen,hosted the Bitcoin Foundation and other regulators and law-enforcement officials as the sides grapple with the rise of virtual currencies. Such digital money isn't backed by a central government and often, as with Bitcoin, isn't controlled by any central entity." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRegulator on Bitcoin: Same Rules Apply

Inside the Bitcoin advocates’ closed-door meeting with federal regulators

"The U.S. government took the latest step toward regulating virtual currencies on Monday as representatives from the Bitcoin Foundation met behind closed doors with federal officials in Washington. Attendees say the meeting was cordial, with regulators listening carefully as Bitcoin advocates warned that excessive regulation could drive innovation in virtual currencies overseas. Nearly a dozen high-level agencies were in attendance, including the Justice Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Internal Revenue Service, the Secret Service and the Financial Crimes and Enforcement Division (FinCEN) of Treasury, which convened the discussion." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInside the Bitcoin advocates’ closed-door meeting with federal regulators