Tunisian Man Died of SARS-Like Virus After Mecca Pilgrimage

(UPI) -- A Tunisian man died after a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and two adults children tested positive for SARS-like virus, health officials say. from UPI 21 May 2013, 2:44 PM PDT

Obama to Visit Africa for First Time Since 2009

President Obama will visit Africa in June for the second time in his presidency. He visited Egypt and Ghana in 2009, but has not returned since. The trip, scheduled for June 26 to July 3, will take Obama to Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. by AWR Hawkins 21 May 2013, 2:02 PM PDT

Islam Rising, Christianity Declining in United Kingdom

Britain’s ancient connection to Christianity is fading fast as Muslims have emigrated to Britain in droves. The 2011 census reveals that Christianity is plummeting 50% faster than had been thought previously. Within ten years only a minority in Britain will call themselves Christians. by William Bigelow 21 May 2013, 2:32 AM PDT

Obama to Take First Major Africa Trip in Late June

President Barack Obama will leave on a first African tour next month, visiting Senegal, Tanzania and South Africa, but his itinerary bypasses Kenya, an ancestral homeland. from AFP 21 May 2013, 2:29 AM PDT

MPs Set to Back Gay Marriage as Rebels Lose Vote

The legalisation of gay marriage is poised for approval by MPs on Tuesday after David Cameron headed off another Conservative rebellion. from AFP 21 May 2013, 2:26 AM PDT

Israel Fires Back at Syria After Gunshots at Its Troops

Israeli troops shot at a target across the Syrian frontier on Tuesday in response to gunfire that struck its forces in the Golan Heights, the Israeli military said. from REUTERS 21 May 2013, 2:25 AM PDT

Bangladeshi, South Korean Climbers Die on Everest

A climber from Bangladesh and another from South Korea have died on Mount Everest as hundreds flock to the world's highest peak during good weather, Nepalese tourism officials said Tuesday. from AFP 21 May 2013, 2:20 AM PDT

Iran to List Approved Presidential Candidates

Iran's June 14 presidential election steps up a gear on Tuesday when the Guardians Council releases the approved list of candidates who have passed muster under the vetting process. from AFP 21 May 2013, 2:20 AM PDT

Afghan Leader to Push for Indian Military Aid

Afghan President Hamid Karzai will try to secure more military aid in talks with Indian leaders on Tuesday as he looks to beef up his security forces after international troops pull out next year. from AFP 21 May 2013, 2:18 AM PDT

World View: Wave of Terrorist Violence in Iraq Kills Hundreds

A dozen car bombings across Iraq on Monday killed at least 95 people, and this followed the killing of 200 people last week from bombings. Terrorist violence has been on the increase in Iraq since December 2011, when the last American forces pulled out of Iraq. by John J. Xenakis 21 May 2013, 12:04 AM PDT

Boise Man Arrested on Terrorism and WMD Charges

A 30-year-old Uzbekistan national living in Boise, Idaho, was arrested on the morning of May 16th as part of a wide scale federal terrorism investigation. by Abha Shankar 20 May 2013

South Korea Deploys Israeli-Made Missiles to Protect Border Islands

South Korea has deployed Israeli-made Spike missiles to protect border islands in the West Sea. by AWR Hawkins 20 May 2013

Hezbollah Helping Assad's Forces in 'Most Intense' Battle of Syrian Conflict

On May 19, the Syrian military, working with Hezbollah fighters, began taking the city of Qusayr back from opposition forces. by AWR Hawkins 20 May 2013

Obama Admin Decries Sale of Russian Anti-Ship Missiles to Syria

On May 17, the Obama administration decried Russia's sale of advanced anti-ship missiles to Syria. According to the LA Times, the acquisition of these "Yakhont cruise missiles with advanced radar" will make it more difficult for the U.S. and its allies to use naval ships to conduct support operations like launching jets to impose a no-fly zone should the U.S. decide to intervene in Syria. by AWR Hawkins 20 May 2013

Uh-Oh: Hillary's Benghazi Scapegoat Speaks Out

The Daily Beast reports that one of the Benghazi fall guys is refusing to take the fall. Raymond Maxwell was put on indefinite leave by the State Department after its Administrative Review Board (ARB) investigation of Benghazi for reasons that are still unknown to him. The person he claims made the decision to cast him out was Cheryl Mills--Hillary Clinton's former chief of staff and counsel at the State Department. It is the second time Mills' name has turned up during scrutiny of the State Department's response to the attack. by John Sexton 20 May 2013

Former Counterterrorism Head: FBI Never Called Ft. Hood 'Workplace Violence'

Michael Steinbach, former head of the FBI’s counterterrorism division and now special agent in charge of Miami, told over 30 congressional staffers in March of 2012 that, contrary to the White House's classification, the bureau does not refer to the Fort Hood shooting as "workplace violence." As head of the FBI counterterrorism division, Steinbach oversaw the investigation into the mass murder at Texas Army base. by Kerry Picket 20 May 2013

Suicide Bomber Kills 14 at Afghan Province Council

A suicide bomber struck outside a provincial council headquarters in northern Afghanistan on Monday, killing the council chief and at least 13 others, authorities said. The Taliban insurgency quickly claimed responsibility. from AP 20 May 2013

Second Taiwanese Fighter Crash Within a Week

A Taiwanese fighter jet ploughed into the sea off the island's north coast on Monday, the air force's second crash in less than a week, military officials said. from AFP 20 May 2013

Gay Marriage Vote Poses Problems for Cameron

Prime Minister David Cameron faces further dissent from within the ranks of his Conservative Party as a bill to legalise gay marriage returns to Parliament Monday. from AFP 20 May 2013

Tunisia Arrests 200 in Salafist Crackdown

Tunisian police arrested some 200 members of the hardline Islamist Ansar al-Sharia in weekend clashes that erupted after a ban on their congress, Prime Minister Ali Larayedh said in remarks published on Monday. from AFP 20 May 2013

Car Bombs in Baghdad, South Iraq Kill at Least 40

A wave of car bombings across Baghdad's Shiite neighborhoods and in the southern city of Basra killed at least 40 people on Monday, striking at market places and crowded bus stops during the busy morning hours, officials said. from AP 20 May 2013

Legendary City of Central America Found?

The famed Honduran city called Ciudad Blanca (or The White City in English), which inspired explorers as famous as Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés to search for it, may have been found at last. by William Bigelow 20 May 2013

Syria Ready to Strike Israel

Reports indicate that Syria has "surface-to-surface Tishreen missiles" zeroed in on Tel Aviv and "is ready to use them should Israel conduct a strike on Damascus." by AWR Hawkins 20 May 2013

World View: Israel's Army to Begin Using Live Fire on West Bank Palestinians

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are changing policies and are increasingly willing to use live fire "if necessary" on West Bank Palestinian protesters that threaten Jewish settlements. According to the IDF, there has been an escalation in Arab attacks on Israeli civilians. by John J. Xenakis 20 May 2013

Report: Al Qaeda Affliate Takes Over Syrian Oil Fields

Al Qaeda and its affiliates in Syria are reportedly funding their activities by selling oil from fields they took from Bashar al-Assad. According to the the Telegraph, up to 380,000 barrels of crude "that were previously produced around the city of Raqqa and in the desert region to the east are now in Rebel hands." As a result, the al-Nursa Front, "a violently anti-Western jihadist group," is selling the crude for profits to fund their operations. ' by AWR Hawkins 19 May 2013

North Korea Fires Three Short-Range Missiles into Sea of Japan in 'Protest'

North Korea fired three short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan on Sunday that fell into the ocean east of the Korean Peninsula, news agencies and the Wall Street Journal report. South Korean defense experts cited by the Journal indicated the missiles were not the mid-range projectiles that the North Korean regime had appeared ready to launch during tensions earlier this year. The U.S. and South Korea warned North Korea but took no further action. The missiles may have been a protest against joint U.S.-South Korean naval exercises. by Joel B. Pollak 19 May 2013

Saudi Tries to Avoid Afghan-Style Blowback from Syria

Chastened by the experience of Afghanistan, where hundreds of Saudis fought before returning to sow terror at home, the kingdom is battling to avoid similar blowback from the conflict in Syria, analysts say. from AFP 19 May 2013

Syria Military Pounds Rebel Town Killing 13

The Syrian military pounded the rebel-held central town of Qusayr, killing 13 people, in an apparent preparation for a ground assault, a watchdog said. from AFP 19 May 2013

N. Korea Test-Fires Another Short-Range Missile

North Korea on Sunday test-fired a short-range missile off its east coast, its fourth in two days, a Seoul official said. from AFP 19 May 2013

Russia Retrieves Mice, Newts from Space

A Russian capsule filled with 45 mice and 15 newts along with other small animals returned from a month's mission in orbit on Sunday with data scientists hope will pave the way for a manned flight to Mars. from AFP 19 May 2013

Greece Enters Sixth Year of Recession

Data released last week showed Greece entered its sixth straight year of recession, but there is now cautious optimism about the economy's prospects although unemployment is still hitting record highs and consumers are squeezed by pay cuts and tax hikes. from AFP 19 May 2013

Iran's Guard Warns Against Post-Election Turmoil

Several Iranian newspapers are citing a senior Revolutionary Guard commander as warning his forces will be on watch for possible unrest after the June 14 presidential election. from AP 19 May 2013

Kuwait Deports 'Hundreds' for Traffic Offences

Kuwait has deported hundreds of expats for traffic offences in the past month, a report said on Sunday, drawing condemnation from a human rights group. from AFP 19 May 2013

Syrian Activists: Shelling Near Lebanon Kills 16

Syrian activists say government airstrikes and heavy shelling of a strategic town near the Lebanese border have killed at least 16 people, including rebel fighters. from AP 19 May 2013

8,000 Households in France Paid More than 100% in Taxes

The new rule from the socialist government of France is: we’re not going to take most of the money you earn, we’re going to take all of it and your savings, too. The business newspaper Les Echos said more than 8,000 households in France paid more than 100% of their income last year to the government in taxes. by William Bigelow 19 May 2013

World View: North Korea Launches Three Short-Range Missiles

North Korea on Saturday launched three short range guided missiles into the sea off the Korean Peninsula's east coast. The missiles did not threaten any South Korean, Japanese, or American assets. by John J. Xenakis 19 May 2013

World View: Russian Warships Enter Mediterranean for First Time in Decades

The Mediterranean task force should be comprised of 10 warships and support vessels as part of several tactical groups tasked with attack, antisubmarine warfare, and minesweeping. by John J. Xenakis 18 May 2013

U.S. Urges Nigeria Show 'Restraint' in Striking Back Against Islamic Militants

On May 18, Nigerian war planes "struck militant camps in the northeast" in an attempt to stem the growing tide of Islamic terrorists in the area. The U.S. quickly warned that Nigeria needs to be sure "to respect human rights and not harm civilians." by AWR Hawkins 18 May 2013

Surprise: Ron Paul Blames American Interventionism for Benghazi Deaths

On Monday, former Rep. Ron Paul claimed Benghazi is the result of American "interventionism" and asserted that therefore neither Republicans nor Democrats are getting it right when they seek to explain the causes of the attacks. by AWR Hawkins 18 May 2013

Mexico Violence Claims Hundreds of US Lives

Excluding terror attacks and US soldiers killed in action, Mexico has seen more homicides of Americans than any other part of the world in the past decade, according to an AFP analysis of US State Department figures. from AFP 18 May 2013

Ministry: New Case of SARS-Like Virus in Saudi Arabia

A new case of the deadly coronavirus has been detected in Saudi Arabia where 15 people have already died after contracting it, the health ministry announced on Saturday on its Internet website. from AFP 18 May 2013

Iraq Violence Kills Eight

Violence in Iraq killed eight people, including a police officer, his wife and two children, on Saturday, while gunmen kidnapped 10 security force personnel, officials said. from AFP 18 May 2013

SKorea Says NKorea Fires 3 Short-Range Missiles

North Korea fired three short-range guided missiles into its eastern waters on Saturday, a South Korean official said. It routinely tests such missiles, but the latest launches came during a period of tentative diplomacy aimed at easing tensions. from AP 18 May 2013

China Police Arrest Man After Plane Bomb Threats

Chinese police have arrested a man who allegedly made bomb threats which caused delays or diversions to Shanghai, news reports said Saturday. from AFP 18 May 2013

Hard-Line Afghan MPs Block Law Protecting Women

Conservative religious lawmakers in Afghanistan blocked a law on Saturday that aims to protect women's freedoms, with some arguing that parts of it violate Islamic principles or encourage women to have sex outside of marriage. from AP 18 May 2013

China 'Will Not Accept' Carbon Tax on EU Flights: Report

China will not pay for CO2 emissions by its airlines on flights within Europe, a top civil aviation official reportedly said after the European Commission warned eight Chinese firms face fines for nonpayment. from AFP 17 May 2013

French President Signs Gay Marriage into Law

France became the 14th country to legalise same-sex marriage Saturday after President Francois Hollande signed it into law following months of bitter political debate. from AFP 17 May 2013

Yahoo Japan Suspects 22 Million IDs Stolen

Yahoo Japan Corp. has said it suspects up to 22 million user IDs may have been stolen during an unauthorised attempt to access the administrative system of its Yahoo! Japan portal. from AFP 17 May 2013

White House Silent On Meeting Where Benghazi Talking Points 'Drastically Pared Down'

"Even today, nobody will say on the record, or even off the record to CBS News, who was at the Deputies meeting on the morning of Sept. 15, where the talking points were drastically pared down for Rice's use." by John Nolte 17 May 2013

White House Officials Blame State for Not Deploying Rapid-Response Terror Unit to Benghazi

"The [White House] official said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's deputy, Patrick Kennedy, quickly dispensed with the idea. A senior State Department official Thursday told CBS News, "Under Secretary Kennedy is not in the decision chain on FEST deployment" but would not directly confirm whether Kennedy or somebody else dismissed the FEST." by John Nolte 17 May 2013

When Terrorists and Their Supporters Laugh at America

Ahlam Tamimi, “one of the world’s most renown(ed) female terrorists,” is now touring Arab media, taking advantage of her “expertise” in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing in April. Tamimi regularly speaks to provide “insight on how Muslims—both male and female—can become killing machines.” by Adam Turner 17 May 2013

IRS Target List Included Groups Critical of Obama on Benghazi

While the IRS was targeting the Tea Party and other domestically-focused conservatives, they were allegedly targeting foreign policy groups like Secure America Now (SAN) as well. According to The Wall Street Journal, whereas most groups that apply for a 501(c)(4) tax exempt status get it quickly--usually within a year--SAN's application has been held up twice. And the application approval for some groups has been held up for three years. by AWR Hawkins 17 May 2013

Russian, American Spies Square Off

The embarrassing arrest of a suspected CIA officer in Moscow is the latest reminder that, even after the Cold War, the U.S. and Russia are engaged in an espionage battle with secret tactics, spying devices and training that sometimes isn't enough to avoid being caught. from AP 17 May 2013

Honduras Open to Diplomatic Ties with China

Honduras is "open" to diplomatic relations with China, despite decades of ties to Beijing's bitter rival Taiwan, Foreign Minister Mireya Aguero said. from AFP 17 May 2013

Hong Kong Light Railway Accident Injures 50: Police

Up to 50 people were injured when multiple cars derailed on Hong Kong's light railway in the north of the city, throwing passengers onto the floor. from AFP 17 May 2013

Israel Rabbi Speaks Out on Being Gay and Orthodox

In openly displaying his homosexuality while serving as an Orthodox rabbi, Ron Yosef has broken a major taboo in the closed religious world that he inhabits. from AFP 17 May 2013

UN Chief Urges Russia to Drop Support for Syria's Assad

UN chief Ban Ki-moon was to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday as global pressure grows on Moscow to end arms supplies to the Syrian regime and drop its support for President Bashar al-Assad. from AFP 17 May 2013

World View: Nigeria's President Launches Major War Against Boko Haram Terrorists

Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan has declared a state of emergency in the northeast regions of Nigeria, and has ordered full-scale deployment of the army and air force to fight Boko Haram terrorists in the region. Prior to 2009, Boko Haram was a little known Muslim sect of ethnic Hausa people, but since that time, they've established a linking with al-Qaeda. by John J. Xenakis 17 May 2013

When American Ambassadors Were Still Untouchable

American diplomatic staff were once the safest people in the world, representatives of a superpower who would rain hell from the skies should you touch one of their diplomatic staff. But no more. by Shmuley Boteach 16 May 2013

Soldier Gets Life Without Parole in Iraq Killings

An Army sergeant was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without parole for the 2009 killings of five fellow service members at a combat stress clinic in Iraq. from AP 16 May 2013

European Austerity and the Backlash

Obstreperous unions, an imbedded welfare system and incompetent civil servants have been obvious impediments to austerity in Europe, but the real problem with austerity is that it is a dumb idea. Economic growth is necessary to get deficits down and recovery depends on spending; so the real debate should be between those who believe government should engineer the recovery and those who think the private sector should take the lead. by Sydney Williams 16 May 2013

Canada's Harper Pitches Keystone Oil Line in NY

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was in New York Thursday promoting the Keystone XL pipeline, the $5.3 billion project that would move oil from the province of Alberta to the US heartland. from AFP 16 May 2013

Authorities Arrest Man in Idaho in Terrorism Case

U.S. authorities in Idaho said Thursday they have arrested an Uzbekistan national on federal terrorism charges. from AP 16 May 2013

Article Alleges Hamas Money Laundering

Hamas has several business fronts operating in Saudi Arabia and Sudan which launder money for the terrorist group, the Arab News claimed in a report Wednesday. by Steven Emerson 16 May 2013

Boston Bombing Suspect: Bombings Were Retribution for Crimes Against Muslims

As Dzhokhar Tsarnaev spent what he thought were his dying hours in the boat in which he was eventually captured, he wrote a note indicating the bombings "were retribution for American crimes against Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan." by AWR Hawkins 16 May 2013

US Leads Joint Naval Maneuvres in Gulf Amid Iran Tensions

Divers leap from a helicopter into the Gulf's choppy waters to destroy a mine, while a US marine fires at a floating target, as forces from 41 countries gathered for naval manoeuvres facing Iran's shores. from AFP 16 May 2013

GOP Demands More Despite Benghazi Email Release

The White House release of some 100 pages of emails and notes about the deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, last year has failed to satisfy congressional Republicans, who are demanding more information. from AP 16 May 2013

Attorney for Bin Laden Kin Girds for 'Good Fight'

Osama bin Laden's son-in-law has hired a new lawyer to defend him in the trial he faces in the United States, and the appointment stirred some controversy in the court. from AFP 16 May 2013

Kabul Suicide Car Bomb Targets Foreign Military

A suicide car bomb targeted foreign military vehicles on Thursday morning in the Afghan capital Kabul shortly after 8:00 am (0330 GMT), police said, confirming there were casualties. from AFP 16 May 2013

Five Hostages Freed in Yemen

Kidnappers in Yemen have freed three International Committee of the Red Cross employees, including a Swiss and a Kenyan, along with two Egyptian hostages, following tribal mediation, sources said Thursday. from AFP 16 May 2013

Taiwan Stages Military Drill as Philippines Row Continues

Taiwan on Thursday staged a military exercise in waters near the northern Philippines in response to the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman, after rejecting repeated apologies for the death. from AFP 16 May 2013

New Zealand Supreme Court to Hear Kim Dotcom Appeal

New Zealand's Supreme Court on Thursday granted Kim Dotcom leave to appeal a ruling that US authorities do not have to disclose all of the evidence they have against the Megaupload founder. from AFP 16 May 2013

Malaysian Couple Jailed for Starving Maid to Death

A Malaysian court on Thursday sentenced a couple to 24 years in jail for starving their Cambodian maid to death, one of many such abuse cases straining ties between the country and its neighbours. from AFP 16 May 2013

World View: Palestinians Commemorate 'Al Nakba' -- 'The Catastrophe'

On Wednesday, Palestinians all over the world commemorated the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 -- a day that they refer to as Youm al-Nakba or "Day of Catastrophe." The speeches and protests and demonstrations demanded a "right of return" to lands acquired by Israel in 1948 and 1967, and full recognition of Palestine as a nation by John J. Xenakis 16 May 2013

Venezuela Running Out of Toilet Paper

First milk, butter, coffee and cornmeal ran short. Now Venezuela is running out of the most basic of necessities – toilet paper. from AP 16 May 2013