Month: August 2014

Holder Arrives As Protests Continue in Ferguson

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder arrived in Ferguson to lead the investigation into the shooting. It was revealed that Darren Wilson, the police officer whose fatal shooting of Michael Brown touched off more than a week of demonstrations, suffered severe facial injuries, including an orbital (eye socket) fracture, and was nearly beaten unconscious by Brown moments before firing his gun. Meanwhile, Community elders and the clergy were credited with helping to bring “a different dynamic” to protests in this St. Louis suburb, police said as fewer arrests took place.

Ceasefire Broken as Rockets Rain Down on Israel, Ministers Call for Action

Hamas violated an extended ceasefire some 8 hours before it was set to expire by firing over 50 rockets into Israel on Tuesday evening. Israel responded by killing a Hamas military chief and destroying some 30 terror targets in Gaza. Hamas’ armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, said Israel had ‘opened the gates of hell on itself’ by the killings and warned that the Jewish state would pay for its crimes. Israel recalled 2,000 reservists, as it prepares for a possible ground operation into the Gaza Strip.

IRS Would Lose in Court Battle Against Churches, NRB Says

After the Internal Revenue Service agreed to investigate pastors that preach political speech, the president of the National Religious Broadcasters churches said churches would win their case against the IRS if the government agency revoked their tax-exempt status.

Iran Stalls With West As Its Nuclear Program Develops

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani told the visiting head of the UN nuclear watchdog said Tehran’s long-range missile program will not be discussed as part of talks aimed at resolving a decade-long nuclear dispute. Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister did not believe a final-status agreement would be made with the West by the time the next deadline comes in four months.

Ceasefire Extended by 24 Hours

A five-day ceasefire in Gaza which ended last night was extended by another 24 hours, at Egypt’s request.

Islamic State Continues to Massacre Scores in Iraq and Syria, Loses Control of Mosul Dam

The Islamic State continued to massacre scores of ‘infidels’ in its ‘caliphate’ over the weekend as U.S. lawmakers called on President Obama to expand military operations against the jihadist organization. Over the weekend, President Obama informed Congress that he authorized U.S. airstrikes in Iraq to help retake control of the Mosul Dam. On Sunday Kurdish forces, with the aid of over two dozen U.S. and Iraqi airstrikes, were able to retake control of Iraq’s largest dam from IS jihadists, who captured the dam less than two weeks ago.

Deadline Looms at Midnight as Hamas Threatens ‘War of Attrition’, Israel Will Respond in Full Force to any Hamas strikes

Israeli and Palestinian delegations restarted indirect talks in Cairo over the weekend, however Israeli officials were skeptical a truce could be reached by Monday’s midnight deadline. Over the weekend, Hamas threatened a “war of attrition” if its demands were not met. Meanwhile, Israel threatened “harsh strikes” if Hamas broke the ceasefire with any type of fire against the Jewish state and Israeli officials said “quiet and security’ will be restored ‘one way or another.’

Riots Continue to Break Out, Governor Orders Curfew, Feds Take Over Investigation

Over the weekend in cities throughout the United States, demonstrators marched in solidarity with Missouri protesters over the killing of Michael Brown, a unarmed black teenager, who was shot by a police officer. Despite a curfew imposed by the Missouri governor, one person was critically injured after being shot, and seven others arrested as clashes continued to break out over the weekend in Ferguson, Missouri. A private autopsy revealed the teen was shot six times, including two in the head, as the Justice Department ordered a second autopsy into the teenager’s death as the FBI took over the investigation.

Ukraine Crisis: Separatists Trained in Russia

One of the top rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine claims that his forces have recently received 1,200 fighters who had undergone training in Russia. The claim came during a speech to leading rebels, apparently recorded on Friday and posted to YouTube by a pro-separatist media outlet. His language suggested the men had already crossed the border.

Ebola Threatens West Africa, Airlines Halt Flights

As Ebola continues to threaten West Africa, officials claim it will take up to six months to contain the outbreak. Liberian authorities have now quarantined entire villages it claims is the ‘epicenter’ of the virus and expanded its Ebola treatment centers throughout its capital of Monrovia. Meanwhile, two more airlines halted flights to the capitals of Liberia and Sierra Leone. The World Health Organization admitted the official death toll of 1,145 in the region “vastly underestimates the magnitude of the outbreak.”

Israel Cabinet Convenes to Discuss Cease-Fire Negotiations

The security cabinet convened in Tel Aviv on Friday morning to discuss the cease-fire agreement and negotiations taking place between Israel and the Palestinians in Cairo, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Islamic State Changes Tactics, Closing in on Aleppo

The Islamic State continues to capture towns on its way to Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, which now stands less than 50 kilometers away. Meanwhile, limited U.S. airstrikes have caused jihadists of the Islamic State to change their military tactics, instead of operating as an army with conventional formations, they are now acting like insurgents and mixing in with civilians to disguise their maneuvers making it harder to strike them.

Militarization of Police Stuns America (Video)

As photos of heavily armed police officers in full combat gear squared off against protesters in the small suburban town of Ferguson, Missouri, America got a sobering wake up call of the militarization of its local police forces. Since 2006, U.S. police departments have acquired 93,763 machine guns, 432 mine-resistant trucks, over 500 aircraft and hundreds of thousands of ammunition magazines, all provided by the U.S. military with the help of Congress.

New 5 Day Truce Begins on Rocky Ground

Amidst rocket attacks and Israeli retaliatory strikes within the Gaza Strip, both sides agreed to extend a three-day truce by an additional five days.

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