| Hard News
Four Afghan police killed with 'insider' help:
Four Afghan policemen were killed and two wounded on Thursday in an insurgent attack assisted by an insider loyal to the Taliban, officials said.
Taliban seize 22 Pakistani paramilitary fighters:
At least 22 men were missing, two had been killed and one was injured after militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades and rifles launched the overnight attacks, said Naveed Akbar, a regional official whose remit covers the Levies, or tribal force, units.
Syria envoy calls for political change to end conflict:
The international envoy seeking a solution to Syria's 21-month-old conflict said on Thursday political change was needed to end the violence and called for a transitional government to rule until elections.
UN envoy, Russia call for revival of Syria plan:
The plan was a non-starter for the opposition because it did not explicitly ban authoritarian President Bashar Assad and other members of his regime from taking part in the transitional leadership.
Syria Coalition: No solution with Assad:
The statement categorically rejects any political solution brokered by Syria troubleshooter Lakhdar Brahimi that would keep President Bashar al-Assad in place until the end of his second term of office in 2014:
Turkey objects to transition with Assad:
Ankara believes that joint United Nations-Arab League envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi's US-Russian initiative for a transition in Syria with President Bashar al-Assad is not possible as the Syrian opposition rejects any compromise with the regime.
US preparing attack option in Syria, top minister implies:
Moshe Ya'alon says Washington would interfere to keep chemical weapons from falling into 'irresponsible hands,' hails Israeli cooperation with Jordan
Turkey confirms Syria's Assad asked Venezuela for asylum:
Venezuela's Foreign Ministry informed Turkish diplomats that claims that Assad sent a letter requesting asylum to the leader of the Latin American country, Hugo Chavez, are true.
Turkish Jets Pound PKK Bases in Northern Iraq:
Eight F-16 fighter jets took off from Diyarbakir Airbase around 11:45 p.m. local time (2145 GMT) on Wednesday. They bombed PKK camps and targets in the Qandil and Zap regions of northern Iraq, English-language daily Today's Zaman reported on Thursday
Erbil and Baghdad Reach Tentative Agreement on Troops Dispute:
Erbil and Baghdad have reached a tentative agreement to resolve a tense dispute over troop deployments in Iraq's northern disputed territories, Iraq's acting defense minister said on Wednesday.
Keeping secret Tony Blair's war crimes is blocking the Iraq Inquiry:
The Iraq Inquiry will not report before Autumn 2013, two years behind schedule, because the government won't release papers showing Tony Blair's Iraq war pact with George W Bush.
Iran: Nuclear agency can inspect Parchin if threats of Israeli attacks defused:
In remarks carried by Iranian news agency, Deputy FM Ghashghavi lays down condition for IAEA access to military site where nuclear activity is suspected; Iran has so far said it is not legally obliged to expose non nuclear site to international inspectors.
In case you missed it:
No concrete proof that Iran has or has had nuclear programme - UN atomic watchdog:
Refuting a recent media report, the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today reiterated that the body has no concrete proof that Iran has or has ever had a nuclear weapons programme.
Barghouti predicts he'll be president of Palestine, says right of return is 'sacred':
The former head of Yasser Arafat's Fatah Tanzim militia, consistently polls as the most popular West Bank Palestinian leader, the TV report quoted him as saying that he bitterly opposed Abbas's recent intimation of readiness to compromise on the right of return
Political discrimination in "democratic Israel":
Haneen Zoabi's disqualification from standing as a candidate in Israel's general election in January has failed to stir controversy within the Western world, keen as it is to ensure the portrayal of Israel as "the only democracy in the Middle East".
Bahrain, a Brutal Ally:
EARLIER this month, Aqeel Abdul Mohsen, 19, was shot in the face for protesting against Bahrain's government. He was covered in blood, with the lower side of his face blown open, his jaw shattered, and a broken hand hanging awkwardly from his wrist. It's one of those images that you wish you had never seen, and can never forget.
Libyan protesters shut down oil port:
"They want the government to provide them with jobs and believe they can put pressure on the government by stalling oil-related companies," he said.
Central African rebels advance on capital:
Leader of Central African Republic appeals for help securing city of Bangui, as UN pulls out non-essential staff.
Germany 'exporting' elderly to foreign retirement homes:
Growing numbers of elderly and sick Germans are being sent overseas for long-term care in retirement and rehabilitation centres because of rising costs and falling standards in Germany.
Americans Want Stricter Gun Laws, Still Oppose Bans:
Support for strengthening gun sale laws has surged 15 percentage points since 2011
Americans pose with guns they were given as gifts despite wake of deadly shootings:
Santa Claus came to town - and he was packing heat - as numerous Americans were seen on social networks posing in front of their Christmas trees with the same assault rifle used by the gunmen in three recent bloody killings.
Republicans Now 100 Percent AWOL From Fiscal Cliff Talks:
John Boehner gave up on fiscal cliff negotiations after he was unable to get House Republicans to agree to any proposal at all, even one that he himself had crafted. The fate of the Republic, he said, was now in the Senate's hands. So how is Mitch McConnell handling things?
New taxes for Americans coming in 2013:
A whole new slew of taxes are expected to be imposed starting January 1 to help pay for the health care plan, and that isn't sitting pretty with some high-income households, or even the medical industry.
US mayors' survey: Food insecurity, homelessness rising across the country:
This month, the United States Conference of Mayors' Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness released its yearly survey, which documented a sharp rise in the two social ills throughout the country.
===
"Let us be peace and joy"
Tom Feeley
| 
