Both House and Senate intelligence committees have voted to stop sending military aid to Syrian rebels by freezing the funding intended to ship arms, the Newser website reports today.
Sources say the decision was made last month, amid fears that the weapons would end up in the hands of Islamist militants.
Syrian rebels do not appear to have received any new U.S. arms, Reuters adds, and are confused by the suspension.
"If we are going to arm, we have to make sure we have control of what arms are out there and how people are trained to use those arms so they don't fall into the hands of our enemy al-Qaeda," says Dutch Ruppersberger, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Turkish Police Let Protesters Break Ramadan Fast; Resume Efforts to Remove Them from Gezi Park
Turkish police allowed thousands of protesters -- who have been trying to block the planned redevelopment of a park in Istanbul -- to break their Ramadan fast today (July 9, 2013), before resuming efforts to get them to leave the area, the Yahoo News website reports.
Last night, police fired teargas and water cannon at protesters as they tried to prevent them from gathering in Gezi Park, which has become the focal point of protests against Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's government.
Two leftist Muslim groups sympathetic to the protests -- the Revolutionary Muslims and Anti-Capitalist Muslims -- hosted fast-breaking iftar dinner in a nearby pedestrian street by the Gezi Park on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The local municipality also hosted a dinner in Taksim Square by the Gezi Park, and people marched in the park afterwards. The park had been sealed off for three weeks after police expelled the residents of a protest camp there.
Last night, police fired teargas and water cannon at protesters as they tried to prevent them from gathering in Gezi Park, which has become the focal point of protests against Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's government.
Two leftist Muslim groups sympathetic to the protests -- the Revolutionary Muslims and Anti-Capitalist Muslims -- hosted fast-breaking iftar dinner in a nearby pedestrian street by the Gezi Park on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The local municipality also hosted a dinner in Taksim Square by the Gezi Park, and people marched in the park afterwards. The park had been sealed off for three weeks after police expelled the residents of a protest camp there.
Former Yeshiva U. High Students File $380M Suit; Claim Administrators Covered Up Sexual Abuse
Nineteen former students of a Manhattan high school run by Yeshiva University (YU) have filed a $380 million lawsuit against YU, accusing administrators and teachers of covering up decades of physical and sexual abuse, the Forward (Jewish) website reports today (July 9, 2013).
The lawsuit -- filed July 8 in U.S. District Court in White Plains, New York -- alleges a "massive cover-up of the sexual abuse of high school students ... facilitated, for several decades, by various prominent YU and high school administrators, trustees, directors, and other faculty members."
The assaults are alleged to have taken place during the 1970s and 1980s. In New York, criminal and civil cases of child sexual abuse must be brought before a victim's 23rd birthday. However, Kevin Mulhearn -- a lawyer representing the victims -- argues in the suit that the statute of limitations does not apply because YU fraudulently covered up the abuse.
"I am proud to represent these 19 men. They are entitled to the respect, dignity, and justice which was denied to them when they were children," Mulhearn said. "We are looking forward to prosecuting these claims."
The lawsuit -- filed July 8 in U.S. District Court in White Plains, New York -- alleges a "massive cover-up of the sexual abuse of high school students ... facilitated, for several decades, by various prominent YU and high school administrators, trustees, directors, and other faculty members."
The assaults are alleged to have taken place during the 1970s and 1980s. In New York, criminal and civil cases of child sexual abuse must be brought before a victim's 23rd birthday. However, Kevin Mulhearn -- a lawyer representing the victims -- argues in the suit that the statute of limitations does not apply because YU fraudulently covered up the abuse.
"I am proud to represent these 19 men. They are entitled to the respect, dignity, and justice which was denied to them when they were children," Mulhearn said. "We are looking forward to prosecuting these claims."
Monday, July 8, 2013
Susan Sarandon Asserts She Is Not a "Feminist;" Women's Rights Activist Sees Term as Demeaning
Susan Sarandon -- who has worked diligently for women's rights during the past four decades -- told the British newspaper "The Guardian" in a recent interview that she would never call herself a "feminist," The Daily Beast website reports today (July 8, 2013).
"It's a bit of an old-fashioned word," the 66-year-old actress said, referring to herself as a "humanist" instead because that word is "less alienating to people who think of feminism as a load of strident bitches and because you want everyone to have equal pay, equal rights, education, and health care."
The feminist identity is used more "to minimize you," she said, adding that her 28-year-old daughter "doesn't even relate" to the term.
Most women now view feminism -- which reached its peak in the 1970s -- as being outdated in our society. In fact, many women now believe that feminism has become an ideology whose primary objective is to support lesbians and a lesbian lifestyle.
"It's a bit of an old-fashioned word," the 66-year-old actress said, referring to herself as a "humanist" instead because that word is "less alienating to people who think of feminism as a load of strident bitches and because you want everyone to have equal pay, equal rights, education, and health care."
The feminist identity is used more "to minimize you," she said, adding that her 28-year-old daughter "doesn't even relate" to the term.
Most women now view feminism -- which reached its peak in the 1970s -- as being outdated in our society. In fact, many women now believe that feminism has become an ideology whose primary objective is to support lesbians and a lesbian lifestyle.
Putin Gives Award to Richest Person in Russia; Alisher Usmanov Gave $150M to Charity in 2012
Billionaire Alisher Usmanov -- the richest person in all of Russia -- has received one of Russia's highest civil awards in recognition of his charitable and philanthropic activities, according to a presidential order published today (July 8, 2013), the RIA Novosti (Russian) website reports.
Usmanov -- whose fortune is estimated at $17.6 billion by Forbes Magazine -- was given the Order for Services to the Fatherland Fourth Class by President Vladimir Putin, in a decree issued July 5 by the Kremlin.
With about $150 million of charitable donations in 2012, Usmanov is the most philanthropic of all Russian businessmen, according to Forbes.
The money he donates is distributed through his companies and charitable funds, as well as through personal gifts.
Usmanov -- whose fortune is estimated at $17.6 billion by Forbes Magazine -- was given the Order for Services to the Fatherland Fourth Class by President Vladimir Putin, in a decree issued July 5 by the Kremlin.
With about $150 million of charitable donations in 2012, Usmanov is the most philanthropic of all Russian businessmen, according to Forbes.
The money he donates is distributed through his companies and charitable funds, as well as through personal gifts.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Coptic Christians Thankful for Morsi's Overthrow; Even Muslim Public Affairs Council Praises Ouster
Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Christians are thankful for the military's overthrow of radical Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, the Christian Broadcast Network website reports today (July 7, 2013).
Father Joseph Boules -- who pastors an Orthodox Coptic church in Anaheim, California -- said the uprising shows that Egyptians want religious freedom, not an Islamic nation.
Boules was 13 when he emigrated from Egypt with his family. He said he is praying for peace in the country of his birth.
Even a California-based Muslim group welcomed Morsi's removal from office. The Muslim Public Affairs Council said in a statement: "We rejoice and celebrate the victory of the Egyptian people against the exploitation of religion to suppress the masses and rob them of their God-given freedom and dignity."
Father Joseph Boules -- who pastors an Orthodox Coptic church in Anaheim, California -- said the uprising shows that Egyptians want religious freedom, not an Islamic nation.
Boules was 13 when he emigrated from Egypt with his family. He said he is praying for peace in the country of his birth.
Even a California-based Muslim group welcomed Morsi's removal from office. The Muslim Public Affairs Council said in a statement: "We rejoice and celebrate the victory of the Egyptian people against the exploitation of religion to suppress the masses and rob them of their God-given freedom and dignity."
Israeli Cabinet Passes Ultra-Orthodox Draft Law; Angers Ultra-Orthodox Men,Exempt Since 1948
Israel's cabinet approved a draft law today (July 7, 2013) to abolish wholesale exemptions from military duty granted to Jewish seminary students, stoking ultra-Orthodox anger over the break with tradition, according to the Reuters website.
Many Israelis have long bridled over state privileges handed to the conservative believers or "Haredim" -- a Hebrew term meaning "those who tremble before God."
Most Israeli men and women are called up for military service for up to three years when they turn 18, and often see active service in the occupied West Bank and other flashpoints.
But ultra-Orthodox men studying in seminaries, religious women, and Arab citizens of Israel have been exempted since the state of Israel was formed in 1948. Under the proposed law, only 1,800 of those students -- designated "outstanding biblical scholars" -- would get an exemption, out of the estimated 8,000 who become eligible for the draft every year.
Many Israelis have long bridled over state privileges handed to the conservative believers or "Haredim" -- a Hebrew term meaning "those who tremble before God."
Most Israeli men and women are called up for military service for up to three years when they turn 18, and often see active service in the occupied West Bank and other flashpoints.
But ultra-Orthodox men studying in seminaries, religious women, and Arab citizens of Israel have been exempted since the state of Israel was formed in 1948. Under the proposed law, only 1,800 of those students -- designated "outstanding biblical scholars" -- would get an exemption, out of the estimated 8,000 who become eligible for the draft every year.
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