Iranian Nuclear Program Progresses with Activation of Plutonium Facility

On June 8, Iran inaugurated the main nuclear fission container at the country's heavy water reactor in Arak, part of Iran's plutonium production facility. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) director Fereydoon Abbasi called the inauguration of this container, "an important step in the advancement of the project." by AWR Hawkins 17 Jun 2013

Libor Criminal Charges Imminent

British prosecutors are expected to file criminal charges against UBS AG and Citigroup trader Tom Hayes for allegedly attempting to rig the all-important Libor (London Interbank Offered Rate), reports the Wall Street Journal. by Wynton Hall 17 Jun 2013

Clinton: Israel Must Make Peace or Disappear

In a speech that will no doubt incentivize Palestinians to continue their campaign of terror and warfare against Israel, former President Bill Clinton told Israel that it would have to make peace with the Palestinians if it wanted to remain Jewish and democratic. He said that thanks to demographic changes, Israel will have to separate from the Palestinian population in order to maintain its majority. by Ben Shapiro 17 Jun 2013

Questions Surround U.S. Gunrunning to Syrian Rebels

The CIA is gearing up to send weapons to rebel groups in Syria through Turkey and Jordan, the Washington Post reported on Friday. This is an expanded program over the effort during the past year to maintain supply routes into the war torn country for nonlethal material, U.S. officials told the Post. by Kerry Picket 17 Jun 2013

Report: Kim Jong Un Hands Copies of 'Mein Kampf' to Top Officers

A report from New Focus International, a North Korean news organization that runs underground to avoid the scrutiny of the tyrannical government, senior government officials got copies of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf for Kim Jong Un’s birthday in January. by Breitbart News 17 Jun 2013

Inhofe Blasts Obama's $170 Million Military Biofuels Giveaway

On Sunday, Ranking member of the Armed Services Committee Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) blasted the Defense Department’s plan to “contribute $170 million to a massive federal giveaway to private biofuels companies.” He said the plan is further evidence of the Obama Administration’s “use of taxpayer dollars to fund the president’s hobby as a venture capitalist.” by Wynton Hall 17 Jun 2013

Cruz, Lee Introduce Military Religious Liberties Amendments to Senate

Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT) are introducing two amendments in the full Senate to protect the religious rights of those in the U.S. armed forces. Last week, the two amendments passed in the Senate Armed Services Committee’s consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). by William Bigelow 17 Jun 2013

Documents Obtained by JW Reveal FBI Training Curricula Purged of Material Deemed 'Offensive' to Muslims

Judicial Watch recently released hundreds of pages of FBI memos and other documents revealing that, in 2012, the agency purged its anti-terrorism training curricula of material determined by an undisclosed group of “Subject Matter Experts” (SME) to be “offensive” to Muslims. by Tom Fitton 17 Jun 2013

IRS: We Investigate Pro-Israel Groups for Terrorism Ties

Eliana Johnson of National Review Online reports that Cincinnati-based IRS agent Gary Muthert told the House Oversight Committee that the IRS does, in fact, subject pro-Israel tax-exempt groups to higher scrutiny--by sending their applications to a special IRS unit that investigates them for ties to terrorism. by Joel B. Pollak 17 Jun 2013

Beijing: Suspicions Snowden Spied for China 'Groundless'

China's foreign ministry on Monday dismissed as "groundless" suspicions that former US contractor Edward Snowden spied for Beijing. "I think it is completely groundless," said foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying when asked at a regular news briefing if Snowden spied for China. from AFP 17 Jun 2013

Cameron Wants Syria Peace Conference Pledge at G8

Prime Minister David Cameron said Monday his priority at the G8 summit was to ensure a peace conference on the Syrian conflict takes place later this year to push through a transitional government to replace President Bashar al-Assad. from AFP 17 Jun 2013

Bombings Near Baghdad Kill 10

Bombings near Baghdad killed at least 10 people Monday in a second day of deadly violence that, coupled with a prolonged political stalemate, has spurred fears of a revival of full-blown sectarian war. from AFP 17 Jun 2013

Greek Coalition Wrestles to Avoid Collapse

Party leaders in Greece's ruling coalition are trying to heal the rift over the closure of the country's state TV and radio broadcaster that is threatening to topple the government and compromise the country's bailout program. from AP 17 Jun 2013

Prince Philip Leaves Hospital After Surgery

Britain's Prince Philip was discharged from a London hospital on Monday, 10 days after undergoing exploratory surgery on his abdomen. from AP 17 Jun 2013

Iran's Ahmadinejad Given Court Summons over Feuds

Iran's official news agency says a criminal court has summoned outgoing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over a lawsuit filed by the country's parliament speaker and others. from AP 17 Jun 2013

China Calls for Explanations of US Surveillance

China is joining calls for Washington to provide explanations following disclosures of National Security Agency programs which collect millions of telephone records and track foreign Internet activity on U.S. networks. from AP 17 Jun 2013

World View -- Report: Iran Sending 4,000 Troops to Aid Assad in Syria

According to a news report, Iran will send 4,000 Iranian Revolutionary Guard soldiers to Syria to support the regime of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad by John J. Xenakis 17 Jun 2013

Czech Prime Minister to Step Down Amid Graft Scandal

Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas said Sunday he would step down, after a massive corruption scandal in which his top aide was indicted for bribery. from AFP 16 Jun 2013

Canadian Couple Charged $5,000 After Finding 400-Year-Old Skeleton in Backyard

(UPI) -- A Canadian couple who found a skeleton in their backyard said an Ontario law required them to pay $5,000 for archaeological disinterment and other treatments. from UPI 16 Jun 2013

Snowden Leaks 'Detailed Records' About IP Addresses NSA Hacked in China, Hong Kong

NSA leaker Edward Snowden showed a Hong Kong newspaper classified documents that revealed the specific IP addresses in Hong Kong and China the National Security Agency may have hacked. by Tony Lee 16 Jun 2013

Samantha Power: The Quintessential 'Blame America First'-er

The American people do not need to populate the United Nations with any more anti- or post-Americans, especially as their “representative” to that organization. Someone who equates the United States with Adolf Hitler’s Germany, someone who has for years derided the U.S. contribution to freedom and a better planet, someone who yearns for a new world order in which our nation is not only unexceptional but subject to the dictates of others, is not someone we want anywhere near Turtle Bay. by Frank Gaffney 16 Jun 2013

Saudi Arabia Expands Grand Mosque, Endangers Islamic Relics

Saudi Arabia is expanding the Grand Mosque in Mecca, according to wire reports, which contains the Kaaba, so that 2.2 million people can visit there simultaneously. The area of the Mosque will be increased by 400,000 square metres (4.3 million square feet). by William Bigelow 16 Jun 2013

War with Iran May Be Inevitable

Though he ran as the anti-war candidate, and took office with an outstretched hand to America's rivals, the course President Barack Obama has set may lead to a direct war with Iran, whether he likes it or not. That is because the ambitions of the Iranian regime--geopolitical hegemony over the Middle East, and the millenarian fantasies of militant Shia Islam--are fundamentally at odds with core American interests. by Joel B. Pollak 16 Jun 2013

World View: Egypt's Morsi Endorses Syria Rebels

Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi announced on Saturday the end of all diplomatic ties with the Syrian regime led by Bashar Al-Asaad, and that "the Egyptian people and army are supporting the Syrian uprising." by John J. Xenakis 16 Jun 2013

Iran's Rowhani 'beacon of hope': Hezbollah

Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah, a close ally of Tehran, welcomed the election of Hassan Rowhani as Iran's new president on Sunday, calling him a "beacon of hope". from AFP 16 Jun 2013

WH: No 'Rush to War' in Syria

On Sunday, White House chief of staff Denis McDonough said that the Obama administration would not be rushing to war in Syria, and implicitly accused the Bush White House of rushing to war in Iraq. “We’ve rushed to war in this region in the past,” McDonough said. “We’re not going to do it here.” by Breitbart News 16 Jun 2013

Obama Deploys U.S. Marines to Syrian Border

On the heels of the decision to arm select groups of Syrian rebels, 300 U.S. Marines have reportedly been deployed to the Syrian border. by AWR Hawkins 16 Jun 2013

NSA Whistleblower Really a Double Agent?

Although Edward Snowden claims to be but a NSA whistleblower who is sick of the way the system works, Fox News reports on what appears to be a "growing backlash against the former NSA contractor." by AWR Hawkins 16 Jun 2013

Study: Global Elite Leave Bigger Carbon Footprints when Flying First Class

A World Bank study has found the global elite superclass, composed of figures such as Al Gore who take lavish jets to conferences in places like Davos, leave large carbon footprints when traveling in first class. by Tony Lee 16 Jun 2013

Pope Warns of 'Adolescent Progressivism' and Desire to 'Play It Safe'

During his daily celebration of Mass in the chapel of his apartment residence, Pope Francis said that the Catholic Church can be hindered by dual temptations of wanting to remain in the past and “adolescent progressivism.” by Dr. Susan Berry 15 Jun 2013

Palin on Syria: 'Let Allah Sort It Out'

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin said until the United States has a Commander-in-Chief who knows what he is doing, America should stay out of the mess in the Middle East. by Breitbart News 15 Jun 2013

China Announces Measures to Curb Air Pollution

China's Cabinet has announced measures to curb the country's notorious air pollution, one of the many environmental challenges facing the country that are increasingly angering the public. from AP 15 Jun 2013

Wag the Syrian Dog

With embattled President Barack Obama facing a scandal about electronic spying on the private lives of almost every voter in America, it should not be surprising that he would make “a decision to provide lethal assistance,” including weapons, ammunition, and air support, to the Syrian rebels. Using wag the dog might have worked in the past, but the mushrooming privacy scandal seems destined to grow. by Chriss W. Street 15 Jun 2013

'Moderate' Rowhani 'Outspoken Critic' of Ahmadinejad

Hassan Rowhani, the bearded cleric who is leading the pack in Iran's presidential election, is a moderate who has pledged to engage more with world powers in hopes of easing crippling economic sanctions. from AFP 15 Jun 2013

Minister: Rowhani Wins Iran Presidential Election

Moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani has won Iran's presidential election, the interior minister announced on Saturday, putting an end to eight years of conservative grip on the nation's executive. from AFP 15 Jun 2013

White House: Obama's $100 Million Africa Trip 'Great Bang for Our Buck'

After questions over the $100 million price tag of the President's trip to Africa arose, the White House defended the costs claiming that the expenditure offers the nation "great bang for our buck." by Warner Todd Huston 15 Jun 2013

Tanzania's Albinos Hope Govt Will Offer More Help

As an infant in rural Tanzania, Angel Salvatory was unusual. Snow white skin, blond hair, and blue eyes set her apart from others in her village. Those unique looks have also made her a target. from AP 15 Jun 2013

World View: Hezbollah Promises to Keep Fighting for Assad in Syria

As we've been reporting, the recent announcement by Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and his subsequent actions in providing thousands of fighters to help Bashar al-Assad's Syrian army, has resulted in a harsh Sunni/Shia divide throughout the Mideast, with Arab Sunni Muslims vitriolically condemning and threatening all Shias, especially after the stunning al-Assad/Hezbollah victory in Qusair. by John J. Xenakis 15 Jun 2013

Russia Questions Syrian Chemical Weapons Evidence

Russia's foreign minister says the evidence put forth by the United States of chemical weapons use in Syria apparently doesn't meet stringent criteria for reliability. from AP 15 Jun 2013

Ukrainian Teen Prostitutes Find Way Back into Society

The risks of such work are clear: the Mykolayiv region has one of the highest levels in Ukraine of HIV-related fatalities in the age group of 15 to 24 years. from AFP 15 Jun 2013

Protesters Rally in Hong Kong to Support Snowden

Hundreds of protesters staged a rally in rain-hit Hong Kong Saturday to urge the city's government not to extradite former spy Edward Snowden and slam the US for its surveillance programmes. from AFP 15 Jun 2013

Russia's Putin Calls for IMF Overhaul, Bigger Role for BRICS

Russia will use its presidency of the G20 to push for a radical overhaul of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and changes to its voting system to give developing economies a stronger voice, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Russia's news agency RIA Novosti. from UPI 15 Jun 2013

Reaction Cool to U.S. Arms Plan for Syrian Rebels

The Obama administration hopes its decision to give lethal aid to Syrian rebels will prompt other nations to beef up assistance, now that the U.S. has cited evidence that the Syrian government used chemical weapons against its people. But the international reaction Friday ranged from flat-out disbelief of the U.S. intelligence assessments to calls for negotiation before more weapons pour into the vicious civil war. from AP 14 Jun 2013

Early Vote Count in Iran Gives Rowhani Wide Lead

Iran's reformist-backed presidential candidate surged to a wide lead in early vote counting Saturday, a top official said, suggesting a flurry of late support could have swayed a race that once appeared solidly in the hands of Tehran's ruling clerics. from AP 14 Jun 2013

Thousands of Egypt Islamists Rally for Syria Jihad

Thousands of Islamists rallied in the Egyptian capital on Friday in support of calls by Sunni Muslim clerics for a holy war against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. from AFP 14 Jun 2013

US Seeks to Ease German Anxiety over Web Spying

The White House on Friday sought to cool German fears over a secret US Internet surveillance program, which threatens to detract from President Barack Obama's visit to Berlin next week. from AFP 14 Jun 2013

Guatemala Reels from Mass Police Slaying

Guatemalan authorities expressed concern about the power of organized drug gangs Friday after eight police officers were shot dead inside their station. from AFP 14 Jun 2013

Assange Enlists Puerto Rican Band in Political Fight

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange revealed on Friday how he is spending some of his time living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London -- working on a song with Puerto Rican band Calle 13. from AFP 14 Jun 2013

Ecuador Approves Law Curtailing Private Media

Ecuador slashed the private sector's share of radio and television frequencies Friday and restricted content, the culmination of a battle between the president and media he accuses of undermining him. from AFP 14 Jun 2013

Obama to Give Speech in Belfast, Family to Head to Dublin

US President Barack Obama will laud the US role in backing Northern Ireland's peace process in a speech in Belfast on Monday, and his wife and daughters will then head to Dublin. from AFP 14 Jun 2013

Congress: President Cannot Indefinitely Detain US Citizens

On June 13, Congress voted to limit President Obama's ability to indefinitely detain U.S. citizens who are suspected of terrorism. by AWR Hawkins 14 Jun 2013

Obama Blows with Political Winds on Syria

On Thursday, White House press secretary Jay Carney strenuously denied that American provision of arms for the Syrian rebellion had anything to do with public opinion. But polls show that the President’s “red line” on Syria – use of any sort of weapons of mass destruction – happens to coincide with the public’s red line. by Ben Shapiro 14 Jun 2013

Senators Unaware of Potential Syrian Refugee Resettlement in U.S.

Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), two lawmakers who are part of the gang of eight immigration bill, are unaware of the administration's willingness to accept thousands of Syrian refugees into the United States. by Kerry Picket 14 Jun 2013

Syria: US Chemical Weapons Charges 'Full of Lies'

The Syrian government has dismissed U.S. statements it used chemical weapons as "full of lies." from AP 14 Jun 2013

In Syria Decision, Obama's Hypocrisy is Complete--and Dangerous

With the announcement Thursday that the U.S. will send weapons to rebel forces in the Syrian civil war, President Barack Obama's hypocrisy on war is now complete. by Joel B. Pollak 14 Jun 2013

'Intersex' Included on Australia's New Gender Guidelines

The Australian government has announced new guidelines on gender recognition which state that individuals should be given the option of selecting "male", "female" or "intersex" on their personal documents. from AFP 14 Jun 2013

Iran Votes in Key Presidential Contest

Iran chooses a new president Friday in an election the reformists hope their sole candidate will win in the face of divided conservative ranks, four years after the disputed re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. from AFP 14 Jun 2013

Vietnam Detains Second Blogger in Weeks: Reports

A prominent Vietnamese blogger has been arrested for anti-state activity, reports said on Friday, the second online government critic detained in less than a month in an intensifying crackdown on dissent. from AFP 14 Jun 2013

NATO Urges Syria to Allow UN Weapons Inspection

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Friday welcomed a "clear" US statement accusing the Syrian regime of using chemical weapons and said Damascus must let the UN investigate the allegations. from AFP 14 Jun 2013

Iran's Leader Jabs US as Presidential Vote Begins

Iran's top leader gave a salty rebuke Friday to U.S. questions over the openness of the presidential contest in the Islamic Republic, telling Washington "the hell with you" after casting his ballot in a race widely criticized in the West as rigged in favor of Tehran's ruling system. from AP 14 Jun 2013

Obama Authorizes Arms for Syrian Rebels

President Obama has authorized his administration to provide the Syrian rebels with arms in their fight against Bashar al-Assad. by AWR Hawkins 14 Jun 2013

World View: U.S. Escalates Syria Crisis with Confirmation of Chemical Weapons

The White House issued a statement late on Thursday confirming that the regime of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad has crossed a "red line" with the use of chemical weapons on its own people, causing some 150 deaths by John J. Xenakis 14 Jun 2013

Sunni clerics call for jihad in Syria

Influential Sunni clerics from several Arab states including Saudi Arabia and Egypt called on Thursday for a holy war against the "sectarian" regime in Syria. from AFP 13 Jun 2013

US to Provide Military Support to Syrian Opposition

After foolishly setting a red line with regard to Syrian President Bashar Assad’s use of chemical weapons, President Obama has now decided to provide weapons and ammunition to rebel forces, according to two US officials. Obama has been urged to do so by politicians including Secretary of State John Kerry, as well as Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). McCain and Graham are urging a no-fly zone over Syria, but President Obama has refused to put troops on the ground and has not yet decided on a no-fly zone. by Ben Shapiro 13 Jun 2013

Feminist Protest Exposes Tunisian Islamist Justice

Under Tunisia's "moderate" Islamist government, you can attack and vandalize the American embassy and still walk free. But if a woman bares her breasts in a form of protest, a four-month prison sentence is considered too lax. by Steven Emerson 13 Jun 2013

SYRIA USED CHEMICAL WEAPONS, US MILITARY TO SUPPORT 'REBELS'

The United States has conclusive evidence that Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime has used chemical weapons against opposition forces seeking to overthrow the government, crossing what President Barack Obama has called a "red line" that would trigger greater American involvement in the crisis, the White House said Thursday. from AP 13 Jun 2013

The Shi'ite Crescent Holds Its Ground

After two years of fighting and at least 80,000 casualties, it is possible to conclude that the Syrian civil war has degenerated into a long-term, regional, sectarian Sunni-Shi'ite conflict which has crossed into neighboring Lebanon and Iraq and threatens to spill over into Turkey, Jordan and Israel. No resolution to this feud is in sight. by Yaakov Lappin 13 Jun 2013

Prager University Extols American Military as World's Force for Good, Peace

Dennis Prager chose Andrew Roberts to teach the latest Prager University course on American military might, in part, for the British historian's moral clarity. The radio show host also wanted to avoid choosing an American who could be accused of being a “homer” when it comes to looking at U.S. military measures across the globe. by Christian Toto 13 Jun 2013

Famous Chinese Dissident Kicked Out of NYU

Chen Guangcheng, the famous blind Chinese dissident who spent years under house arrest, sought asylum in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing in 2011, escaped from Communist China in May 2012 to the United States, and ultimately became a student at NYU, has been told by the university to get lost. by William Bigelow 13 Jun 2013

Palestinians Oppose Gender Equality at Holiest Jewish Site

After a contentious and occasionally violent debate lasting decades, Israel has finally agreed to expand the women's prayer section at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, so that it is as big as the men's prayer section. Yet opposition from the Palestinian Authority to any changes in the area may block the plan. by Joel B. Pollak 13 Jun 2013

Clinton to Obama: Override Public Opposition to Syria Intervention

At a closed-door event in New York City with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) on Tuesday evening, former President Bill Clinton suggested that President Barack Obama should ignore public opposition to U.S. intervention in Syria and give rebel groups "a decent chance" of winning their war against the regime of Bashar al-Assad. by Joel B. Pollak 13 Jun 2013

Google Warns of Password-Stealing Campaign in Iran

Google on Wednesday said that it has been battling what appeared to be politically targeted efforts to steal the passwords of tens of thousands of account holders in Iran. from AFP 13 Jun 2013

Australia's Gillard Teams with Schwarzenegger on Climate Action

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard joined forces with former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to urge global action on climate change, saying politics must be put aside. from AFP 13 Jun 2013

Obama, Japan's Abe Discuss Security in Phone Call

President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spoke by phone, days after the US leader met over the weekend with the president of China, the White House said in a statement. from AFP 13 Jun 2013

Next Dalai Lama Could Be a Woman, Tibetan Leader Says

The Dalai Lama waded into Australia's bitter gender war on Thursday, saying his successor as the spiritual leader of the Tibetans could be a woman. from AFP 13 Jun 2013

Mandela Improving, Spends Sixth Day in Hospital

Nelson Mandela remained in hospital for a sixth day on Thursday receiving treatment for a lung infection after South Africa's president said the revered anti-apartheid icon was improving. from AFP 13 Jun 2013

General Strike in Greece over State TV Closure

Unions in Greece are holding a general strike following the closure of state-run TV and radio which has divided the government coalition. from AP 13 Jun 2013

Death Toll Rises to 5 in Turkey Protests

A lawyer says a protester injured during clashes with Turkish riot police has died, raising the death toll to five from the two-week standoff between police and activists that has challenged Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government. from AP 13 Jun 2013

German Leaders Compare U.S. Internet Spying to East German Stasi Tactics

A week ahead of President Barack Obama's visit to Germany, leaders are so outraged over the news of internet spying that at least one is comparing it to East German Stasi tactics.  by AWR Hawkins 13 Jun 2013

World View: Reform Candidate Rouhani Advances in Iran's Presidential Polls

On Friday, voters in Iran's presidential election will have a choice of five hardline candidates, and only one who is considered "centrist" or "reformist." It's a question just how reformist he is, since he's a cleric who's close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. by John J. Xenakis 13 Jun 2013