Author: Sunfire

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BAGHDAD (AP) — An international rights group accused the extremist Islamic State group on Tuesday of carrying out a systematic campaign of “ethnic cleansing” in northern Iraq that includes mass killings, abductions and other war crimes.

In a new report, Amnesty International said militants have abducted “hundreds, if not thousands” of women and children who belong to the ancient Yazidi faith. The extremists also have rounded up Yazidi men and boys before killing them, the London-based group said.   Continue reading “Group accuses extremists of war crimes in Iraq”

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MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A member of the Somali group al-Shabab says its leader was traveling in one of two vehicles hit Monday night in a U.S. military strike but the spokesman would not say if the leader was among the six militants who were killed.

Abu Mohammed told The Associated Press on Tuesday that six militants were killed in the attack. He said the two vehicles were heading toward the coastal town of Barawe, al-Shabab’s main base when they were hit. He said al-Shabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane was in one of the vehicles.   Continue reading “6 Militants Killed in US Somalia Strike”

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WASHINGTON (AP) — For the second time this year, President Barack Obama will travel to Russia’s backyard to assure nervous nations of his ironclad commitment to their security. But his objectives will be clouded by the West’s inability to halt the Russian aggression in Ukraine that has stoked fears in other former Soviet republics.

Fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russia rebels continued in eastern Ukraine as Obama prepared to fly to Estonia for meetings with Baltic leaders and to Wales for a NATO summit. The Ukrainian government, NATO and Western nations say Russia has already sent troops, artillery and tanks across Ukraine’s southeast border to reinforce the separatists, a claim Russia has denied.   Continue reading “Russia’s gains cloud Obama’s assurances to Baltics”

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CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago children will walk past even more guards on their first day of school than last year, when concerns about safety prompted the city to line the streets with 1,200 adults every day.

Thanks to an infusion of $1 million from the city, another 100 “Safe Passage” workers will be on routes that students walk through crime-ridden neighborhoods to get to school when classes resume on Tuesday. And after Gov. Pat Quinn pledged $10 million, officials said another 600 of the workers would be hired and on the streets over the next several weeks.   Continue reading “School to begin in Chicago with more safety guards”

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DETROIT (AP) — Lawyers for Detroit will attempt to convince a federal judge at the city’s bankruptcy trial that its plans to wipe out billions of dollars in debt should be approved.

After some delays, the start of the trial Tuesday in U.S. District Court comes just over 13 months after Detroit became the largest U.S. city to file for bankruptcy. Detroit expects to cut $12 billion in unsecured debt to about $5 billion, which is “more manageable,” according to Bill Nowling, a spokesman for emergency manager Kevyn Orr.   Continue reading “Detroit’s historic bankruptcy trial to begin”

This ladies and gentlemen serves two purposes:  1) it lays the 
groundwork as a cover for the next false flag, which will take place 
here in the U.S.  2) It instills fear in the minds of the sheeple, 
convincing them that they must give up more of their freedom and 
liberties so that their beloved government can safe guard them. It’s no 
different than the first false flag on U.S. soil, 9/11.  If you thought 
the Patriot Act and the NDAA were ludicrous, just wait until you see 
what is coming!

RT

US jihadist fighters returning from conflict zones pose a “very serious threat” to US national security alongside British and Canadian nationals that also fought oversees as they can freely enter the American soil, top politicians say.   Continue reading “Untraceable returning jihadists pose ‘serious threat’ to US”

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — State corrections officials on Friday agreed to shift mentally ill inmates into separate specialized housing that will offer them more treatment instead of placing them in the same isolation units as other inmates, a decision that marks a major shift in how the system deals with such prisoners.

The agreement filed in U.S. District Court in Sacramento comes after a federal judge ruled in April that California’s treatment of mentally ill inmates violates constitutional safeguards against cruel and unusual punishment.   Continue reading “California mentally ill inmates get special units”

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LONDON (AP) — The grandmother of a 5-year-old British boy with a severe brain tumor accused U.K. authorities on Monday of cruelty for seeking an arrest warrant and pursuing the family abroad after his parents removed him from a British hospital against medical advice.

Hours later, a Spanish judge ordered the parents’ detention for 72 hours while a court in Madrid considers whether to grant Britain an extradition request. Grandmother Patricia King told the BBC it was an “absolute disgrace” that her son and daughter-in-law were accused of child neglect after they took Ashya from Southampton General Hospital last week. The family says U.K. authorities had refused to give Ashya the kind of treatment he needed.   Continue reading “Spain orders custody for parents of ill UK boy”

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PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korea gave foreign media access on Monday to three detained Americans who said they have been able to contact their families and — watched by officials as they spoke — called for Washington to send a high-ranking representative to negotiate for their freedom.

Jeffrey Fowle and Mathew Miller said they expect to face trial within a month. But they said they do not know what punishment they could face or what the specific charges against them are. Kenneth Bae, who already is serving a 15-year term, said his health has deteriorated at the labor camp where he works eight hours a day.    Continue reading “Americans detained in North Korea call for US help”

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BAGHDAD (AP) — The bumbling young militant first drops the rocket launcher on the toes of his boss before taking aim and firing toward a military checkpoint outside of an Iraqi town — not realizing he’s fired it backward at his leader.

The “Looney Tunes”-style cartoon targeting the Islamic State group comes after its militants have swept across large swaths of Syria and Iraq, declaring their own self-styled caliphate while conducting mass shootings of their prisoners. The group cheers its advances and beheadings in slickly produced Internet videos.   Continue reading “Islamic State group becomes target of Arab satire”

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BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi security forces and Shiite militiamen on Sunday broke a six-week siege imposed by the Islamic State extremist group on the northern Shiite Turkmen town of Amirli, following U.S. airstrikes against the Sunni militants’ positions, officials said.

Army spokesman Lt. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi said the operation started at dawn Sunday and the forces entered the town shortly after midday. Speaking live on state TV, al-Moussawi said the forces suffered “some causalities,” but did not give a specific number. He said fighting was “still ongoing to clear the surrounding villages.”   Continue reading “Iraqi forces break militant siege of Shiite town”

RT

Going to war may seem one of the most hazardous ordeals on the planet, but perhaps not. The International Labor Organization (ILO) says there is more chance of dying from work than fighting for your country on the battlefield.

The admission was made by Guy Ryder, the ILO’s director-general, who was speaking at the 20th World Congress in Frankfurt to participants from 141 countries in what is the world’s largest occupational safety event.    Continue reading “More chance of dying from work than going to war – Intl Labor Organization”

RT

Seven people suffered injuries after riot police clashed with anti-fascists at a neo-Nazi rally in Stockholm. Police say four law enforcement officers needed treatment, along with three civilians.

The march was organized by the Party of Swedes, a far-right organization, and attracted around 150 members. They were far outnumbered by those protesting against the gathering, with thousands gathering in the city center. The vast majority of protesters were well-behaved, but a minority attacked the police with firecrackers, bottles, eggs and panels from a security fence.   Continue reading “Stockholm: Injuries as neo-Nazi march provokes clash with anti-fascists, police”

RT

A Belgian feminist activist group LilithS literally painted Liege Airport red with a hundred liters of fake blood at the facility’s role in arming Israel. The red pool of ‘blood’ symbolized their perceived ‘slaughter’ of Palestinians in Gaza by Israel.

Six women took part in the protest at 11.30 am on Tuesday. The members were all wearing t-shirts bearing the colors of the Palestinian flag as well as the slogans “Terrorism is real” and “Free Palestine.” They also unveiled a banner with the slogan: “How many tons of weapons for so many liters of blood?”the groups Facebook page stated.   Continue reading “‘No weapons for Israel!’ Protest group pours fake blood in Belgium airport”

RT

Microsoft has been told it must handover emails stored abroad to US prosecutors by a New York court. However, the software giant says it will fight the ruling, saying that an email deserves the same privacy protection as a paper letter sent by mail.

The company says they will not release any emails to US authorities, while it appeals the ruling, made by Chief Judge Loretta Preska of the US District Court in Manhattan. She said that Microsoft must hand over information, regardless of where it was stored.   Continue reading “US judge rules Microsoft must handover personal data stored abroad”

RT

The infamous man behind one of the United States’ most shocking spy rings has died in a federal North Carolina prison.

According to the Virginian-Pilot, John A. Walker Jr. was 77 years old when he died. Although the cause of his death is currently unknown, he was suffering from health complications that dated back years and included throat cancer.   Continue reading “Soviet spy ring mastermind John Walker dies in prison”

RT

Gun sales in the United States have slipped in 2014 compared to last year, but they’re still higher than at any other point in the last decade.

Over the last three months, sales at the gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson dropped 23 percent, with profits declining 32 percent compared to the same quarter in 2013. The news was similar at Sturm, Ruger & Co., which saw profits shrink 31 percent, and Colt Manufacturing, where a net loss of $7 million was documented.   Continue reading “‘Gun boom’ in the US is over, but weapon sales still high”

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BONANZA, Nicaragua (AP) — Nicaraguan rescuers have saved 22 of at least 26 workers trapped in a mine collapse and were working Saturday to free the rest, officials said.

First Lady Rosario Murillo said 20 of the miners were freed late Friday, in addition to two who made their way to safety shortly after a Thursday morning collapse cut off the exit at the El Comal gold and silver mine in the town of Bonanza left them cut off in a mine shaft.   Continue reading “22 of 26 trapped gold miners rescued in Nicaragua”

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GENEVA (AP) — The civil war in Syria has forced 3 million people out of the country, including more than a million people who fled in the past year, creating a crisis that the U.N. refugee agency said requires the biggest operation in its 64-year history.

The tragic milestone means that about one of every eight Syrians has fled across the borders, and 6.5 million others have been displaced within Syria since the conflict began in March 2011, the Geneva-based agency said. More than half of all those uprooted are children, it said.   Continue reading “UN says Syria refugees top 3 million mark”