Russian arms shipment en route to Syria: report

A Russian cargo ship loaded with weapons is en route to Syria and due to arrive at a Syrian port this weekend, Al Arabiya television said in a report that Western diplomats in New York described on Friday as credible.

Syria is one of Russia's top weapons customers. The United States and European Union have suggested the U.N. Security Council should impose an arms embargo and other U.N. sanctions on Syria for its 14-month assault on a pro-democracy opposition determined to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

But Russia, with the support of fellow veto power China, has prevented the council from imposing any U.N. sanctions on Syria and has refused to halt arms sales to Damascus.

"Al Arabiya have learned that a Russian cargo ship carrying a large amount of weapons plans to unload its cargo in the Syrian port of Tartus," the broadcaster said on its website on Thursday.

The report said the ship left a Russian port on May 6 and cited a "Western source" as saying that it will dock at Tartus on Saturday. more

Lebanese Syria hostage release delayed, massacre claimed

(Reuters) - Lebanon said on Friday that a group of Lebanese Shi'ites kidnapped in Syria had been freed and were safe in Turkey, but produced no sign of the hostages at the centre of a kidnap drama heightening tensions over the conflict in neighboring Syria.

The twist in a hostage drama that has inflamed political tensions in a country divided between foes and friends of the uprising in Syria came as Syrian activists said government troops killed at least 50 people in the centre of the country.

The account of the killings underscored the relentlessness of the violence in Syria's 14-month-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad, which has thrown Lebanon's delicate sect-based politics into the country's worst unrest in years. Read More

China hits back on U.S. human rights

Beijing, China (CNN) -- China criticized a "woeful" human rights record in the United States on Friday, a day after a U.S. report said Beijing's own record is getting worse, with harsh crackdowns on dissidents.

"The United States' tarnished human rights record has left it in no state -- whether on a moral, political or legal basis -- to act as the world's 'human rights justice,' " China said in an annual report on U.S. human rights.

The report cited the arrests of protesters participating in the Occupy Wall Street movement in the United States. Many protesters, it said, accused police of brutality.

It also said the United States has "fairly strict restrictions" on the Internet, saying the U.S. Patriot Act and Homeland Security Act both have clauses about monitoring the Internet, giving the government or law enforcement organizations power to monitor and block any Internet content "harmful to national security." Read More

THREE Children found abandoned in shed

Portland police need the public's help in identifying three children found Thursday morning abandoned in a shed.

Turkey suicide bombing kills 1 leaving a further 18 Injured

Istanbul, Turkey (CNN) -- A suicide bombing in central Turkey on Friday morning left one person dead -- not including two suicide bombers killed by the blast -- and 18 people wounded, the country's prime minister and interior minister said.

The attack happened in front of the local police station in Pinarbasi, a town in Kayseri province, about 170 miles southeast of Ankara.

Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin had said two people were killed, but Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan later said only one was killed. The Anatolian news agency said Sahin told reporters that one of the wounded initially lost signs of life but then showed reflexes during efforts to resuscitate him, and that the man is now in serious condition.

The man killed was a policeman, Sahin said. Among the wounded were policemen and policemen's children, he added. Read More

Canadian man arrested after disruption on airliner in Miami

Miami (CNN) -- A 24-year-old Canadian man will probably face federal charges after allegedly rushing to the front of an American Airlines aircraft after it landed in Miami on Friday, the FBI said.

Two passengers on Flight 320 from Montego Bay, Jamaica, helped subdue the man, identified by the FBI as Ryan Snider.

No one was injured and there was no damage to the plane, the FBI said.

Terrorism is not suspected, the agency said.

American Airlines spokesman Ed Martelle said the man appeared to be disoriented.

"He did not obey crewmember instructions to sit down and then moved toward the front of the aircraft where he was subdued," he said in a statement.

Passenger Ronald Webb told CNN affiliate WSVN that the incident was disconcerting. Read More

Hurricane Bud heads for Mexico

U.N. has no Plan B for Syria

4.6 Magnitude Earthquake OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN - 25th May 2012

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake has struck off the East Coast of Honshu, Japan at a depth of 31.8 km (19.8 miles), the quake hit at 18:36:15 UTC Friday 25th May 2012
The epicenter was 277 km (172 miles) ESE of Morioka, Honshu, Japan
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

4.0 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTHWESTERN SIBERIA, RUSSIA - 25th May 2012

A magnitude 4.0 earthquake has struck Southwestern Siberia, Russia at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), the quake hit at 17:57:23 UTC Friday 25th May 2012
The epicenter was 35 km (21.7 miles) Northeast from Saryg-sep, Siberia, Russia
No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

Bankia Asks Spain For £15bn In Aid

Spain's fourth largest bank Bankia has asked for 19bn euros (£15bn) in state aid - on top of a previous injection of 4.5bn euros.

In a statement, the struggling lender said it would ask Spain's bank restructuring fund FROB for a capital increase.

Earlier, the Spanish market suspended trade in the bank's plunging shares.

Bankia was also one of five Spanish banks downgraded by ratings agency Standard and Poor's on Friday.

The troubled lender was part-nationalised several weeks ago. Read More

4.6 Magnitude Earthquake OFF WEST COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA - 25th May 2012

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake has struck off the West Coast of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia at a depth of 80 km (49.6 miles), the quake hit at 16:37:11 UTC Friday 25th May 2012
The epicenter was 635 km (393.7 miles) Southwest of Banda aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

'Facebook terrorism' fuels murder mafia in Syria

Bribe Obama to obey the Constitution!

Brian Witty Serial rapist who thought he was "untouchable" jailed indefinitely

A former Army captain felt he was “untouchable” after police failed to prosecute him for two rapes and one sexual assault, leaving him free to go on and rape his fourth victim, a court heard yesterday.

Brian Witty, 41, was jailed indefinitely as a judge described him as a "demanding, frightening and determined rapist" who posed a very real danger to women.

The father of two was arrested and questioned after all three initial attacks but managed to escape charge for 16 years.

Judge Nicholas Price QC said that had he been successfully prosecuted at an earlier stage, Witty “may well have not have been free to commit these later serious offences.”
"Justice has been for too long delayed,” he said. Read more

Nigel Farage: "In the end it doesn't matter what treaties say"

Euro experiment turned out a failure: Economic author

David Cameron are you a LIAR? Or did you make Promises in 2007 just to get Elected?

This from an article in The Sun by David Cameron promising a referendum on the EU "reform treaty" 2007

the moment the EU Constitution was dreamt up by elites in Brussels, the Conservative Party’s squadron was first in the air, demanding a referendum in this battle for our country’s future.

Since then, we have been keeping up the fight, looking out for the interests of Britain.

There is a second reason why I want a referendum on the treaty. One of the great challenges we face is rolling back the tide of bureaucracy that is drowning our country in regulations and forms. And you can’t do that without targeting one of the main sources of this bureaucracy — Brussels.

Because it is Europe that ties our businesses up in red tape. And it is Europe that ties the hands of our courts. We won’t be able to deal with any of this unless we have a referendum.

The final reason we must have a vote is trust. Gordon Brown talks about “new” politics.
But there’s nothing “new” about breaking your promises to the British public. It’s classic Labour. And it is the cancer that is eating away at trust in politics. Small wonder that so many people don’t believe a word politicians ever say if they break their promises so casually.

If you really want to signal you’re a break from the past, Prime Minister, do the right thing — give the people the referendum you promised.

Today, I will give this cast-iron guarantee: If I become PM a Conservative government will hold a referendum on any EU treaty that emerges from these negotiations.

No treaty should be ratified without consulting the British people in a referendum. Source

Cholera Outbreak in the Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo, May 22 (Prensa Latina) At least 60 people were hospitalized due to suspected cholera in Tamboril, a town of Santiago de los Caballeros, which required the intervention of the Ministry of Public Health.

Deputy Minister of Public Health, Jose Rodriguez Aybar, revealed that the area was seized by the health department, which intensified prevention activities and education as well as the delivery of chlorine, since there is waters are contaminated.

Many of the cases, according to Listin Diario, it is people who were affected by the outbreak sparked weeks ago. Read More

Wildfire destroys 12 homes in southwestern New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Winds and erratic flames forced firefighters to sit on the sidelines Thursday as a massive fire that destroyed a dozen homes and several other structures in small New Mexico community grew larger and put more buildings at risk.

Tripling in size over the last day, the lightning-sparked Whitewater and Baldy fires merged to burn across more than 110 square miles of the Gila National Forest by Thursday.

"At this point it's just a monitoring situation to see whether (crews) can find some place where they can build lines or do something to slow it down," said fire information officer Iris Estes.

The wind-whipped fire burned Wednesday afternoon through the Willow Creek subdivision, a small summer community in southwestern New Mexico. Officials confirmed 12 cabins along with seven small outbuildings were destroyed, and the damage assessment continued Thursday.

Fire managers said employees with the State Forestry Division and the U.S. Forest Service would be contacting property owners. Read More

James Nash House Mental health facility goes into lockdown, Australia

Staff at the secure mental health facility James Nash House have placed the building into lockdown as part of a dispute with the centre's management.

The Nursing and Midwifery Federation says the action has been prompted by a recent rise in violent incidents against staff at the facility at Oakden in Adelaide's north-east.

Federation spokesman Rob Bonner says there have been at least three assaults on staff at the facility in the past few weeks, with the most recent occurring yesterday.

He says a student nurse is yet to return to the centre, which currently houses 40 patients, after she was attacked several weeks ago.

Mr Bonner says nurses are in extra danger because a duress alarm that allows them to alert other staff if they are in danger has broken.

He says nurses have asked for the alarm system to be upgraded since November.

"It either hasn't worked at all or it's sent off signals sending the supporting staff to the wrong rooms or wrong wings of the hospital, so it's been quite faulty and as a result the staff have been left without support and help. Read More

19 deaths reported due to viral fever, gastro-entities in Tripura villages, India

AGARTALA: As many as 19 deaths, including that of six children, were reported from tribal-dominated remote villages of Longtari Valley sub-division in Tripura's Dhalai district.

According to reports, viral fever, gastro-entities and meningococcal meningitis have been identified as the causes of deaths in the villages. Unhygienic lifestyle coupled with malnutrition are being blamed for the situation.

Joint Director (Preventive Medicine) N Darlong told ToI on Thursday that three medical teams were sent to the affected hamlet by a chopper on Monday and two other teams of medicos with medical consignment had rushed to the localities on Thursday morning. Read More

Tyson ammonia leak sends 40 workers to hospital, Nebraska

MADISON, Neb. (AP) — An ammonia leak briefly disrupted operations at a northeast Nebraska pork plant and sent 40 workers to area hospitals for evaluation.

The ammonia leak developed around 8 p.m. Thursday in the refrigeration system at the Tyson Foods plant in Madison.

Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson (MIHK'-uhl-suhn) says the plant's 150 workers were evacuated. Forty workers were taken to hospitals as a precaution and later released.

A spokeswoman for Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk says the hospital treated 10 workers for minor chemical inhalation before releasing them.

The ammonia leak has been repaired, and Mickelson says the plant is operating normally on Friday. Source

Astronauts capture first commercial space capsule at International Space Station

May 25 - Astronauts aboard the ISS use a robot arm to capture the first commercial space capsule SpaceX Dragon to arrive at the station. Rough Cut (no reporter narration)

U.S. assault ship docks in Hong Kong

May 25 - The U.S. assault ship U.S.S. Makin Island docks in Hong Kong amid growing tensions in the South China Sea. Sarah Sheffer reports.

U.S. probes China's ZTE over tech sales to Iran

(Reuters) - The Department of Commerce is investigating Chinese telecommunications equipment maker ZTE Corp for allegedly selling embargoed U.S. computer products to Iran.

The investigation was launched following reports by Reuters in March and April that ZTE had signed contracts to ship millions of dollars worth of hardware and software from some of America's best-known tech firms to Telecommunication Co of Iran (TCI) and a unit of the consortium that controls it along with the Iranian regime. TCI is Iran's largest telecom carrier.

"We've been pursuing it very aggressively," said a Commerce Department official. Investigators already have met with representatives of ZTE.

A spokesman for ZTE, based in Shenzhen, China, declined to comment.

The U.S. product makers - which included Microsoft Corp, IBM, Hewlett-Packard Co, Oracle Corp and Dell Inc, among others - have all said they were not aware of the Iranian contracts. The Commerce Department official said there is no evidence the American companies were complicit in the transactions. Read More

Ian Turton Dies and Michael Easton Missing After falling into an Crocodile Infested River in India

One British man has died and another is missing after falling into a crocodile-infested river in India.

The men, reported to be Ian Turton, from York, and Michael Easton, from west London, went missing during an excursion on the Cauvery River near Bangalore, India.

One of the men is dead, thought to be Mr Turton, while the other, believed to be Mr Easton, is still missing.

The Foreign Office said local authorities are continuing to search the area.

A spokesman said: "We can confirm the death of a British national while on an excursion on the Cauvery River near Bangalore, India. Another British national is still missing.

"The local authorities continue their search of the area. We are providing consular assistance to the families."

No further details were provided.

It is feared that the men have been killed by crocodiles, which are very common along the 497-mile (800km) river.

Rescuers are said to have found the pair's inflatable dinghy, which bore puncture marks believed to have been caused by the creatures. Read More

Iran enrichment 'at higher level' - IAEA

UN nuclear inspectors have found traces of uranium enriched at 27% at Iran's Fordo nuclear site.

The announcement by nuclear watchdog IAEA comes a day after Iran and six world powers held talks on Tehran's controversial nuclear programme.

Iran says the aim of the Fordo site is to enrich uranium for civilian use up to a maximum of 20%, and the latest readings could be accidental.

Analysts say 27% would bring Iran closer to making weapons-grade uranium.

The IAEA has requested further details.

According to the IAEA report, the Iranians told inspectors that the production of such particles "may happen for technical reasons beyond the operator's control".

Iran insists its nuclear work is purely peaceful, but Western countries fear it is seeking nuclear weapons, which require uranium enriched up to 90%. Read More

Laura Johnson Jailed for 2 Years, for Driving looters on 'crime spree'

A millionaire's daughter was jailed for two years today for driving looters on a late-night crime spree at the height of last summer's riots.

University-educated Laura Johnson, 20, chauffeured the group through London on August 8 in her black Smart car.

As they cruised around the capital, her passengers leapt from the car clad in hooded tops, bandanas and balaclavas to loot.

Today at Inner London Crown Court, the University of Exeter undergraduate, from Orpington, Kent, was jailed for two years for one count of burglary and two years for one of handling stolen goods, to run concurrently.

Johnson and accomplice Christopher Edwards, 17, were both convicted of burgling a Comet store at the Greenwich Retail Park and stealing electrical goods between August 7 and 10 as rioters brought chaos to the capital. Read More

4.4 Magnitude Earthquake NIAS REGION, INDONESIA - 25th May 2012

A magnitude 4.4 earthquake has struck the Nias Region, Indonesia at a depth of 54 km (33.4 miles), the quake hit at 14:57:56 UTC Friday 25th May 2012
The epicenter was 65 km (40.3 miles) North Gunung stoli, Indonesia
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

4.2 Magnitude Earthquake NORTHERN ITALY - 25th May 2012

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake has struck Northern Italy at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), the quake hit at 13:14:04 UTC Friday 25th May 2012
The epicenter was 43 km (26 miles) NNW of Bologna, Italy
No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

New oil sheen in Gulf of Mexico: The spills keep on comin'

4.5 Magnitude Earthquake GREENLAND SEA - 25th May 2012

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake has struck the Greenland Sea at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), the quake hit at 12:53:09 UTC Friday 25th May 2012
The epicenter was 1090 km (677 miles) Northwest from Murmansk, Russia
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

Polio may be returning as 'global' threat

Nazi Kindergarten Exposed in Latvia

Punished for supporting OWS? Police captain Ray Lewis talks to RT

'US backed off Libya-style regime change in Syria'

Maple Spring: 'Canada vs totalitarian govt crackdown'

Merkel moves Berlin to Russia

Lebanese hostages in Syria released: mediator

(Reuters) - Syrian rebels released on Friday Lebanese hostages kidnapped in northern Syria, an Islamist cleric who brokered their release said.

"Thanks to God their transfer is complete..they have been handed to the Turkish authorities," a statement from Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zoaby said. Source