UN debates Syria Crisis

Qusair fighting as powers spar has caught the attention of UN and it has scheduled an emergency debate on Syria at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva today (Wednesday).

The debate is meant to consider a resolution that condemns the presence of foreign troops in Qusair. This comes at a time when fights intensify around Qusair. The main worry is also the arming of fighting parties that have caused instability in the country.

This resolution has overlooked U.S and Russia’s efforts to arrange a conference to find a solution to the conflict.

The drive is also being undermined by the failure so far of Syrian rebels to agree who should represent them at any such conference. 

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EU-China Trade War Talk Cooled

Germany chancellor Merkel has promised to reach an agreement with china over import tariffs.

Merkel’s promise follows Li Keqiang warnings that china is not well versed with EU’s probe into pricing practices to China. This follows EU’s move to raise tariffs on China imports like solar panels and phone gears. Merkel has now proposed serious talks between the two parties.

She promised to use Germany influence in the EU to ensure positive results from the talks. She said this is because she doesn’t believe the tariffs will be of any help.

In her words Merkel said, "We should very intensely use the next six months, and Germany will do everything to ensure that the talks will really advance."

Li is on his first overseas tour and this talk is one of his planned issues. Before getting to Germany, Li visited India, Pakistan and Switzerland

Li told the press at a conference in Berlin that imposing tariffs will not only harm jobs in China, as well as development in the affected industries, but it will also affect development and endanger industry in Europe.

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Washington: Republicans slam Obama Counterterrorism Strategy!

Obama’s plan to divert government policy from war grounds and fine-tune to counterterrorism strategy have been slammed again by republicans.

Republicans see Obama’s move as a projection of weakness at the moment when America should end terror networks mostly the al-Qaida. The Obama strategy is also being looked at by republicans as a way of retreating from the fight against terrorism.

This comes just after Obama’s significant speech on Thursday in which he claimed the al-Qaida is on the path to defeat and showed no immediate need to commit troops to war zones like Syria and any other countries that are currently struggling for peace mainly in the Arab world.  In the same speech Obama promised to close the Guantanamo Bay prison where terror suspects are kept.

His move is aimed at remodeling terrorists to cowardly thugs and not enemy warriors.

His speech however, left a lot of confusion and many concerned parties have responded in different ways. Graham thinks Obama’s move displays lack of resolve in regard to the middle East situation which is characterized by civil war and threats to Israel.

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Skagit River Bridge Construction Plans

The Skagit River Bridge will have a temporal repair as plans are underway to construct a temporary steel bridge across the river. This follows the bridge collapse that happened last week.

The temporal structures are expected to be finished within the next three weeks time. Full repairs will proceed and are expected to be done by fall.

90% of the expense for the repairs and replacement is going to be provided by the federal government.

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Paris: Anti-Gays Demonstrate against Gay Marriage Law

Thousands flooded the streets of Central Paris protesting against the new gay marriage law. Police clashed with the demonstrators on Sunday.

The law which caused the protests was passed a week ago, in fulfillment of President Francois Hollande’s pledge during campaigns last year. This led to demonstrations by the anti-gay community as a way of expressing their opposition and frustration with the president.

The demonstrators started from different points of Paris, but by evening they had gathered around Invalides esplanade near the Seine River from the Champs Elysees.

After gathering, protestors later on clashed with security forces, and chased journalists. They threw bottles at the police.

By the end of demonstrations over 100 protestors were arrested for refusing to vacate the place.

Over 150,000 people are estimated to have engaged in the protests, though organizers believe about a million people participated.

This demonstration follows the one March which attracted close to 300,000 people

Police deployed over 5,000 troops to calm the situation

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Russia: 18 Injured in 'Black widow' suicide bomber Attack

18 people were injured in Dagestan region, south of Russia after a female suicide bomber blew up herself on Saturday. Among the victims were 2 children and 5 police officers. The bomber was discovered to be a widow of the Islamic radicals who were killed by federal forces.

This attack comes just weeks after the Boston Marathon bombings. There are doubts of links since the Tsaenaey brothers suspected of carrying out the Boston attacks are Chechens who stayed in Dagestan before relocating to U.S.A

There are increasing face-offs between the Islamic radicals and security forces in Dagestan as the extremists are fighting to have an independent Muslim nation in the south of Russia which is mostly occupied by Muslims.

The blast was detonated in the central square of Makhachkala which is the Capital of Dagestan. The bomber is said to have used an explosives-laden belt. Vyacheslav Gasanov, the Dagestan's police spokesman confirmed.

Further research identified the bomber as Madina Alieva who was married to one of the Islamists killed in 2009. The 25 aged is said to have married another Islamist who was killed last year.

There have been a growing number of female Islamists attacks since 2000 around Russia. These attacks have been carried out around cities, and trains on board.

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Obama Approves Oklahoma Disaster

Oklahoma disaster declaration has been signed by President Obama today. Oklahoma is on its way to recovery after a monumental tornado that swept through the City on Monday leaving dozens dead and destroying sizeable number of property.

President Obama in a bid to support the recovery has asked federal aid to play their role in support to locally available assistance. Federal grants are likely to be given to businesses and residents who have been affected by the tragedy to enable them establish temporal housing and repair.

The president promised federal assistance in a phone conversation earlier Monday with Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (FAL'-ihn). The Federal Emergency Management Agency has sent a special team to Oklahoma's emergency operations center to help out and dispatch resources.

Through his phone conversation with Gov. Mary Fallin, Obama pledged federal support to Oklahoma.

Efforts are still underway to rescue and provide emergency resources.

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Iran: U.S, Israel Spy Convicts Hanged

Two men convicted of spying for U.S’ CIA, and Israel’s Mossad have been executed. This has been confirmed by Iran’s state radio.

The hanged are Mohammad Heidari accused of spying for Mossad, and Kourosh Ahmadi who is alleged to be providing CIA with information on Iran. The men’s arrest is not known and their trial cannot be traced.

Iran currently arrests and charges individuals on espionage charges in as way to fully dismantle spying networks around the country.

This comes at  a time when Iran believes that U.S.A and Israel have invested a lot in spying networks so as to acquire information on Iran’s nuclear programs which they thing are aimed at creating atomic weapons which Tehran slams. 

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North Korea: Projectile Fired Into South Korea Eastern Waters

Projectiles fired into South Korea Eastern waters by North Korea have caused tensions and South Korea is analyzing them to see whether they are short-range missiles or a new type of artillery under development. 

The projectile has been termed as short-range projectile by Seoul, this happened after the launch of three similar to that. They are said to be not missiles.

South Korea is taking any developments by North Korea seriously since they could be used to attack it. Investigations are still underway about what the projectile that were fired are.

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Bomb Kills 14 at Afghan Provincial Council

There were bomb attacks at a provincial council headquarters on Monday in north Afghanistan. The council chief died together with 13 other council members.

Mohammad Rasoul Mohseni, who is the council leader of the Baghlan Province, was in the compound by the time the attacker struck the bomb at the scene. This has been confirmed by the police spokesperson of Baghlan province Jawed Bashran.

Eleven others are believed to have gotten injuries. The chief’s death has been confirmed by Mohammad Zahier Ghanizada, a member of parliament from Baghlan.

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34 Die in Baghdad Car Bombs

There were car bombs in the southern city of Basra and across Baghdad on Monday. Hundreds are believed injured and 34 people are confirmed dead.

These bombings are the latest attacks targeted at hitting Sunni and Shiite civilians. The spreading attacks are causing threats of a return to the 2006-2007 sectarian attacks which almost led to a civil war in Iraq.

Nine car bombs are said to have went off in Baghdad and are said to have hit at a bus stops, streets, and market places across the Shiite neighborhoods this morning killing 24 and leaving over 100 people injured. Well as in Basra, two car bombs went off at a restaurant and the other near a bus stop, killing 10 instantly and leaving about 27 injured.

These reports have been confirmed by police officials in Baghdad and Basra.  

No group has so far claimed responsibility of the attacks yet though al-Qaida is mostly suspected.

There are rising tensions since the Sunnis began their protest against what they call mistreatment at the hands of the Shiite government. They say mistreatments include stochastic detentions and neglect among others.

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Southern U.S.A invaded by Tawny Crazy ants

There is an ant species that has invaded southern U.S and it is believed to be likely to cause ecological balance changes. This is because these ants can easily clear the insect villain of the region of other insects.

These crazy ants are said to be so harmful in that when they come to a area, they kill whatever they find in there. This is so threatening to other species in the area.

The research about this harmful species was carried out at University of Texas, and LeBrun who is a lab expert said, "Perhaps the biggest deal is the displacement of the fire ant, which is the 300-pound gorilla in Texas ecosystems these days." He also added that "The whole system has changed around fire ants. Things that can't tolerate fire ants are gone. Many that can have flourished. New things have come in. Now we are going to go through and whack the fire ants and put something in its place that has a very different biology. There are going to be a lot of changes that come from that."

The effects of this ant species even go beyond the environment as they are also a problem to the population due to their huge numbers.

The crazy ants nest in walls, crawl spaces, house plants or empty containers in the yard, researchers said.

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American C.I.A Officer Suspect, Detained by Russia

U.S C.I.A officer has been arrested by the Russian Federal Security Service over charges of attempting to recruit a Russian officer. He has believed to have pledged to offer lots money and had carried with him technical devices.

The victim was has been identified as Ryan Christopher. And is said to have been under the third secretariat in the political department of the American Embassy in Russia.

Ryan was detained on Monday Russian authorities have confirmed.

U.S Ambassador to Russia has been summoned to appear on Wednesday over the allegations.

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Cleveland Kidnapper to Make First Appearance in Court

Ariel Castro, 52, who is believed to have kept captive of the 3 ladies who went missing for a decade has been charged with kidnap and rape.

He is said to have kidnapped the ladies at different schedules and locked them in a house in Cleveland till Monday when one of the three women escaped and raised awareness over the abductions. 

Following the awareness, the police arrested 2 brothers to Castro who proved to have no links to the case and were released.

The three ladies who had been abducted are Amanda Berry 27, Michelle Knight 32, and Gina DeJesus 23.

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Taliban plan to disrupt Pakistan landmark election

Taliban militants confirmed plans to disrupt Saturday's Pakistan elections with suicide bombings. This was revealed by  a letter from the militant group leader Hakimullah Mehsud to the group's spokesperson. The attacks are planned to take place in all the four Pakistan provinces. Mehsud said, "We don't accept the system of infidels which is called democracy." This was quoted in his letter dated 1 May. 

For the past months Taliban have killed hundreds of Pakistan people. These attacks have been carried out during rallies mainly those for secular parties in a bid to avoid the elections

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Bangladesh: Islamist leader Sentenced to death over war crimes

Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, who is the assistant secretary general of the Jamaat-e-Islami party was convicted for charges of genocide and torture of civilians during the 1971 war for independence. The Bangladesh war crimes tribunal found him guilty and sentenced him to death on Thursday.  There are fears of clashes between police and protesters. 

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