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U.S.-backed rebels used sarin gas, not Syrian government - U.N. investigator
Well, knock me over a meidum-sized feather! U.S.-backed rebels used sarin gas, not Syrian government - U.N. investigator 05 May 2013 U.N. human rights investigators have gathered testimony from casualties of Syria's civil war and medical staff indicating that rebel forces have used the nerve agent sarin, one of the lead investigators said on Sunday. The United Nations independent commission of inquiry on Syria has not yet seen evidence of government forces having used chemical weapons, which are banned under international law, said commission member Carla Del Ponte. "Our investigators have been in neighboring countries interviewing victims, doctors and field hospitals and, according to their report of last week which I have seen, there are strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof of the use of sarin gas, from the way the victims were treated," Del Ponte said in an interview with Swiss-Italian television. "This was use on the part of the opposition, the rebels, not by the government authorities," she added, speaking in Italian.
Steubenville: When will it all be over?
This isn't my usual reporting, but an OP-ED piece
When Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine announced a grand jury would be convened to explore possible other crimes that may have been committed during the Jane Doe rape case investigation, and that they would be investigating other individuals who may have committed those crimes, no one believed it would take this long.
The Steubenville grand jury has taken a break until May 23rd so that Ohio BCI and the AG's office may review even more evidence on a scope of other possible charges that could be filed while also interviewing and preparing over 40 witnesses.
I was in Steubenville on May 1st, for the purposes of doing interviews for a french documentary on rape culture in America. The town was quiet, but you could feel a uneasy tension still in the town months after Trent Mays and Ma'lik Richmond's conviction on sexually assaulting a 16 year old girl.
I was met by Anonymous Sph3re, the MC for previous anonymous rallies in support of the victim and a few citizens who attended the rallies. They did their interviews first as mine would be a bit more in depth based on my coverage and knowledge of the case. One car circled us 6 times shouting profanities and slurs at us, while others would walk by and shake their heads.
It's a frustrating process going on right now with waiting to see what if anything the GJ will do, and will be even more of a frustrating wait for citizens, the GJ, the investigators and media to wait for Dewin'es decision what to do after the grand jury is finished.
Everyone involved in the case is caught on a cliff hanger, we all are waiting for this case to be put to rest, so that we all can move on.
Anonymous to their other operations, media to other stories, the possibly accused to court for their criminal proceedings (if GJ indicts) or to face the pending civil suits of Jane Doe and her attorney Bob Fitzsimmons, The town back to their normal business.
One thing is for sure for everyone involved, indirectly involved or just from the Steubenville area, we all will be forever changed.
Personally this is the longest case, and a story/case that I have ever worked on or became well known for. I have lived, breathed, slept and ate Steubenville for over 5 months now. Folks like Prinnie and more will be coming up on 1 year of this.
After Steubenville, I find that even though the case will be over, I will still be on it doing work on multiple documentaries on either the case or rape culture in America with Sphere and many others. I will be covering other cases in the area as there is a plethora of interesting cases that need looked into, investigated and reported on when I am done with the documentaries.
Steubenville brought alot of people together. In the activist sense, It introduced many to the world of finding their voices and speaking out. It inspired rape victims to share their stories. it created networks of activists who would not be active were it not for the protests.
On the town side, it brought some together against anonymous, and victim supporters as well as crewated a dialogue between each other and the media.
Personally for me it introduced me back to my passion for looking into things and speaking for those who can't/won't speak for themselves. Steubenville taught me how to fall in love again with the town itself and someone who I thought at the time was special and the most important person in my life.
Steubenville taught me how to educate others in the field of indy journalism, to be social again, as well as inspire me to become a better journalist and investigator.
I don't think even when this is all over that I can ever get away from Steubenville, and the friends/family, and allies I have made there. Ap piece of me will always remain in that town because it was there that I truly gave everything I had for the cause, for the story, for the truth and for the public. I can walk away happily knowing that.
If I could do it all over again, I would do it the same way with no regrets.
Gay Catholic Teacher fired by Catholic Diocease of Columbus
Bishop Frederick Campbell claims that the March firing of Phys Ed teacher Carla Hale was not based on her sexual preference, but because it violated the church's moral teachings and values. He further went on to claim that the Diocese of Columbus "Doesn;t really go looking for this sort of things with their employees." But hale made her relationship with her lover public when listing her partner as a survivor in her mother's oituary which resulted in a public complaint.
Hale is a methodist, and as her attorney states isn't bound by catholic doctrine. Her teacher's union contract also says that she is not bound by any such religious beliefs or catholic doctrine.
Hale has not only filed a complaint with her union, but the city of Columbus as well on the grounds of discrimination based on her sexual orientation. Columbus comissioners are reviewing the teachers case and could take weeks or months to decide whether or not the Diocese violated her civil rights.
The case has grown quick support from the Gay and lesbian communites as well as the activist communites across the ocuntry.
The Hacktivist group Anonymous have also thrown their name into the hat of groups concerned with the Catholic Church's violation of hale's right to be an individual.
Anonymous threatens that is Hale is not reinsatated all of the Columbus diocese's dirty secrets will be found out and revealed to the public.
Many donors to the church have refused to donate to the church's fundraiser held over this weekend.
Despite being well known for their priests molesting children and getting away with it due to big payouts from the churches, the catholic church still finds gay rights to be offensive.
Mobile Broadcast has requested interviews with the Columbus diocese as well as Miss Hale.
For more info follow @nunyaman on twitter
U.N. voices 'grave concern' at reports of Israel strikes in Syria
U.N. voices 'grave concern' at reports of Israel strikes in Syria 05 May 2013 U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday voiced alarm at reports Israel has struck targets inside Syria, but said the United Nations was unable to confirm whether any such attacks had taken place. "The Secretary-General expresses grave concern over reports of air strikes in Syria by the Israeli Air Force," Ban's press office said in a statement.
Seven U.S. troops killed in Afghan bomb, insider attack
Seven U.S. troops killed in Afghan bomb, insider attack 05 May 2013 Seven U.S. soldiers were killed in two separate attacks in Afghanistan on Saturday, NATO and Western officials in Kabul said, capping off one of the bloodiest weeks for international forces this year. Five U.S. soldiers were killed in the southern battleground province of Kandahar when they were struck by an improvised bomb on Saturday, a spokesman for the U.S. forces and provincial authorities said, adding that it took place in Maiwand district. Including Saturday's attacks and three air crashes, 21 U.S. military personnel have been killed in the last week.
Ending the Fabrication of the War on Terror: Lessons from Africa--a workshop by Horace Campbell
On April 27, 2013, Horace Campbell presented a workshop titled "Ending
the Fabrication of the War on Terror: Lessons from Africa" at the Resisting
Drones, Global War and Empire convergence in Syracuse, NY.
Part 1 is Horace's opening remarks.
Watch Now!
Part 2 is the discussion that occurred but in audio format rather than video. It is 46 minutes and 18 seconds long, so please give it time to load.
Listen here: http://www.radio4all.net/files/anonymous@radio4all.net/16-1-Horace_Campbell_audio_part_2.mp3
Related Rochester Indymedia articles: Civil Resistance, What is it? and why do we do it?--a workshop | Anti-Drone Banner Drop in Syracuse, NY | 31 protesters arrested for blocking drone base | Bruce Gagnon: Stop the Militarization and Nuclearization of Space! | Sarah AK Ahmed, an Iraqi, grew up through Two Decades of War | An interview with Kathy Kelly from Voices for Creative Nonviolence | Hancock Drone Resisters Found Guilty; Sentencing is April 24 | On Guard! Your Government Isn't Trustworthy! An interview with Col. (ret.) Ann Wright | We Can Make Change - Debra Sweet Interviewed | Stopping the Billionaires, the Bombers, and the War Machine--an interview with David Swanson | Everyone Must Resist! An interview with Elliott Adams | Nick Mottern Discusses Drone Warfare and His Consciousness Raising Efforts | 10 Years Ago: Hundreds say no to US aggression | Martin Luther King: "Why I Am Opposed to the War in Vietnam" | Anti-Drone Protest Draws Police Attention | Anti-Drone Demonstrators Return to Brighton | Anti-NATO coverage by Rochester Indymedia in Chicago | From Disney to Drone Wars - a critical settler perspective | Anti-Drone Demonstration Draws Hundreds; 37 Arrested for Civil Disobedience
Man accused of lying to investigation after Boston Marathon bombings seeks release
Man accused of lying to investigation after Boston Marathon bombings seeks release 05 May 2013 Lawyers for a man charged with lying to investigators after the Boston Marathon bombings are asking a federal judge to release him from jail, saying he had nothing to do with the deadly bombings and isn't a flight risk. Robel Phillipos, 19, of Cambridge, faces a detention hearing Monday in U.S. District Court. Defense attorneys said in court documents filed Saturday that authorities' claim that Phillipos gave them conflicting accounts is "refutable."
Karzai Says He Was Assured CIA Would Continue Delivering Bags of Cash
Karzai Says He Was Assured CIA Would Continue Delivering Bags of Cash 05 May 2013 The C.I.A.'s station chief here met with President Hamid Karzai on Saturday, and the Afghan leader said he had been assured that the agency would continue dropping off stacks of cash at his office despite a storm of criticism that has erupted since the payments were disclosed. On Saturday, Mr. Karzai sought to dampen the furor over the payments, describing them as one facet of the billions of dollars in aid Afghanistan receives each year. "This is nothing unusual," he said. Mr. Karzai declined to specify how much cash his office received each month, or how much it had been given by the C.I.A. so far. At his meeting with the station chief, it was made clear to him that "we are not allowed to disclose" the amount, he said. [Right, it's 'nothing unusual' because CIAciopaths delivered millions in cash to the US-installed puppet regime in Iraq, too.]
Second Israeli strike on Syria reported
Second Israeli strike on Syria reported 05 May 2013 Israel has carried out a rocket attack on the Jamraya scientific research centre in Damascus, the official Syrian news agency SANA says. The agency did not say whether there were any wounded or dead. A newsflash on Syria's state satellite channel said: "The latest Israeli attack is an attempt to raise the morale of the terrorist groups, which are tottering before the blows of our heroic army on Syrian territory." Al-Jazeera reported that the explosion in the suburb of Jimrayya hit camps of the elite Fourth Division and Republican Guard as well as the research institute.
Two NATO soldiers killed in Afghan insider attack by US-funded police force
Two NATO soldiers killed in Afghan insider attack by US-funded police force 04 May 2013 An Afghan soldier shot dead two soldiers serving with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force on Saturday, officials said, in the latest "insider attack" to target the coalition. "Two International Security Assistance Force service members were killed when an Afghan National Army soldier turned his weapon against ISAF service members in western Afghanistan today," ISAF said in a statement. Also on Saturday, a roadside bomb killed five US troops in southern Afghanistan.
NATO Protester Suing City Over Arrest, Claiming Cops Beat Him
NATO Protester Suing City Over Arrest, Claiming Cops Beat Him 29 Apr 2013 A man arrested during last year's NATO protests is suing the city, claiming Chicago Police beat and dragged him after he was involuntarily pushed into a line of officers. Authorities initially charged Philip Devon with reckless conduct, but the charge was dismissed after prosecutors failed to show up to a court date last December, according to a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. A judge later denied the prosecution’s motion to reinstate the case.
Methuen Police Arrest High School Student on Terrorism Charges for Rapping About 'Marathon Bombing'
Methuen Police Arrest High School Student on Terrorism Charges for Rapping About 'Marathon Bombing' --Student held on $1M bail 01 May 2013 (MA) Methuen police have arrested a high school student on terrorism charges. Methuen Police Chief Joe Solomon told the Valley Patriot this afternoon that Cameron D'Ambrosio sent text message and posted terrorist threats on social media. "We took this very seriously," Chief Solomon said. "He posted a threat in the form of rap where he mentioned the White House, the Boston Marathon bombing, and said 'everybody you will see what I am going to do, kill people.'" The police chief says that D’Ambrosio faces up to 20 years for felony charges of communicating terrorist threats under MGL. Ch. 269, Section 14.
Israeli warplanes 'launch air strike in Syria'
Israeli warplanes 'launch air strike in Syria' 04 May 2013 Israeli warplanes have launched an air strike inside Syria from Lebanese air space, US officials have said. Unnamed officials told media outlets the likely target was a[n alleged] weapons site. Israel has refused to confirm the strike, though it has launched strikes in Syria as recently as January.
Secretive Spy Court Approved Nearly 2,000 Surveillance Requests in 2012
Secretive Spy Court Approved Nearly 2,000 Surveillance Requests in 2012 02 May 2013 A secretive federal court last year approved all of the 1,856 requests to search or electronically surveil people within the United States "for foreign intelligence purposes," the Justice Department reported this week. The report, released Tuesday to Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader from Nevada, provides a brief glimpse into the caseload of what is known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. None of its decisions are public. The 2012 figures represent a 5 percent bump from the prior year, when no requests were denied either. The secret court, which came to life in the wake of the Watergate scandal under the President Richard M. Nixon administration, now gets the bulk of its authority under the FISA Amendments Act, which Congress reauthorized for another five years days before it would have expired last year.
Sixteen Israeli fighter jets violate Lebanese airspace
Sixteen Israeli fighter jets violate Lebanese airspace 03 May 2013 Sixteen Israeli military aircraft have penetrated Lebanese airspace and flown over several areas of the country in blatant violation of a UN Security Council resolution. Two Israeli fighter jets crossed into Lebanon's airspace over the southern city of Sidon, located 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Beirut, at 7:10 p.m. local time (1610 GMT) on Thursday, according to a statement issued by the Lebanese military on Friday. The warplanes flew over several areas in Lebanon before leaving the country's airspace at 12:10 p.m. local time (0910 GMT) while flying over the southern village of al-Naqoura, which is situated 91 kilometers (57 miles) south of Beirut. Later in the day, two other Israeli jets entered Lebanese airspace over the coastal city of Jounieh, located about 16 kilometers (10 miles) north of Beirut, at 10:40 p.m. local time (1940 GMT). [Just shoot them down - problem solved.]
Israel attacked at least one military installation in Syria - U.S. official
Breaking: Israel attacked at least one military installation in Syria - U.S. official 03 May 2013 [This story will be updated.]
CT's Protein Sciences arming for bird flu vaccine
CT's Protein Sciences arming for bird flu vaccine --Centers for Disease Control contributed killed sample of H7N9 so company could craft its biochemical agent to 'combat' it 03 May 2013 Meriden flu-vaccine maker Protein Sciences says it is ramped up and ready to produce enough quantities of vaccine as necessary to prevent a pandemic from the deadly H7N9 bird flu virus that has taken root in China. The company claims that in just 100 days, it renovated and outfitted Pfizer Inc.'s former Pearl River, N.Y., facility to produce three lots of antigens for its Flublok brand seasonal anti-flu treatment that won federal approval back in January.
Polar bears leave St. Lunaire-Griquet
Polar bears leave St. Lunaire-Griquet --Pair of bears wandered through community to the delight of residents 02 May 2013 The polar bears that caused so much excitement in St. Lunaire-Griquet on Wednesday have been coaxed away from the community. The two bears, thought to be about three years old, and weighing between 100 and 125 kilograms, wandered through gardens and across roads in the northern peninsula community. Residents described them as looking relaxed, and not acting in an aggressive manner.
US employers add 165K jobs; rate falls to 7.5 pct.
US employers add 165K jobs; rate falls to 7.5 pct. 03 May 2013 U.S. employers added 165,000 jobs in April, and hiring was much stronger in the previous two months than the government first estimated. The job increases helped reduce the unemployment rate from 7.6 percent to a four-year low of 7.5 percent. The government revised up its estimate of job gains in February and March by a combined 114,000. It now says employers added 332,000 jobs in February and 138,000 in March. The economy has created an average of 208,000 jobs a month from November through April - above the 138,000 added in the previous six months.
Bomb outside Sunni mosque kills six in Iraqi capital
Bomb outside Sunni mosque kills six in Iraqi capital 03 May 2013 A roadside bomb killed a Sunni cleric and five worshippers when they left a mosque in Baghdad after Friday prayers, police and medics said, as 'regional sectarian' violence threatens to return Iraq to all-out conflict. April saw the most killings since 2008, but was below the height of 'sectarian' bloodletting in 2006-07. A further 31 people were wounded in the blast outside the mosque in al-Rashidiya district of Baghdad, medics said. It was not clear who was behind the attack. [Check the Craft and Blackwater payrolls - mystery solved.]
