The News Crawler
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 Updated 3/22

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World Headlines
Afghanistan Click here for more Afghan News

NATO air strike killed two Afghan children in east: officials

US Army 'kill team' in Afghanistan posed with photos of murdered civilians

Iraq Click here for more Iraq News

Iraq Protests  Masked attackers burned tents of protesters overnight in the main city of Iraq's Kurdistan region, police said Sunday.Hundreds of demonstrators gathered later in the day in Sulaimaniya for another protest against Massoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan regional government, witnesses told CNN.

Biggest rally yet held against Iraq's Kurd leaders

Pakistan Click here for more Pakistani News

Suspected U.S. drone strike in Pakistan, 38 killed A U.S. drone missile strike on Thursday killed at least 38 suspected militant, Pakistani officials said.

Pakistan demands U.S. apology for deadly drone strike Pakistan has strongly condemned a drone strike against a Taliban bastion in the northwest tribal region.

CIA spy escapes murder case in Pakistan after US pays 'blood money'

Africa Click here for more News from Africa

Cote d’Ivoire: Tens of thousands at risk as fighting intensifies Amnesty International has urged authorities in Côte d'Ivoire to protect the population as tens of thousands of people were forced to flee heavy gunfire amid intensified fighting across the country

Unrest in the Tunisia This comes after Tunisia's Interior Ministry announced Monday that it is dissolving its "political police" and the entire State Security Division, which was widely unpopular under the former regime, according to the country's news agency, Tunis Afrique Presse.

Europe Click here for more EU News

Met must hand over News of the World phone-hacking evidence That could lead to more NoW journalists being named in connection with phone hacking. So far six reporters and executives have been publicly linked to the practice. One, former royal editor Clive Goodman, was convicted and jailed. A second, assistant editor (news) Ian Edmondson, has been sacked by the paper.

Money Raised by Putin 'Missing' Prime Minister Vladimir Putin played the piano and sang to help ill children at a charity concert attended by celebrities like Sharon Stone and Kevin Costner. But nearly three months later, no money has reached the children, a frustrated mother said.

Asia Click here for more News from Asia

Chinese gov't shared AIG information The Chinese Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) forced AIG's local operations to open their books on a daily basis after the company's September 2008 rescue, according to a series of U.S. diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks and provided to Reuters by a third party. The regulator then shared the confidential information with local competitors, in part to convince at least one of them to buy the troubled assets.

Japan Disasters Click here for info on Tsunami and Nuke reactors Updated 3/22

Nuclear Alert Level Raised To Five Out Of Seven

Japan braces for potential radiation catastrophe Cover up of Japanese plant accidents? As engineers and scientists struggle to control six Japanese nuclear reactors, three of which are in near-meltdown status, the world watches with horror. But even as efforts continue in earnest across Japan, the search for why this is happening has already begun. At least one man might have some theories. His name is Taro Kono, a liberal Democrat and member of Japan's DIET, or parliament. Kono's father was the president of the liberal Democrats. He's been an outspoken critic of the country's nuclear program, and once resigned a high-ranking post in the House of Representatives in protest of the Iraq War. And according to a US diplomatic cable released Monday night by The Guardian, he allegedly told American diplomats about coverups carried out in Japan's nuclear plants.

Toxic Food Found Near Crippled Nuke Plant

Middle East Click here for more Mid-East News

Allies launch Libya force as Gadhafi hits rebels The U.S. and European nations pounded Moammar Gadhafi's forces and air defenses with cruise missiles and airstrikes Saturday, launching the broadest international military effort since the Iraq war in support of an uprising that had seemed on the verge of defeat. Libyan state TV claimed 48 people had been killed in the attacks, but the report could not be independently verified. The longtime Libyan leader vowed to defend his country from what he called "crusader aggression" and warned the involvement of international forces will subject the Mediterranean and North African region to danger and put civilians at risk.U.S. Lawmakers Question Legality Of Libya Operation, Call On Obama To Explain Mission....Rebels: We Are Able To Deal With Gaddafi Ourselves.. U.S. General: Mission Is Civilian Protection, Not Aiding Opposition..

Saudi king announces benefits, warns against sedition Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has ordered that all government employees be paid two months-worth of their salaries and that students be granted a two-month payment, according to a royal decree read on Saudi television.The king also set a minimum wage of 3,000 riyals ($800) a month for all Saudis Small Saudi protest outside interior ministry in Riyadh

Unrest in Iran  Security forces in Iran's capital used tear gas to disperse protesters near Revolution Square Tuesday, according to the website of opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi. Iran's opposition movement called for demonstrations to mark International Women's Day, and the security presence and car honking was widespread throughout Tehran. Some of those patrolling appear to be teens

Yemen's Most Powerful Army Officer (controls 60% of military) Says He Will Protect The Protesters  Saleh fired his entire government yesterday as a concession to the protesters. But he's still trying to hold on. Gen. Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar said today his soldiers would protect the protesters. Several other generals and diplomats have announced their resignation.

No Coverage Zone: Media Ignores Brutal Crackdowns By US Allies Bahrain And Yemen

What's Happening in Bahrain Explained In Egypt and Tunisia, Sunnis make up the vast majority of the population, and no major sectarian conflict drove the protests. Secularists, Islamists, Christians, the poor, the middle class, the wealthy, and ultimately even the army united against dictatorship. So far, the protesters in Bahrain have been overwhelmingly Shiite. Bahrain’s military is overwhelmingly Sunni and many of its soldiers harbor racist prejudices against Shiites. Bahrain arguably has much more in common with Iraq, a country with similarly stark divides between Sunni and Shiite communities.

Read Aljazeera's comprehensive listing of unrest in Middle East / North Africa  or click on the panels below.
Protest primer | Egypt | UAE | Bahrain  

Click here for everything related to the Protests in Egypt......Updated 3/22

Click here for protests in Yemen, Bahrain and Libya Updated 3/22

The Americas  Click here for more

Haitians celebrate ex-president's homecoming Aristide arrives in Port-au-Prince on charter plane with family, ending seven years in exile in South Africa

US Headlines  Click here for more US News

US ill-prepared for emergency radiation: study

Revealed: US spy operation that manipulates social media

Alaska Militia Members Arrested for Plot to Kidnap or Kill Police

Arrest in attempted MLK Day bombing in Spokane

Five Things Unions Have Done For All Americans Unions Gave Us The Weekend. Unions Helped End Child Labor.Unions Gave Us Fair Wages And Relative Income Equality.    Unions Won Widespread Employer-Based Health Coverage. Unions Spearheaded The Fight For The Family And Medical Leave Act

Judge won't force Exxon to pay for more Valdez spill cleanup U.S. District Court Judge H. Russel Holland ruled Monday against a request that he force Exxon Mobil Corp. to pay for the cleanup of oil left on the Prince William Sound shoreline from the 1989 tanker Valdez spill. » read more

Guatemalans sue over 1940s U.S. syphilis experiments

FDIC sues WaMu execs and their wivesThe Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. filed suit against former executives of Washington Mutual, including former CEO Kerry Killinger, former President Steve Rotella, and their wives, in a case that seeks to recover unspecified damages at trial.

The charter school principal on 60 minutes made excuses for public schools outscoring his school.

Pro-legalization cops slam drug war re-up "Legalization is the only way to end the cartel violence, just like ending alcohol prohibition was the only way to make gangsters stop shooting each other over beer and liquor distribution," Tom Angell, a spokesman for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, told Raw Story in an e-mail. "How many more police officers and innocent civilians will these leaders allow to die before they finally tackle the one true solution to this violence?"

How the middle class became the underclass In 1988, the income of an average American taxpayer was $33,400, adjusted for inflation. Fast forward 20 years, and not much had changed: The average income was still just $33,000 in 2008, according to IRS data. Meanwhile, the richest 1% of Americans -- those making $380,000 or more -- have seen their incomes grow 33% over the last 20 years, leaving average Americans in the dust.

Science Click here for more Science News

Decline of honey bees now a global phenomenon, says United Nations

WikiLeaks  Click here for more Wikileaks News

Wikileaks: Congress party 'bought India votes' India's ruling Congress party bribed MPs to survive a crucial vote of confidence in 2008, a diplomatic cable leaked by Wikileaks suggests

In Resigning, State Dept. Spokesman PJ Crowley Does Not Back Away From Criticism Of Manning’s Detention Numerous civil rights groups and even members of Congress have criticized the Defense Department for its alleged treatment of Private First Class Bradley Manning, who is being detained on charges of leaking classified documents and videos to WikiLeaks. Manning has reportedly been kept in solitary confinement without access to bedding and been forced to strip naked every night. Last week, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley criticized DOD for its treatment of Manning, calling it “ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid.” CNN reported today that the White House has now forced Crowley to resign. But in his resignation statement, Crowley did not back down from his criticism Drummond paid Colombian paramilitaries: WikiLeaks  U.S. coal giant Drummond paid paramilitaries for protection of its Colombian operations

WikiLeaks cables recount how US pressured allies

Wisconsin Labor Protests Click here for more Political News

Why employee pensions aren't bankrupting states

In 22 Statehouses Across the Country, Conservatives Move to Disenfranchise Voters

Michigan firefighters, union members storm capitol in protest of anti-union legislation

Wisconsin Governor Accused Of 'Selectively' Leaking Emails To Make Him Seem Moderate

IN WI: Capitol access denied, protesters dragged away; huge crowd outside

WI Senate GOP Leader Admits On-Air That His Goal Is To Defund Labor Unions, Hurt Obama’s Reelection

GOP senators find way to advance collective bargaining bill without Democrats present (Wisconsin)....JUDGE BLOCKS WI UNION BILL

Police Haul Protesters From State Capitol..

Wisc. protest crowds larger than any Tea Party rally

Boycott targets contributors to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker

Walker Releases E-mails About Union Rights

WI GOP Sen. Randy Hopper’s Wife Tells Protesters Hopper Living with 25-year-old mistress in Madison

Economy Click here for more Economy News

The Astonishing Stupidity of Not Raising Taxes on the Rich When Budgets Are Tight So here we are. We refused to raise taxes. The recession continues. Now, we're going to cut spending.

Food prices increase most in 36 years

Promised relief, many instead deeper in debt

U.S. takes over three Tylenol plants The government is taking over three Tylenol plants following a blizzard of drug recalls and a Food and Drug Administration criminal investigation into safety issues at the factories, CNNMoney reports. FULL STORY

Saudi Arabia stopped pouring more oil into the world market  The world’s top oil producer Saudi Arabia was reportedly decided to stop pouring more oil to the world market. The decision was taken after seeing that the current rise of oil prices was driven by fear, not by lack of supply.

Collapse of the old oil order Whatever the outcome of present Middle East protests, they will transform the world of oil and bring an end to cheap petroleum. Even Saudi Arabia, so willing to turn taps to keep prices at levels the West deems acceptable, will not be able to continue bailing out consumers

Connecticut

 
Two men shot at close range in New Haven after bar closing time

Legalized marijuana goes to Conn. legislature

Report: steroid-dealing suspect claims police link A Bethel man charged with selling steroids to student-athletes and other buyers claimed to have inside connections at three Connecticut police departments and used one of those links to confirm he was being investigated, according to a federal prosecutor.

North Branford officials defend hiring ...Spezzano pleaded guilty in 2009 to second-degree manslaughter and two counts of second-degree assault and received a suspended sentence of 10 years in jail and five years of probation, according to court records

2 ex-Newtown cops accused of embezzling union  Two former Newtown police officers have been charged with embezzling about $160,000 combined in police union funds.

Danbury, ICE to pay in civil rights case The town of Danbury and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have agreed to pay eight day laborers $650,000 in a civil rights case that charged they were arrested as the result of racial profiling. Read Story

"Put the brakes" on nuclear power plants: Lieberman

Malloy's decriminalization effort for pot draws mixed reactions

Trial begins in mortgage fraud scheme; West Haven police commish, New Haven rabbi among accused

Defense costs in Cheshire triple killing exceed $2 million The cost of defending the two men charged in the Cheshire triple-homicide now totals more than $2 million, according to the state office of the chief public defender. Read Story

North Branford's new budget may carry increased tax rate

United States  
WikiLeaks

Click here for Wikileaks News Updated 3/22

Security Issues

Koran burnt in Florida church A Florida pastor said the Muslim holy book was "guilty" of crimes.

U.S. nukes: Half are over 30 years old

Freed NY terrorist advocated violence Newly unsealed documents shed more light on Mohammed Junaid Babar who set up camp for jihadis attended by 7/7 bomber

ACLU: DoJ protecting Bush eavesdroppers The American Civil Liberties Union has released a statement that memos it requested by way of the Freedom of Information Act have been released, but in "heavily redacted" form. The two memos, one by former head of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel Jack Goldsmith, and another by then deputy assistant Attorney General John Yoo contain details about National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping programs. They were released to the public on Friday but the ACLU states that they are "most notable for what they don’t reveal".

Environment

Scary: 'Millions' of dead fish surface in Calif. marina....Toxin found in sardines that clogged US marina

'Fracking' Sites Suspended, Likely Linked To Earthquakes

This State Has Worse Pollution Than L.A. Due To Gas Drilling

Pace of Polar Ice Melt ‘Accelerating Rapidly’: Study

Police/Prison

Army slow to act as crime-lab worker falsified, botched tests A McClatchy investigation reveals that mistakes by an analyst at the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory, near Atlanta, undermined hundreds of criminal cases brought against military personnel. Officials appeared intent on containing the scandal that threatened to discredit the military's most important forensics facility, which handles more than 3,000 criminal cases a year.

Party crashers beat teen to death in Queens after yelling anti-gay slurs.

4 cops shot, 2 dead 

Scathing Report on New Orleans Police Highlights Racial Bias

21 Priests Suspended For Sex Abuse

Woman Forced To Watch Her Baby Die Because Nebraska Anti-Abortion Law Prohibited Doctor From Acting In Nebraska, one law already in existence heaped needless trauma on a mother’s tragedy. Thirty-four-year-old Danielle Deaver was 23 weeks pregnant when she faced a fate “worse than your own death” — her baby would not make it. Her water broke early and, without amniotic fluid, the fetus would not develop lungs to survive outside the womb. Deaver and her husband decided they wanted to let “nature take it’s course” and would not risk harming the child further, so they asked their doctor to help “put an end to this nightmare.” But because of Nebraska’s law prohibiting any abortion after 20 weeks, the doctor could not assist or he would “face criminal charges, jail time, and lose his medical license.” Her doctors told her “she’d just have to wait.” So she did, in “torture,” and gave birth to Elizabeth at 3pm, watched her gasp for breath, and then watched her die at 3:15pm on December 8, 2010. “The outcome of my pregnancy, that choice was made by God,” said Deaver, but “how to handle the end of my pregnancy, that choice should’ve been mind.”

Oil Spill

NASA Data Strengthens Reports Of Toxic Rain From Gulf Spill

100-Mile Long Oil Slick Spotted Off Louisiana CoastThe suspected source is the Matterhorn Mc243 facility only about 25 miles from where BP’s Macondo well spewed more than 200 million gallons of crude into the Gulf last year. Coast Guard investigating possible new Gulf spill

40-foot chunk of Highway 1 falls into Pacific Ocean\

Should Marriage Be As Hard To Get Into As It Is To Get Out Of?

Media

BBC World Service to sign funding deal with US state department The BBC World Service is to receive a "significant" sum of money from the US government to help combat the blocking of TV and internet services in countries including Iran and China.

Strike Called Against the Huffington Post by Contributors Mark Whittington In the wake of the sale of the Huffington Post to AOL for $315 million, liberal media maven Arianna Huffington is facing a revolt from some of her contributors who hitherto have provided news and commentary for free. The grievance seems to be that Huffington Post contributors, regarding the huge pay day Huffington has garnered, would now like to have a piece of the action

Newly Obtained Homeland Security Documents Reveal Radical Shift In Internet Policy

NPR Exec Caught On Tape Calling Tea Party 'Racist'

Pulitzer Prize Winner Seymour Hersh And The Men Who Are Trying to Paint Him as Crazy It seems unusual, but it’s exactly what the staff of Foreign Policy has done to Seymour Hersh, following a lecture the venerated reporter gave at Georgetown University’s campus in Doha, Qatar. You may know Hersh as the dogged investigator who exposed the My Lai Massacre during Vietnam. You may know him as the staff writer for The New Yorker who published some of the earliest pieces on Abu Ghraib in May 2004. You might even know him as the man derided and then vindicated for claiming that Dick Cheney was running a secret assassination squad right out of the Vice President’s office. (In truth, the squad was and is a bipartisan affair, initiated under Clinton and still operative under Obama.)

11-Year-Old Girl Horrifically Gang-Raped; New York Times Article Blames the Victim....Cleveland residents blame 11-year-old for her rape At a town meeting Thursday, Cleveland residents continued to blame a young girl for her rape.

Drug War

'Wire' Actress Nabbed In Huge Baltimore Drug Raid

Feds raid Montana medical marijuana businesses Federal agents with guns drawn raided up to a dozen medical marijuana operations across Montana on Monday.

Education

Paying Teachers Based On Merit?

U.S. Urged to Raise Teachers’ StatusTo improve its public schools, the United States should raise the status of the teaching profession by recruiting more qualified candidates, training them better and paying them more, according to a new report on comparative educational systems.

Courts

Mother put up a rare fight in foreclosure Marie Cacoa thought she had found a refuge for her four children when she bought the yellow wooden house on a dead end in Dorchester, financing the purchase with a high-interest, subprime mortgage. Instead, it became a foreclosure nightmare that would threaten her family’s fragile stability.

Cuban militant Posada loses an evidence fight in court

Bush special counsel faces some jail time

Appeals court in NYC reinstates lawsuit challenging US right to eavesdrop on overseas chats

Science  
NASA scientist: Evidence of alien life on meteorite

Scientists Successfully Grow Urethras Using Boys' Own Cells

Losing penis spines 'helped evolution' Genetic comparison with chimps suggests losing chunks of DNA was crucial role in making us human

Monkeys Invent New Fishing Method

Politics  
GOP Senator Yanked Off Committee Speaks Out, Was Informed 30 Minutes Before Anti-Union Vote On Wednesday, just moments before a key committee in the Ohio State Senate was to vote on a GOP bill that would effectively dismantle public employees’ right to collectively bargain, the Senate’s Republican leader replaced a GOP committee member who opposed the bill with someone who supported it to ensure the measure passed.

Muslim Rep. Keith Ellison breaks down in Muslim radicalization hearings In testimony before the Homeland Security Committee's hearing on radicalization in the Muslim community Thursday, Minnesota Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison, Congress's first elected Muslim member, broke down in tears while delivering an emotional tribute to a young Muslim-American who lost his life in the Sept. 11 terrorist

The 6 dumbest things said at King’s Muslim hearing America couldn't possibly ally with Muslim countries Zuhdi Jasser glossed over quite a bit of U.S. foreign policy when saying this: "To ever be an ally with a Muslim country based on Sharia would be impossible." As it turns out, the United States is -- or has been -- allied with numerous Muslim nations that practice Sharia law, including Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Egypt.

King Falsely Claims He ‘Never Said’ There Are Too Many Mosques In America

Bush Security Official: Al Qaeda Could Use King’s Anti-Muslim Narrative As A Recruiting Tool  Today, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman began his “personal quest” to scrutinize the patriotism of American Muslims through his hearings on the radicalization in the U.S. Muslim community. King insists that his pursuit is “the logical response” to the “threat level” posed by the community, adding “it makes no sense to talk about other types of extremism, when the main threat to the United States today is talking about al Qaida.”

Budget and Taxes

The Astonishing Stupidity of Not Raising Taxes on the Rich When Budgets Are Tight So here we are. We refused to raise taxes. The recession continues. Now, we're going to cut spending.

Healthcare

Blue Shield cancels insurance rate increase

'Junk' Insurer Owned By Goldman Sachs Gets First Exemption From Health Care Provision A notorious company that has been temporarily banned from selling insurance in at least one state and faces allegations of peddling "junk insurance" elsewhere is getting the first waiver from the 2010 health care overhaul's requirement that insurers spend at least 80 percent of premiums on care, according to federal regulators.

Payday Loan Industry Doubles Lobbying Expenditures

RNC may sell TV rights to debates

Trump Skeptical Of Obama's Citizenship

Gingrich Says We Should ‘Celebrate’ Corporate Tax Dodgers, Argues Employees Should Pay Instead

A Republican Fund-Raiser Is Indicted in a Ponzi Scheme

NY candidate Jack Davis: Bus blacks to farms to pick crops

Defense Spemding

Each US citizen pays $5,000 per year for US defense spending

Prisoners building Patriot missiles U.S. government is employing prisoners to help build over $3 billion worth Patriot missiles for the United Arab Emirates.

Israel seeks $20 billion in US military aid

House

Jan Schakowsky Introduces Bill To Raise Taxes For Wealthiest Americans

Senate

Bernie Sanders introduces millionaire surtax to slash deficit

Al Franken: ‘They're coming after the Internet’

Obama

Matt Damon: "The President has rolled over to Wall Street completely". I couldn't agree more.

Health Care

"Social Security Is NOT Going Broke! BUT It Is Under Attack Right Now"

 Economy Click for Economic Statistics Financial Crisis for Beginners 
U.S. Considering Tapping Oil Reserves As Gas Prices Rise

The Truth Behind Saudi Arabia's Spare Capacity For better or worse, most of the “spare capacity” burden falls on Saudi Arabia. Saudi princes claim to be able to goose production from 9 million barrels a day to 12 at the drop of a hat. Never mind that they’ve never done anything like that before, even when oil ran up from $25 to $147 a barrel between 2003-08. The official line – and, therefore, the oil market – still believes it’s true.

Iraq  Map of Iraq
 Iraq Protests  Masked attackers burned tents of protesters overnight in the main city of Iraq's Kurdistan region, police said Sunday.Hundreds of demonstrators gathered later in the day in Sulaimaniya for another protest against Massoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan regional government, witnesses told CNN.

Biggest rally yet held against Iraq's Kurd leaders

Middle East Map of the Middle East
Read Aljazeera's comprehensive listing of unrest in Middle East / North Africa  or click on the panels below.
  • Protest primer | Egypt | UAE | Bahrain  

    Egypt Click here for everything related to the Protests in Egypt Updated 3/22

    Syria

    Unrest shakes Syria, crowds torch party HQ

    Rare public protest quashed in Syria Protesters in Damascus call for release of political prisoners in second public display of dissent in as many days.

    Security forces kill five in Syria.

    Bahrain

    Saudi Arabian forces prepare to enter Bahrain after day of clashes The Crown Prince of Bahrain is expected to formally invite security forces from Saudi Arabia into his country today, as part of a request for support from other members of the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council.

    Footage shows crackdown in Bahrain YouTube clip appears to show man shot in chest with tear gas canister as police also use rubber bullets on protesters.

    Bahrain students attacked

    “Bahrain is No Longer an Independent Country, It is Occupied by Saudi Forces”: Activist Says Pro-Democracy Protests Will Continue

    Military preventing medics from accessing Bahrain's largest hospital (Ring of tanks surrounding it)

    What's Happening in Bahrain Explained In Egypt and Tunisia, Sunnis make up the vast majority of the population, and no major sectarian conflict drove the protests. Secularists, Islamists, Christians, the poor, the middle class, the wealthy, and ultimately even the army united against dictatorship. So far, the protesters in Bahrain have been overwhelmingly Shiite. Bahrain’s military is overwhelmingly Sunni and many of its soldiers harbor racist prejudices against Shiites. Bahrain arguably has much more in common with Iraq, a country with similarly stark divides between Sunni and Shiite communities.

    Bahrain demolishes Pearl MonumentSecurity forces in Bahrain on Friday demolished the Pearl Monument, a landmark that had been the site of massive recent anti-government protests.

    Bahrain says Iran is meddling

    Iranian cleric tells Bahraini Shiites to continue protest

    Bahrain Shia Village Treats Injured Protesters in Homes Amid Arrest Fears

    Yemen

    Yemen: 35 killed as troops fire at protesters

    'US-made gas used against Yemenis'

    No Coverage Zone: Media Ignores Brutal Crackdowns By US Allies Bahrain And Yemen

    Yemeni troops on streets as party members quit

    Yemen's Most Powerful Army Officer (controls 60% of military) Says He Will Protect The Protesters  Saleh fired his entire government yesterday as a concession to the protesters. But he's still trying to hold on. Gen. Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar said today his soldiers would protect the protesters. Several other generals and diplomats have announced their resignation.

    Iran <Click for video and history>

    Iran forces fire tear gas at protesters

    Iran ousts cleric for leniency on reformists

    Unrest in Iran  Security forces in Iran's capital used tear gas to disperse protesters near Revolution Square Tuesday, according to the website of opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi. Iran's opposition movement called for demonstrations to mark International Women's Day, and the security presence and car honking was widespread throughout Tehran. Some of those patrolling appear to be teens

    Skepticism over Iranian nuclearisation

    Israel

    Israeli family of five killed in West Bank attack A Palestinian broke into their home and stabbed five people, three of them children.

    Israel approves settlement increase

     Israel Seizes Ship Loaded With Arms That Was Bound for Egypt Israeli naval commandos intercepted and commandeered on Tuesday a cargo vessel en route from Turkey to Egypt that was loaded with weaponry, Israeli officials said. 

    Israel: Ship Seized Carrying Sophisticated Weapons To Gaza Strip

    Abbas ready for 'reconciliation' with Hamas West Bank-based Palestinian president says he is willing to visit Gaza Strip for unity talks with Hamas leaders.

    Saudi Arabia

    Saudi king announces benefits, warns against sedition Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has ordered that all government employees be paid two months-worth of their salaries and that students be granted a two-month payment, according to a royal decree read on Saudi television.The king also set a minimum wage of 3,000 riyals ($800) a month for all Saudis Small Saudi protest outside interior ministry in Riyadh

    PROTEST IN SAUDI ARABIA 04.03.2011 NEW !!

    Brent crude tops $115 after Shia arrest in Saudi Arabia

    Saudi Arabia bans public protest

    Saudi police open fire at protest

    Saudi Arabia heads off planned ‘Day of Rage’ Saudi Arabia launched a massive security operation Friday in a menacing show of force to deter protesters from a planned "Day of Rage" to press for democratic reform in the conservative kingdom

    Other

    UAE group petitions for direct elections

    Oman sultan to cede some powers after protests

  • Libya Before Intervention

    BBC staff 'tortured in Libya by Gaddafi forces' Journalists subjected to mock execution in most serious incident yet involving targeting of international media

    SAS unit capture: diplomat broadcast on Libyan TV A SAS mission to Libya resulted in humiliation after the troops were first captured by rebels then released.

    Civil War Fears Mount In Libya

    Heavy Gunfire In Tripoli.. Doctor Describes Casualties.. Witnesses: 'Massacre'.. LATEST NEWS

    NATO starts 24/7 surveillance of Libya

    Libya Rebels Reject Potential Gaddafi Offer To Step Down, Al Jazeera Reports

    White House: Premature to arm Libyan rebels

    Libyan revolutionaries ask for international aid

    France Becomes First Country to Recognize Libyan Rebels (& will exchange ambassadors with them soon)

    Gadhafi showers strategic oil port with rockets The Libyan government has reclaimed the oil-heavy Ras Lanouf in a serious blow to anti-Gadhafi forces

    Top U.S. Intelligence Official: Gaddafi 'Will Prevail' In Libya

    Al Jazeera staffer killed in Libya

    Former CIA Operative on US-Backed Plan to Assassinate Qaddafi in 1980s

    Four New York Times Journalists Are Missing in Libya

    UN authorises no-fly zone over Libya Security Council imposes a no-fly zone over Libya and authorises "all necessary measures" to protect civilians.

    Turkey helps free Guardian journalist in Libya

    Witnesses say Libyan rebels shoot down planes bombing (Benghazi) airport

    Libya: Government - We Will Hit Any Target If Attacked (By International Forces) The government in Libya threatened to strike civilian, military and naval targets in the Mediterranean.

    Anti-American Extremists Among Libyan Rebels U.S. Vowed To Protect

    Warplane Shot Down Over Rebel Stronghold In Libya

    Libya After Intervention

    Obama OKs Military Action to Stop Gadhafi After weeks of hesitation, President Obama endorsed military action against Libya's Moammar Gadhafi, saying U.S. values and credibility are at stake to stop "the potential for mass murder" of innocents. A range of U.S. firepower stood ready, including Navy ships and submarines capable of launching Tomahawk cruise missiles.Full Story

    The Soundtrack of The Revolution  Tunisian rapper Hamada Ben Amor, known as El Général, released "Rayes Lebled'' or "Head of State" around the same time as Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation. El Général's song spoke out against the now former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and has been labeled the "rap song that sparked a revolution."

    Arab League criticizes allied airstrikes on Libya

    Gaddafi's forces and rebels are hard to tell apart

    Rebel says own plane downed over Benghazi   A warplane was shot down on Saturday over the Libyan city of Benghazi and an opposition activist said it was a rebel fighter jet hit by accident.

    Libyans form human shield at Gaddafi's compound

    World intervenes in Libya, with unusual spe In diplomatic terms, international military action against Libya's leader went from the brainstorming stage to the shooting-at-tanks stage with stunning speed

    Allies launch Libya force as Gadhafi hits rebels The U.S. and European nations pounded Moammar Gadhafi's forces and air defenses with cruise missiles and airstrikes Saturday, launching the broadest international military effort since the Iraq war in support of an uprising that had seemed on the verge of defeat. Libyan state TV claimed 48 people had been killed in the attacks, but the report could not be independently verified. The longtime Libyan leader vowed to defend his country from what he called "crusader aggression" and warned the involvement of international forces will subject the Mediterranean and North African region to danger and put civilians at risk.

    ICRC : Civilians at high risk amid escalating conflict

    US commander warns of Libya stalemate Mike Mullen says ousting Gaddafi is not the goal of the military operation in Libya, but a no-fly zone is now in place.

    Gadhafi's Compound Hit; U.S. Says Not Our Missile

    'Voice of Free Libya' killed by sniper

    Rebel spox: More than 8,000 dead in Libya

    Russia says Western strikes kill Libyan civilians

    Four Al Jazeera reporters held in Libya

    Robert Gates: Libya Mission Handoff In Days, U.S. Will Not Have 'Preeminent Role'

    Some Of The Mercenaries Who Were Killed In The Battle Of Benghazi (03/19/2011) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday that the U.S. expects to turn control of the Libya military mission over to a coalition -- probably headed either by the French and British or by NATO

    Waning support from Arabs, China and Russia The secretary-general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, appeared to wobble just over a week after his organisation, which represents 23 Arab states, voted in favour of a no-fly zone. Pictures of charred bodies led to not only the Arab League but also Russia and China expressing regret over the violence. Moscow claimed the US-led coalition was going beyond its UN mandate to protect civilians and called for an end to the "indiscriminate use of force".

    U.S. Lawmakers Question Legality Of Libya Operation, Call On Obama To Explain Mission

    Rebels: We Are Able To Deal With Gaddafi Ourselves..
    U.S. General: Mission Is Civilian Protection, Not Aiding Opposition..

    Rebel Envoy Calls For Democratic State.. Rejects Islamist Government

    Libyan rebels seize British SAS troops - report

    Afghanistan   Map of Afghanistan
    Judge: Soldier can show he reported Afghan plot  A military judge has ruled that a U.S. soldier charged in a conspiracy to murder Afghan civilians for sport can present evidence at his court martial that he tried to blow the whistle on the plot.  Army prosecutors at Joint Base Lewis-McChord south of Seattle sought to bar evidence that Spc. Adam Winfield of Cape Coral, Fla., sent Facebook messages home early last year saying that members of his unit had murdered one civilian, planned to kill more and were urging him to "get one" of his own. He said they threatened him to keep quiet about the plot. Afghanistan lets Blackwater stay despite shakeup of security contractors

    Afghan government asks U.N. to ease limits on 5 ex-Taliban

    NATO air strike killed two Afghan children in east: officials

    US Army 'kill team' in Afghanistan posed with photos of murdered civilians

    Pakistan Map of Pakistan

    At least 20 killed in Pakistan bomb attack At least 20 were killed and 127 wounded when a bomb exploded in Pakistan's central Punjab province Tuesday.

    Pakistan: Drone attack kills tribal 'wisemen' toll climbs to 44

    North&South Asia Map of Asia
    China accused of Gmail interference Chinese government's crackdown on activists thought to be behind what Google calls 'politically motivated attacks'

    Philippine military rocked by new 'torture' video

    Rights Watch Group Forced to Shut Its Uzbek Office

    Updated 3/22Japan Disasters Click here for info on Tsunami and Nuke reactors

    Chinese gov't shared AIG information The Chinese Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) forced AIG's local operations to open their books on a daily basis after the company's September 2008 rescue, according to a series of U.S. diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks and provided to Reuters by a third party. The regulator then shared the confidential information with local competitors, in part to convince at least one of them to buy the troubled assets.

    China suspends all new nuclear plants, orders safety review

     

    Europe Map of Europe
    Dozens held in anti-mafia raids in Italy and Germany

    Police say global paedophile ring smashed European police agency says 184 suspects arrested and 230 children rescued from abuse following major operation.

    Met must hand over News of the World phone-hacking evidence That could lead to more NoW journalists being named in connection with phone hacking. So far six reporters and executives have been publicly linked to the practice. One, former royal editor Clive Goodman, was convicted and jailed. A second, assistant editor (news) Ian Edmondson, has been sacked by the paper.

    'Social cleansing' at Olympics site
    River Lea houseboaters face rise in cost of living from £600 to £7,000 before London 2012

    Sir Fred Goodwin, former RBS chief, obtains super-injunction Sir Fred Goodwin, the former chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland, has obtained a super-injunction banning the publication of information about him, it has been disclosed on the floor of the House of Commons.

     

    Africa

    Map of Africa
    Video documents Ivory Coast carnage

    Cote d’Ivoire: Tens of thousands at risk as fighting intensifies Amnesty International has urged authorities in Côte d'Ivoire to protect the population as tens of thousands of people were forced to flee heavy gunfire amid intensified fighting across the country

    Côte d'Ivoire: U.S. Condemns "Gbagbo Violence" 
    U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said security forces showed a "callous disregard for human life" following the shooting deaths of seven women protesters, and France has called for a United ...

    Blast at Nigeria election rally  Police say they have no immediate suspects for explosion at ruling party rally near Abuja that left three people dead.

    AU troops killed in Somalia clashes Fighting between peacekeepers and al-Shabab leaves 53 soldiers dead and scores wounded, the vast majority from Burundi.

     

     

    Navy frees ship from suspected pirates

    Zimbabwe defies the UN to sell uranium to Iran  Move contradicts Iran's claim that it now has enough domestic uranium.

    Muslim cleric shot dead in northeastern Nigeria He was known for fiery sermons against the controversial radical Islamic group Boko Haram, which seeks implementation on Shariah law in Nigeria.

    Deadly clashes in Cote d'Ivoire Law and order breaks down, 10 dead and dozens injured in Abidjan as Gbagbo forces fight Ouattara supporters for control.

    Tunisia

    Unrest in the Middle East and Africa -- country by country This comes after Tunisia's Interior Ministry announced Monday that it is dissolving its "political police" and the entire State Security Division, which was widely unpopular under the former regime, according to the country's news agency, Tunis Afrique Presse.

    The Americas Map of North  America and South America
     
    Haiti
    Haitians celebrate ex-president's homecoming Aristide arrives in Port-au-Prince on charter plane with family, ending seven years in exile in South Africa

    Wyclef Jean shot in hand | Haitians vote

    Democracy Now! Exclusive Interview with Jean-Bertrand Aristide: If Haiti’s Military is Restored, “We are Headed Back to Misery” Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his family were flown on Friday by the South African government back to their home in Haiti after seven years in exile. Just before their journey, President Obama called South African President Jacob Zuma to try to prevent the trip.