Post by Michael James Stone on Jul 30, 2012 6:42:49 GMT -8
30 Jul 12
Top Obama security official 'briefed Israeli prime minister on plans for U.S. military strike on Iran' in nuclear row Read more: http://www.d
National security adviser Tom Donilon sought to reassure Israel that Washington is prepared to act militarily should diplomacy and sanctions fail to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear enrichment program.
Thousands of Christians run for their lives
“An exodus of Christians is taking place in Western Syria,” Janssen said. “The Christian population has fled the city of Qusayr, near Homs, following an ultimatum issued by the military chief of the armed opposition, Abdel Salam Harba.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard behind car blast near Israeli embassy in New Delhi, says India Police
In the incident, which took place on February 13, 2012, Tali Yehoshua-Koren, the wife of the Defense Ministry's representative to India, was injured. The Times of India newspaper, which published the findings of the investigation, reported that members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard began speaking with Indian journalist Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi about the possibility of carrying out an attack against Israeli diplomats in New Delhi as early as February 2011, over a year before the attack. At the time, a number of Iranian nuclear scientists were assassinated, and Tehran blamed Israel for the deaths.
Ebola outbreak in Uganda kills 13
An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus has killed 13 people in Uganda and efforts are under way to contain the hemorrhagic fever, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday. There is no treatment and no vaccine against Ebola, which is transmitted by close personal contact and, depending on the strain, kills up to 90 percent of those who contract the virus.
6.0 quake strikes near Guatemala-Mexico border
A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Guatemala near the country's border with Mexico Sunday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Local agencies offered different assessments of the quake, which occurred at 6:22 a.m. (8:22 a.m. ET).
Judge Temporarily Stops Administration from Forcing Christian Family to Act Against Faith
The injunction spares the family from complying with an Obamacare regulation while the judge decides on its merits the lawsuit the family has brought contending the regulation violates their First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion.
Mayor Bloomberg pushing NYC hospitals to hide baby formula so more new moms will breast-feed
Mayor Bloomberg is pushing hospitals to hide their baby formula behind locked doors so more new mothers will breast-feed. Starting Sept. 3, the city will keep tabs on the number of bottles that participating hospitals stock and use — the most restrictive pro-breast-milk program in the nation...and document a medical reason for every bottle that a newborn receives.
Scalia opens door for gun-control legislation, extends slow burning debate
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said Sunday the Second Amendment leaves open the possibility of gun-control legislation, adding to what has become a slow-boiling debate on the issue since the Colorado movie theater massacre earlier this month.
DHS gears up for civil unrest prior to presidential elections
As the brief explains, “the objective of this effort is to procure riot gear to prepare for the 2012 Democratic and Republican National Conventions, the 2013 Presidential Inauguration and other future similar activities.”
Romney: US has moral duty to block Iran nuclear plans
US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has said his country has a "moral imperative" to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. ...He said the US recognised Israel's right to defend itself and that it was right for the US to stand with Israel. Mr Romney also referred to Jerusalem as Israel's "capital" - senior Palestinian officials said this was "unacceptable".
Only Mario Draghi's ECB can avert global calamity before the year is out
Mario Draghi has promised the moon. The European Central Bank’s council had better deliver on his pledge this week. If it does not, the crisis will surely escalate out of control in August or soon after.
Euro-saving operations due within 'days,' says Juncker
Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker has said there is "no time to lose," as the world talks about a eurozone breakup, with joint action by the European Central Bank and the eurozone bailout funds expected in the coming days. "We have come to a crucial point. There is no more time to lose," Juncker said in an interview published both in Le Figaro and Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Monday (30 July).
6.6-magnitude earthquake hits off Papua New Guinean island
Tsunami warning centers in the region said there was no threat of a tsunami from the earthquake, which was initially measured as having a magnitude of 6.6. "No destructive widespread tsunami threat exists based on historical earthquake and tsunami data," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a bulletin.
Euro zone crisis heads for September crunch
"September will undoubtedly be the crunch time," one senior euro zone policymaker said. In that month a German court makes a ruling that could neuter the new euro zone rescue fund, the anti-bailout Dutch vote in elections just as Greece tries to renegotiate its financial lifeline, and decisions need to be made on whether taxpayers suffer huge losses on state loans to Athens.
Russia May Evacuate Personnel from Its Syria Base – Navy Chief
Servicemen may be evacuated from the Russian naval base in Tartus, Syria, if it comes under attack, Navy chief Vice Adm. Viktor Chirkov said on Saturday.
Grid failure for 300 million across India
The outage which directly affected some 400 million people-more than the combined populations of the US and Canada-was spread across eight northern provinces, including the capital New Delhi. It left people helpless and sweltering in searing temperatures that were exacerbated by high levels of humidity.
Tunisia: Hardline Islam threatens democracy gains
Thousands of hardcore Muslims chant against Jews. Youths rampage through cities at night in protest of "blasphemous" art. A sit-in by religious students degenerates into fist fights and the desecration of Tunisia's flag.
200,000 flee Aleppo as Syria battle rages
Around 200,000 civilians have fled fighting in Syria's most populous city Aleppo and many more were trapped, the UN said as a fierce government offensive against rebels entered a second day. The opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) on Sunday accused the government of preparing to carry out "massacres" in the northern city and pleaded for heavy weapons to enable rebels to meet the regime onslaught.
Spain's economy shrinks 0.4% as recession deepens
pain's recession deepened in the second quarter of the year as the economy shrank 0.4%, figures show. That compares with a 0.3% contraction in gross domestic product (GDP) in the first three months of the year.
Power cut hits northern India causing major disruption
A massive power cut has caused disruption across northern India, including in the capital, Delhi. It hit a swathe of the country affecting more than 300 million people in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan states
Top Obama security official 'briefed Israeli prime minister on plans for U.S. military strike on Iran' in nuclear row Read more: http://www.d
National security adviser Tom Donilon sought to reassure Israel that Washington is prepared to act militarily should diplomacy and sanctions fail to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear enrichment program.
Thousands of Christians run for their lives
“An exodus of Christians is taking place in Western Syria,” Janssen said. “The Christian population has fled the city of Qusayr, near Homs, following an ultimatum issued by the military chief of the armed opposition, Abdel Salam Harba.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard behind car blast near Israeli embassy in New Delhi, says India Police
In the incident, which took place on February 13, 2012, Tali Yehoshua-Koren, the wife of the Defense Ministry's representative to India, was injured. The Times of India newspaper, which published the findings of the investigation, reported that members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard began speaking with Indian journalist Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi about the possibility of carrying out an attack against Israeli diplomats in New Delhi as early as February 2011, over a year before the attack. At the time, a number of Iranian nuclear scientists were assassinated, and Tehran blamed Israel for the deaths.
Ebola outbreak in Uganda kills 13
An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus has killed 13 people in Uganda and efforts are under way to contain the hemorrhagic fever, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday. There is no treatment and no vaccine against Ebola, which is transmitted by close personal contact and, depending on the strain, kills up to 90 percent of those who contract the virus.
6.0 quake strikes near Guatemala-Mexico border
A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Guatemala near the country's border with Mexico Sunday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Local agencies offered different assessments of the quake, which occurred at 6:22 a.m. (8:22 a.m. ET).
Judge Temporarily Stops Administration from Forcing Christian Family to Act Against Faith
The injunction spares the family from complying with an Obamacare regulation while the judge decides on its merits the lawsuit the family has brought contending the regulation violates their First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion.
Mayor Bloomberg pushing NYC hospitals to hide baby formula so more new moms will breast-feed
Mayor Bloomberg is pushing hospitals to hide their baby formula behind locked doors so more new mothers will breast-feed. Starting Sept. 3, the city will keep tabs on the number of bottles that participating hospitals stock and use — the most restrictive pro-breast-milk program in the nation...and document a medical reason for every bottle that a newborn receives.
Scalia opens door for gun-control legislation, extends slow burning debate
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said Sunday the Second Amendment leaves open the possibility of gun-control legislation, adding to what has become a slow-boiling debate on the issue since the Colorado movie theater massacre earlier this month.
DHS gears up for civil unrest prior to presidential elections
As the brief explains, “the objective of this effort is to procure riot gear to prepare for the 2012 Democratic and Republican National Conventions, the 2013 Presidential Inauguration and other future similar activities.”
Romney: US has moral duty to block Iran nuclear plans
US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has said his country has a "moral imperative" to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. ...He said the US recognised Israel's right to defend itself and that it was right for the US to stand with Israel. Mr Romney also referred to Jerusalem as Israel's "capital" - senior Palestinian officials said this was "unacceptable".
Only Mario Draghi's ECB can avert global calamity before the year is out
Mario Draghi has promised the moon. The European Central Bank’s council had better deliver on his pledge this week. If it does not, the crisis will surely escalate out of control in August or soon after.
Euro-saving operations due within 'days,' says Juncker
Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker has said there is "no time to lose," as the world talks about a eurozone breakup, with joint action by the European Central Bank and the eurozone bailout funds expected in the coming days. "We have come to a crucial point. There is no more time to lose," Juncker said in an interview published both in Le Figaro and Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Monday (30 July).
6.6-magnitude earthquake hits off Papua New Guinean island
Tsunami warning centers in the region said there was no threat of a tsunami from the earthquake, which was initially measured as having a magnitude of 6.6. "No destructive widespread tsunami threat exists based on historical earthquake and tsunami data," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a bulletin.
Euro zone crisis heads for September crunch
"September will undoubtedly be the crunch time," one senior euro zone policymaker said. In that month a German court makes a ruling that could neuter the new euro zone rescue fund, the anti-bailout Dutch vote in elections just as Greece tries to renegotiate its financial lifeline, and decisions need to be made on whether taxpayers suffer huge losses on state loans to Athens.
Russia May Evacuate Personnel from Its Syria Base – Navy Chief
Servicemen may be evacuated from the Russian naval base in Tartus, Syria, if it comes under attack, Navy chief Vice Adm. Viktor Chirkov said on Saturday.
Grid failure for 300 million across India
The outage which directly affected some 400 million people-more than the combined populations of the US and Canada-was spread across eight northern provinces, including the capital New Delhi. It left people helpless and sweltering in searing temperatures that were exacerbated by high levels of humidity.
Tunisia: Hardline Islam threatens democracy gains
Thousands of hardcore Muslims chant against Jews. Youths rampage through cities at night in protest of "blasphemous" art. A sit-in by religious students degenerates into fist fights and the desecration of Tunisia's flag.
200,000 flee Aleppo as Syria battle rages
Around 200,000 civilians have fled fighting in Syria's most populous city Aleppo and many more were trapped, the UN said as a fierce government offensive against rebels entered a second day. The opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) on Sunday accused the government of preparing to carry out "massacres" in the northern city and pleaded for heavy weapons to enable rebels to meet the regime onslaught.
Spain's economy shrinks 0.4% as recession deepens
pain's recession deepened in the second quarter of the year as the economy shrank 0.4%, figures show. That compares with a 0.3% contraction in gross domestic product (GDP) in the first three months of the year.
Power cut hits northern India causing major disruption
A massive power cut has caused disruption across northern India, including in the capital, Delhi. It hit a swathe of the country affecting more than 300 million people in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan states