Putin Relitigates His Midlife Crisis

Putin Relitigates His Midlife Crisis | » Fears for U.S.-Russia conflict rise 17/06/15 14:56 from CNN.com - World News Review

June 17, 2015

Hey, it's cooler than a tattoo or a sports car!

» Fears for U.S.-Russia conflict rise
17/06/15 14:56 from CNN.com
The war of words between America and Russia is escalating. So, too, is the movement of implements of war -- from U.S. fighter jets to Russian nuclear weapons.

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Putin Relitigates His Midlife Crisis
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:42 PM

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

For Vladimir Putin, 1989-91 must have really sucked.

He had to face down a crowd of angry anticommunist demonstrators outside KGB headquarters in Dresden after the Berlin Wall fell. He had to frantically burn intelligence files. And then he had to drive back to the Soviet Union and watch it implode as well.

And on top of it all, he was pushing 40.

It must have been the mother of all midlife crises. And now, Putin and his allies apparently want to use their control over Russia's political and law enforcement institutions to try and relitigate it all.

A series of moves by legislators, prosecutors, and top officials aim to reimagine and reinterpret the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union -- and in some cases act as if these things never really happened at all.

All of these moves are pretty bizarre. Most are just plain silly. And some are pretty menacing.

The Draft Dodgers Of Lithuania

Russia's attempts to prosecute Lithuanians who avoided serving in the Soviet military is all three at once.

After Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union in March 1990, but before the U.S.S.R. formally dissolved in December 1991, the republic's leaders called on draft-age men not to serve in the Red Army. Some 1,500 heeded the call and went into hiding. Dozens were jailed or forcefully drafted.

After the Soviet collapse, Moscow dropped the criminal charges against the men. But late last year, Russian prosecutors reopened them -- and, remarkably, asked Lithuanian law enforcement for assistance. The request, of course, was denied.

Bizarre? Yes. Silly? Check. But for these men, this is no joke.

A 45-year-old Lithuanian chauffeur was so spooked by it all that he only agreed to be interviewed by The Economist under the pseudonym Tomas.He told the British weekly that Lithuania's Defense Ministry called to warn him about Moscow's intentions -- and advised that he not travel outside of EU or NATO countries, lest he be extradited.

Smash The State Council

Another item from the bizarre, silly, and menacing department: Two lawmakers from the ruling United Russia party have asked the Prosecutor-General's Office to assess the legality of the U.S.S.R. State Council and its actions.

Wait. Assess the legality of what? And why?

Ok. Here's the thing. The U.S.S.R. State Council was established by Mikhail Gorbachev on September 5, 1991, following the failed hard-line coup against him the previous month. It existed for less than four months as the country's main governing authority, and basically midwifed the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December of that year.

One of the council's most significant decisions, made just two days after it was established, was recognizing the independence of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

And according to State Duma Deputies Yevgeny Federov and Anton Romanov, this led to the Soviet Union losing "strategically important territory and sea ports" as well as"causing enormous damage to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security, and defense of the country and caused the dismemberment of a unified state."

Given Russia's menacing moves toward the Baltics, this is ominous.

For the past year, we have witnessed bellicose rhetoric, provocative military exercises, menacing overflights, violations of sea- and airspace, border incursions, and at least one abduction.

And now we have a challenge to the very legality -- in Moscow's eyes at least -- of the Baltic states' independence.

The 'Annexation' Of East Germany

It is hard to consider speaker Sergei Naryshkin's call for the State Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee to condemn West Germany's "annexation" of East Germany in 1990 as menacing.

In fact, since it has no practical repercussions, it's hard to consider it anything other than just bizarre and silly.The idea originated with a proposal by Communist Party lawmaker Nikolai Ivanov, and in saner times it would have ended there as well.

But not only did Naryshkin take it seriously, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov actually amplified it -- in Germany! -- at this year's Munich Security Conference. Lavrov told the conference that unlike Crimea, "Germany was united without a referendum" -- drawing derisive laughter from the assembled dignitaries.

Head-scratch inducing to be sure. But it sort of makes sense when one considers the trauma Putin claims he experienced as East Germany overthrew its Moscow-backed communist rulers.

Maybe he should have just gotten himself a sports car.

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RAF Scrambled As Russians Stray Near NATO Drill
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:38 PM

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

RAF Typhoons have been scrambled three times in the last 24 hours to intercept Russian jets flying close to NATO military exercises in the Baltic.

The deployment of the combat aircraft, based in Estonia, came as Britain warned Moscow the NATO exercises were "not a game".

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, speaking to Sky News aboard HMS Ocean, also said the UK will "stand tall, shoulder-to-shoulder" with other alliance members to defend eastern Europe's borders.

The Royal Navy Flagship is taking part in an amphibious landing exercise on a beach in northern Poland, less than 100 miles from the Russian state of Kaliningrad.

Some 17 NATO militaries including 5,600 troops and 49 vessels were involved.

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Tanks and armoured vehicles
Gallery: Russia Displays Military Might

A Russian TOS-1A multiple rocket launcher fires during the opening of the Army-2015 international military forum in Kubinka, outside Moscow, Russia
A rocket explodes on target
Flares are seen as Russian Mi-28 military helicopters fly during the opening of the forum
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu as they arrive
Tanks and armoured vehicles
Gallery: Russia Displays Military Might

A Russian TOS-1A multiple rocket launcher fires during the opening of the Army-2015 international military forum in Kubinka, outside Moscow, Russia

It was intended to demonstrate solidarity with Eastern Europe in the face of a Russian threat.

But the exercises have been criticised by Moscow, which accused NATO of reviving the ghost of the Cold War by coming so close to its borders.

East-West tensions remain high over the continuing crisis in Ukraine, where Russia-backed separatist rebels seized land in the east after Moscow annexed Crimea from Kiev in early 2014.

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And these have increased over Russia's decision to beef up its nuclear arsenal in response to plans by Washington to base heavy military hardware in eastern Europe.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "It's not Russia that's approaching someone's borders. It's NATO's military infrastructure that is approaching the borders of Russia.

"All this...forces Russia to take measures to safeguard its own interests, its own security."

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Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "sabre rattling" after he said Moscow would increase its stockpile of nuclear missiles.

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FBI Arrests Man in Connection With Alleged ISIS Sympathizer
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:37 PM

ABC News: U.S.

The FBI has arrested a man on Staten Island who was the subject of a counter-terrorism investigation.

The agents were conducting a search that was related to the alleged ISIS sympathizer from Queens, New York, who had been arrested on Saturday, authorities said.

The man, identified as 21-year-old Fareed Mumuni, came at the agents with a kitchen knife, authorities said. Mumuni was taken into custody without incident and there were no injuries. The man, as yet unidentified, will appear in federal court in Brooklyn later today.

The FBI said Mumuni “made efforts to participate in or support a terrorist attack in the New York metropolitan area or elsewhere” on behalf of ISIS. Court records say he conspired with Munther Saleh, who was arrested Saturday.

ABC News reported today that the FBI is in the midst of a broad campaign to disrupt potential terrorists inspired by ISIS, with several arrests expected before July 4th.

Hundreds of investigations are underway in all 50 states. Many involve suspected ISIS supporters, authorities said.

Get real-time updates as this story unfolds. To start, just "star" this story in ABC News' phone app. Download ABC News for iPhone here or ABC News for Android here.

NY Prison Escape: Police Have No 'Concrete Leads’ That Inmates Fled Far
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:36 PM

ABC News: U.S.

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Police say there are no "concrete leads" suggesting that two escaped inmates have left the area of a New York prison, though officials have decided to expand the search area, they announced at a news conference today.

"There is no hard evidence that they are outside the area," one investigator said today. "That being said, we cannot rule that out."

Today marks the 12th day since convicted murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat escaped fromClinton Correctional Facility in upstate New York via a steam pipe.

District Attorney Andrew Wylie today confirmed that Joyce Mitchell, a female employee who worked at the prison's tailor, told investigators she had discussed an alleged plot with the prisoners about killing her husband.

"The information that we have from Joyce Mitchell was that that occurred," Wylie said.

Mitchell has been moved to a prison in Albany after pleading not guilty last week to a felony count of promoting prison contraband and a misdemeanor count of criminal facilitation.

One law enforcement officer said today she is under direct supervision at the facility, where she is "rather composed," given the situation.

"The term 'suicide watch' has not been used in this facility," he said.

A host of law enforcement officials from the various agencies involved in the search gave updates in Dannemora, New York, today but did not have any specific details about leads that have panned out. In all, they've fielded more than 1,400 tips throughout the search.

"They came up with a very elaborate and creative plan to escape from one of the most secure facilities in New York, if not the United States," another official said.

Get real-time updates as this story unfolds. To start, just "star" this story in ABC News' phone app. Download ABC News for iPhone here or ABC News for Android here.

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Russia, Germany call for swift end to fighting in east Ukraine: Moscow
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:35 PM

MOSCOW/KIEV The foreign ministers of Russia and Germany spoke on Wednesday and agreed on the importance of ending fighting in eastern Ukraine immediately, Russia's foreign ministry said.

A four-month-old ceasefire brokered by Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France in Minsk has stemmed large-scale fighting but deadly skirmishes still occur almost daily, threatening the possibility of a bigger flare-up.

In their telephone call, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, "stressed the importance of an immediate cessation of hostilities in east Ukraine and especially the shelling of villages and civilian infrastructure," Moscow said in a statement.

The Ukrainian military says pro-Russian rebels have increased their attacks along a large stretch of the frontline, killing at least 10 servicemen in the past week.

Military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said violence had lessened in the past 24 hours, but accused rebels of using weapons that were meant to have been withdrawn under the Minsk agreement.

"The situation in the conflict zone has stabilized somewhat. The number of attack has fallen, but the enemy has not stopped using heavy weapons: artillery and tanks," he said in a briefing.

Separatist commander Eduard Basurin said two rebel fighters had been wounded by shelling from the Ukrainian side, separatist press service DAN reported.

The French foreign ministry said a ministerial meeting between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany would be held in Paris on June 23.

"They will assess the implementation of the measures agreed in Minsk on Feb. 12," foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said.

On Wednesday, envoys of Ukraine, Russia, the separatists and security watchdog OSCE gathered in Minsk for one of their regular meetings on the progress of the ceasefire.

Rebel representative Denis Pushilin expressed disappointment at the lack of headway in securing real peace and said deep divisions remained in negotiations between Ukraine and the separatists.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper and Pavel Polityuk; Additional reporting by John Irish in Paris; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

FBI arrests man in New York as part of terrorism probe
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:33 PM

By Nate Raymond and Joseph Ax

NEW YORK (Reuters) - FBI agents in New York on Wednesday arrested a man in the borough of Staten Island as part of a larger terrorism-related investigation, an FBI spokeswoman said.

The arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigation came a day after U.S. officials accused a New York college student of plotting to set off a pressure-cooker bomb in support of the Islamic State militant group.

The spokeswoman, Kelly Langmesser, declined to identify the man arrested on Wednesday or comment on media reports that he became violent. She said no serious injuries were reported in the incident.

Munther Omar Saleh, 20, was arrested last Saturday after he and another man got out of their car and ran toward a surveillance vehicle that had been tracking their movements, according to a complaint filed in federal court in Brooklyn.

The other man, who was also arrested, was not named in the court documents.

The New York Daily News reported the arrest on Wednesday was connected to the case. The complaint filed against Saleh had mentioned a third unnamed co-conspirator.

According to the complaint, Saleh, a resident of the borough of Queens, spent hours online researching how to build a pressure-cooker bomb and reading accounts of the deadly 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.

In online postings, Saleh expressed support for the Islamic State and at one point posted on Twitter, "I fear AQ could be getting too moderate," according to the complaint, in an apparent reference to the militant group Al Qaeda.

A police officer observed Saleh on successive days in March on foot at the George Washington Bridge, which connects New Jersey and New York, seemingly looking around, the complaint said.

The behavior prompted members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York to interview Saleh, who denied sympathizing with Islamic State and granted them permission to examine his computer, which contained Islamic State propaganda, the complaint said.

Saleh is studying at a college that specializes in aeronautics, according to the court papers.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Brooklyn, which is prosecuting the case, declined to comment.

(Additional reporting by Suzannah Gonzales in Chicago; Editing by Scott Malone and Jeffrey Benkoe)

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U.S. passport-visa system not expected to be on-line before next week - State Dept.
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:32 PM

Witnesses: Man Begged for Help Before Dying in Burning Bus
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:30 PM

ABC News: U.S.

Witnesses say a central California man trapped in a burning bus where he lived was pounding on a window and begging for help before he died in the flames.

Authorities confirmed the account Tuesday to Fresno news station KFSN-TV ( http://abc30.tv/1fhnxby). Firefighters say they're investigating what sparked the fire at the front of the bus that killed Feliciano Franco. They say he wasn't able to climb out a window.

Local residents say Franco was in his 40s and homeless and that the Eastside Church of God had let him live in the bus parked next to the church building.

Fresno Deputy Fire Marshal Don MacAlpine says Franco had been talking with church members shortly before the fire.

Investigators say they're looking at surveillance video to help determine what ignited the flames.

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U.S.-Russia military tango raises fears of conflict
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:24 PM

Story highlights

A bigger fear than war is the possibility of accidental confrontations when you have powerful military forces lined up so close to each other.
U.S. officials and observers point to the uprising in Ukraine as the start of the uptick in Moscow's confrontational behavior.

Washington (CNN)The war of words between America and Russia is escalating. So, too, is the movement of implements of war -- from U.S. fighter jets to Russian nuclear weapons.

So is an actual war imminent?

No one in Russia, NATO or the United States has gone that far yet. Still, the rhetoric and actions from both sides have definitely ratcheted up in recent days, raising concerns of a new arms race -- if not worse -- amid tensions both sides blame on each other.

The major players all claim their movements are defensive and necessary responses to their foe's provocation. None has talked of an invasion.

Putin to add 40 ballistic missiles to nuclear arsenal

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READ: Air Force may send F-22s to Europe over Russia 'threat'

Still, that's not what some experts are worried about. They say a bigger fear is what things can happen, accidentally, when you have increasingly powerful military forces lined up so close to each other.

Part of it has to do with the unpredictable nature of other actors, like Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine who may broaden their own conflicts by inadvertently or purposefully striking others. The biggest such example may be the 2014 shooting down of a Malaysia Airlines commercial plane over Ukraine by rebels.

Then there's the danger that something goes wrong as powerful militaries become more aggressive, as when a Russian fighter jet recently came within 10 feet of a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea.

"Given the tempo of Russian military operations over the last year," said Steven Pifer of the Washington-based Brookings Institution think tank and a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, "you have more interactions, more possibilities for things to go wrong."

Military tit for tat

There's no doubt that the military tit-for-tat has picked up this week.

The U.S. Navy is among those participating in a NATO landing exercise in Sweden. Around the same time, U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James announced that it could be sending some of its most advanced warplanes to Europe in a show of force.

Already, the Pentagon has rotated B-2 and B-52 bombers, F-15Cs and A-10 attack planes as well as Army and Navy assets through Europe for exercises with allies under what's called Operation Atlantic Resolve. James said the F-22 Raptor, the Pentagon's premier fighter, could soon join them.

This is all in addition to previous U.S. military actions in support of Ukraine and several Baltic countries, some of whom fear Russian President Putin -- either directly or indirectly -- will come after them next.

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An armed MiG-31 Foxhound photographed from below by a Norwegian Royal Air Force interceptor.

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A Russian Il-78 tanker refuels a Tu-95 Bear bomber in a photograph taken by a Norwegian warplane.

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Two Russian Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bombers, nicknamed the Fullback by NATO, as photographed by Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet fighters.

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Finnish fighter jets photographed this Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber.

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Two Tupolev Tu-22M aircraft intercepted by Finnish fighter planes.

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A Russian Tupolev Tu-95 Bear bomber intercepted by Finnish fighter planes.

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A Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber is escorted by a British Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter during an intercept in September 2014. Click through the gallery to see other intercepts in late 2014.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in November that alliance fighters had <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/21/world/europe/nato-russia-intercepts/index.html">intercepted Russian warplanes as they flew close to NATO countries more than 400 times</a> in 2014, the kind of Russian air activity not seen since the Cold War.

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An armed MiG-31 intercepted by Norwegian planes. The plane is nicknamed the Foxhound by NATO.

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An armed Tu-22M supersonic bomber, nicknamed the Backfire by NATO, was photographed by Norwegian fighter jets.

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A look at a Russian Tu-22M from below as taken by a Norwegian Royal Air Force fighter plane.

12 photos

A Su-24 attack aircraft, nicknamed the Fencer by NATO, was photographed by a Norwegian warplane.

12 photos

An armed MiG-31 Foxhound photographed from below by a Norwegian Royal Air Force interceptor.

12 photos

A Russian Il-78 tanker refuels a Tu-95 Bear bomber in a photograph taken by a Norwegian warplane.

12 photos

Two Russian Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bombers, nicknamed the Fullback by NATO, as photographed by Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet fighters.

12 photos

Finnish fighter jets photographed this Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber.

12 photos

Two Tupolev Tu-22M aircraft intercepted by Finnish fighter planes.

12 photos

A Russian Tupolev Tu-95 Bear bomber intercepted by Finnish fighter planes.

12 photos

A Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber is escorted by a British Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter during an intercept in September 2014. Click through the gallery to see other intercepts in late 2014.

12 photos

An armed MiG-31 intercepted by Norwegian planes. The plane is nicknamed the Foxhound by NATO.

12 photos

An armed Tu-22M supersonic bomber, nicknamed the Backfire by NATO, was photographed by Norwegian fighter jets.

12 photos

A look at a Russian Tu-22M from below as taken by a Norwegian Royal Air Force fighter plane.

12 photos

A Su-24 attack aircraft, nicknamed the Fencer by NATO, was photographed by a Norwegian warplane.

In reaction, Russia's foreign ministry on Monday accused NATO countries of "sliding into a new military confrontation with destructive consequences."

That's not to say Moscow hasn't taken military action of its alone -- most conspicuously with its aircraft.

NATO announced late last year that it intercepted more than 400 Russian military planes in 2014 alone -- a 50% increase from the previous year.

Then there was the Russian jet that in May came within 10 feet of an American military plane in international airspace above the Black Sea.

"You don't have to fly 5 feet above a ship to do intelligence-gathering," Jorge Benitez, a NATO expert at the Atlantic Council, said. "(Putin) is trying to use these threats to push back on the West and say, 'I'm willing to do these things to get you out of my sphere of influence.'"

NATO decries 'nuclear saber-rattling'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has given little impression he'll back down.

"If someone threatens our territories, it means that we will have to aim our armed forces" toward the threat, he said Tuesday, according to state-run Sputnik news. "It is NATO that is coming to our borders, it's not like we are moving anywhere."

READ: U.S., Russian aircraft came within 10 feet over Black Sea

Putin upped the ante beyond provocative aerial maneuvers that same day, as he announced that he is buttressing his country's nuclear arsenal with an additional 40 intercontinental ballistic missiles.

In response, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg criticized this "new nuclear capabilities and (increased use of) nuclear rhetoric," and warned, "The nuclear saber-rattling of Russia is unjustified, it's destabilizing and it's dangerous."

James, the U.S. Air Force's top civilian leader, called Russian activity in Europe the "biggest threat on my mind" when she noted that the U.S. is considering sending its top F-22 fighter jets to the region.

Russian officials, though, say they're the ones being threatened. That includes reports that the United States might deploy tanks and artillery to bases in Eastern Europe, a prospective move Russian Defense Minister Yuri Yakubov called "the most aggressive step by the Pentagon and NATO since the Cold War."

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter will announce that decision next week, sources told CNN.

Ukraine tension stirs rivalry

U.S. officials and observers point to the uprising in Ukraine as the start of the uptick in Moscow's confrontational behavior, which intensified amidst Western condemnation and pressure in the wake of Russia's seizure of Crimea.

President Barack Obama has looked to bolster Ukrainian military efforts through non-lethal aid and training, as well as give political support to Kiev and place pressure on the Russians through a bludgeon of sanctions coordinated with EU partners.

Obama has thus far resisted sending lethal aid to Ukraine -- an ally, but not a member of the NATO alliance.

U.S. and European leaders are already considering an additional round of sanctions they would impose on Moscow if it makes further military moves in Ukraine.

U.S. officials are particularly concerned by large-scale Russian military exercises near Ukraine set to take place this summer -- just the latest in a series of exercises that have come either close to the Ukrainian border or simulated military strikes, including nuclear strikes, on Europe.

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The F-22 Raptor is the Air Force's most-advanced aircraft. The Raptor's sophisticated aero design, advanced flight controls, thrust vectoring, and high thrust-to-weight ratio provide the capability to outmaneuver all current and projected aircraft.

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B-2 stealth bombers have been sent to bases in England as part of U.S. military exercises in Europe.

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Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers have been participating in exercises near the Baltics.

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The military has been sending A-10 "tankbuster" jets to air bases of allied countries in Europe.

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F-15C Eagle jets can provide air-to-air and air-to-ground combat capabilities.

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An Air Force RC-135U had a close encounter with a Russian warplane earlier this year.

EXPAND GALLERY

Western officials believe that they need to respond in kind -- and that's come in the form of increased NATO military exercises with Baltic allies like Estonia and the latest American plans to send artillery to bases in the region.

"We want to make sure that NATO allies are defending their territory on a 24/7 basis and we'll continue to support them and exercise vigilance in that regard," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Monday about increased U.S. military engagement in the region.

And while the U.S. looks to reassure Eastern European allies with these efforts, Russia's provocations continually unsettle those same countries, said Paul Stronski, who served as director for Russian policy issues on the National Security Council from 2012 to 2014.

"When the West talks about upping its presence in the region, this is their response," he said.

Nearly every American and European attempt at deterring Putin has instead triggered an opposite reaction: more military exercises, more provocative behavior and a persistent refusal to back down in the face of Western demands.

"I think we're going to be seeing more and more of this," said Benitez, who is not alone in arguing that the Obama administration is not doing enough to beat back Russian aggression. Republicans in Congress and others in Washington are calling for Obama to green light lethal aid to the Ukrainians.

Stronski, however, called for caution.

"It's time that people start to show some political restraint to rein this in on both sides," he said.

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Top U.S. Officials Consider Bigger American Role in Iraq
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:24 PM

WASHINGTON—The nation’s top defense officials left open the possibility Wednesday that the U.S. military may play a more active role in the fight against Islamic State extremists, by joining Iraqi forces on the front lines to help direct airstrikes.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told lawmakers that they might support the higher-risk role for U.S. troops in Iraq, a move that has been under discussion but that President Barack Obama has so far refused to embrace.

Gen. Dempsey said he sees value in helping Iraqi forces when they go on the offensive to retake key targets, including oil refineries and major cities, including Mosul, which Islamic State forces have controlled for more than a year.

But Mr. Carter and Gen. Dempsey repeatedly told lawmakers that it would be a mistake for the U.S. to send thousands more American troops to replace faltering Iraqi forces in the fight.

“Putting U.S. forces on the ground as a substitute for local forces will not produce enduring results,” Mr. Carter told the House Armed Services Committee.

Gen. Dempsey, the top U.S. commander, has long resisted a large American military role in Iraq and on Wednesday reiterated that American troops can’t serve as morale boosters for Iraqi forces. But he suggested the time may be coming for U.S. troops to take a more hands-on role in directing the fight against Islamic State, known also as ISIS or ISIL.

“I would not recommend that we put U.S. forces in harm’s way simply to stiffen the spine of local forces,” he said in the hearing. “If their spine is not stiffened by the threat of ISIL and their way of life, nothing we do is going to stiffen their spine.”

But Gen. Dempsey said he was open to using U.S. forces to militarily aid Iraqi forces “when they go on the offensive and there is a strategic target and we want to make sure they succeed.”

That view was echoed by Mr. Carter, who said the first step is for the Iraqi government to rebuild its military so that it can take on the fight.

Assigning U.S. forces to targeting duty would signal a shift in military tactics and put Americans at greater risk of being drawn into direct firefights with Islamic State militants. Mr. Obama and key administration officials have sought to minimize the U.S. military role in Iraq after pulling the last combat troops out in 2011, part of the president’s campaign pledge.

Gen. Dempsey and Mr. Carter both expressed frustrations on Wednesday with Iraqi leaders for the slow pace of training Iraqi soldiers. While the U.S. had hoped to train 24,000 Iraqi troops by this fall, the program has only been able to train 7,000, Mr. Carter said.

To address the sluggish training program, Mr. Obama approved a new plan last week to send 450 more U.S. troops to Iraq to set up a new training base in an Islamic State stronghold near Baghdad. That decision followed the surprise collapse of Iraqi forces defending Ramadi, the capital of Anbar Province, which was seized by Islamic State fighters last month.

“What we saw in Ramadi last month was deeply disappointing and illustrated the importance of a capable and motivated Iraqi ground force,” said Mr. Carter, who conceded that the president’s strategy needed to be refined.

“In our meetings at both the Pentagon and the White House, we determined that while we had the right strategic framework, execution of the campaign can and should be strengthened, especially on the ground,” he said.

As part of that effort, American troops hope to train thousands of Sunni fighters to help push Islamic State forces out of Ramadi. U.S. advisers will help Iraqi officers plan the counteroffensive in Anbar Province, and the U.S. is looking at setting up more bases across Iraq.

At present, the U.S. has about 3,100 troops in Iraq, primarily advising Iraqi officers at secure bases, helping coordinate airstrikes, and training Iraqi troops.

The comments by Mr. Carter and Gen. Dempsey came during a lengthy hearing in Congress, where lawmakers from both parties expressed concern about the U.S. strategy against Islamic State.

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Greece's future in EU in doubt if talks fail, central bank warns

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» Blasts hit mosques in Yemeni capital
17/06/15 14:55 from BBC News - World
Several mosques have been hit by a series of explosions in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, causing dozens of casualties, officials say.

» Uber driver is employee, not contractor: California Labor Commission
17/06/15 14:55 from Reuters: Top News
(Reuters) - A San Francisco-based driver for smartphone-based ride-hailing service Uber is an employee, not a contractor, according to a ruling by the California Labor Commission.

» Yemen mosques, Houthi HQ hit by car bombs, dozens killed and hurt
17/06/15 14:54 from Reuters: Top News
SANAA (Reuters) - Car bombs hit three mosques and the political headquarters of Yemen's dominant Houthi group on Wednesday, killing and wounding around 50 people, security officials said.

» Top U.S. Officials Consider Bigger American Role in Iraq
17/06/15 14:50 from WSJ.com: World News
Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, tell lawmakers the U.S. troops could join Iraqi forces on the front lines to help direct airstrikes against Islamic State extremists

» Presidential candidates lean on well-funded outside groups
17/06/15 14:50 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican Jeb Bush and Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton are asking donors to write the checks to get their campaigns started. Yet these "new" candidates have been fueling their presidential ambitions for months - years...

» Former NAACP official Dolezal violated ethics rules - Spokane lawmaker
17/06/15 14:49 from Reuters: Top News
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Former Washington state NAACP leader Rachel Dolezal, who has drawn national attention after being accused of lying about her racial background, violated ethics rules while serving on a police oversight commission, the...

» Stalemate Looms as Hong Kong Weighs Beijing Vote Plan
17/06/15 14:46 from WSJ.com: World News
If Hong Kong blocks China’s proposal, the city will be left without a one-person, one-vote election process, and Beijing will have failed to sell what it billed as the most democratic system the territory has ever seen.

» House vote on fast track trade bill possible Thursday - McCarthy
17/06/15 14:45 from Reuters: Top News
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives might try on Thursday to pass legislation granting President Barack Obama "fast track" trade negotiating authority, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy told Reuters on Wednesday.

» Embattled Asian Soccer Official Resigns
17/06/15 14:45 from WSJ.com: World News
One of Asia’s top soccer officials resigned, while Swiss authorities probing soccer’s global governing body said they may question FIFA President Sepp Blatter.

» Fed says U.S. economy still strong enough to handle rate hike
17/06/15 14:44 from Reuters: Top News
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy is growing moderately after a winter swoon and likely strong enough to support an interest rate increase by the end of the year, U.S. Federal Reserve officials indicated on Wednesday.

» European Central Bank Faces Tough Choice on Greece
17/06/15 14:43 from WSJ.com: World News
As Greece moves closer to default, the ECB must decide whether to strictly apply its lending rules and risk making matters worse, or keep money flowing to Greek banks and damage its own credibility.

» Authorities try to pinpoint cause of deadly balcony collapse
17/06/15 14:42 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) -- Victims' loved ones made their way toward Berkeley from Ireland as investigators Wednesday tried to pinpoint the cause of a balcony collapse that left six people dead and seven seriously injured....

» California pokes big hole in Uber's business model
17/06/15 14:41 from Yahoo! News - Latest News & Headlines
A San Francisco-based driver for smartphone-based ride-hailing service Uber is an employee, not a contractor, according to a ruling by the California Labor Commission. The ruling, filed on Tuesday in state court in San Francisco, was the...

» Suspect behind attack on Jewish restaurant in Paris arrested in Jordan
17/06/15 14:41 from Deutsche Welle: DW-WORLD.DE - Europe
A man suspected of masterminding an attack on a restaurant in Paris' largely Jewish quarter in 1982 has been arrested in Jordan. The Paris prosecutor's office has requested he be extradited to stand trial in France.

» Source: Husband unaware of prison tailor's affair with killer
17/06/15 14:39 from CNN.com
Photos: Governor sees how they did it | The search for the killers

» Greece's future in EU in doubt if talks fail, central bank warns
17/06/15 14:39 from Reuters: Top News
ATHENS (Reuters) - The Greek central bank warned on Wednesday that the country risked a painful exit from the euro and ultimately even the European Union if Athens and its creditors do not strike a swift aid-for-reforms deal.

» Prosecutor: Prison worker discussed murder-for-hire with inmates
17/06/15 14:38 from Yahoo! News - Latest News & Headlines
The employee charged with helping two convicted murderers escape from a maximum-security facility had discussed with them a murder-for-hire plot involving her husband, a district attorney confirmed Wednesday.

» Prosecutor: Worker discussed murder-for-hire with inmates
17/06/15 14:38 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (AP) -- A prison worker charged with helping two convicted murderers escape from a maximum-security facility had discussed with them a murder-for-hire plot involving her husband, a district attorney confirmed Wednesday....

» Escaped zoo tiger kills man
17/06/15 14:38 from CNN.com

» Yemen crisis: As talks in Geneva remain stalled and with the prospect of peace increasingly remote, time is running out for the war-torn nation
17/06/15 14:38 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
Abdel-Aziz Jubari’s home was no more. After the exiled Yemeni politician spent an evening in Geneva discussing “rules” for stalled peace talks, the Houthis made their demonstration of intent. The Shia rebels who have thrown Yemen into ch...

» Police: Family hears from missing Britons feared to be in Syria
17/06/15 14:37 from World: World News, International News, Foreign Reporting - The Washington Post
LONDON — One of three British sisters feared to have traveled to Islamic State-controlled territory has made contact with her family back home, police said Wednesday.Britons have been gripped by the story of the Dawood sisters — Sugra, 3...

» Oklahoma Man Accused in Kenya Child Sex Abuse Case Testifies
17/06/15 14:36 from ABC News: ABCNews
Oklahoma man accused in Kenya child sex abuse case says he would never harm a child

» Witnesses: Man Begged for Help Before Dying in Burning Bus
17/06/15 14:36 from ABC News: ABCNews
Witnesses: California man trapped in burning bus he called home begged for help before he died

» Kansas Gov. Brownback's Office: Federal Prosecutors Finish Probe Into Loans, Bring No Charges
17/06/15 14:36 from ABC News: ABCNews
Kansas Gov. Brownback's office: Federal prosecutors finish probe into loans, bring no charges

» Uber drivers are employees, not contractors, California agency ruled in possible landmark decision
17/06/15 14:34 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
California has ruled that Uber drivers should be classified as employees instead of independent contractors in what could be a landmark case for the transportation company and other so-called on-demand companies.

» Comparing the US Federal Reserve's Views on Economy, Hiring
17/06/15 14:34 from ABC News: ABCNews
A look at how the US Fed's views on economy, hiring have gotten more optimistic

» Only Hillary Trumps Donald in Facebook Social Conversation on Declaration Day - ABC News
17/06/15 14:34 from Google News - Top Stories
ABC News Only Hillary Trumps Donald in Facebook Social Conversation on Declaration Day ABC News In the hours surrounding his announcement for president, real estate mogul Donald Trump generated more social conversation on Facebook than a...

» France to create 11,000 new housing spots for refugees
17/06/15 14:34 from Deutsche Welle: DW-WORLD.DE - Europe
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has announced a plan to create thousands of new shelter spots for the huge influx of migrants to EU shores. Cazeneuve said it was a matter of "humanity and solidarity."

» Top Mexican official blasts Donald Trump’s ‘absurd’ comments on
17/06/15 14:34 from - The Washington Post
Top Mexican official blasts Donald Trump’s ‘absurd’ comments on migrants Air Force struggles to keep pace with explosion in the use of combat drones An Italian minister plots sweet revenge against the French with a delicious Nutella dinn...

» Libyan Colonel Confident Of Victory Over IS
17/06/15 14:33 from Sky News | World News | First For Breaking News
Colonel Ali El-Mahdi tells Sky's Alex Crawford he is confident of clearing Islamic State militants from Benghazi in eight weeks.

» Cops: Would-Be Good Samaritan Helps, Then Makes Things Worse
17/06/15 14:32 from ABC News: ABCNews
Police: Would-be good Samaritan helps, then makes things worse for man trapped by lawn mower

» June 17, 2015
17/06/15 14:32 from Voice of America
A look at the best news photos from around the world.

» No Joke: Emerson College in Boston to Offer Major in Comedy
17/06/15 14:30 from ABC News: ABCNews
Boston's Emerson College says it will become the 1st school to offer 4-year degree in comedy

» U.S. passport-visa system not expected to be on-line before next week - State Dept.
17/06/15 14:30 from Reuters: Top News
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department does not expect to resolve a technical problem affecting passports and travel visas before next week, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

» How 'The Wolfpack' Changed After Years Locked in Apartment
17/06/15 14:29 from ABC News: ABCNews
Until five years ago, the six Angulo brothers were rarely let outside.

» Souhaur Al-Abbassi arrested: Man suspected of masterminding deadly 1982 attack on Jewish restaurant in Paris is detained in Jordan
17/06/15 14:27 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
The suspected mastermind behind the murders of six people in a restaurant in Paris’ Jewish quarter more than 30 years ago has been arrested in Jordan, French officials have revealed.

» Federal Reserve keeps rates on hold
17/06/15 14:27 from BBC News - World
The US central bank , the Federal Reserve, has kept its main interest rate at 0%, where it has been since the 2008 financial crisis.

» FBI arrests man in New York as part of terrorism probe
17/06/15 14:26 from Yahoo! News - Latest News & Headlines
FBI agents in New York on Wednesday arrested a man in the borough of Staten Island as part of a larger terrorism-related investigation, an FBI spokeswoman said. The arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigation came a day after U.S. offi...

» Hillary Trumps Donald in Facebook Social Conversation on Declaration Day
17/06/15 14:25 from ABC News: ABCNews
See where all declared candidates fall when measured by social conversation.

» Rhode Island Toddler Dies of Suspected Bacterial Infection
17/06/15 14:25 from ABC News: ABCNews
Rhode Island toddler dies of suspected bacterial infection; 13 kids from day care are treated

» Greece 'headed for painful euro exit'
17/06/15 14:25 from BBC News - World
Greece's central bank warns for the first time that the country could be on a "painful course" to default and exit from the eurozone and the EU.

» AT&T Hit With $100M Fine for 'Unlimited' Data Plans
17/06/15 14:24 from ABC News: ABCNews
AT&T fined $100M for selling 'unlimited' data, then slowing Internet speed to manage network

» AT&T hit with $100M fine for 'unlimited' data plans
17/06/15 14:24 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- AT&T Mobility LLC has been slapped with a record $100 million fine for offering consumers "unlimited" data, but then slowing their Internet speeds after they reached a certain amount....

» What will happen to prison tailor?
17/06/15 14:24 from CNN.com

» Great mystery of the 1970s
17/06/15 14:24 from CNN.com
The CNN documentary series "The Seventies" is a wonderful exercise in putting a tumultuous decade in perspective. This June 17 marks the 43rd anniversary of the Watergate break-in.

» John Dean: Mother of all scandals
17/06/15 14:24 from CNN.com
Watergate was a complex and difficult story to cover from the start, first for journalists and then historians, but it is understandably considered the mother of all modern political scandals.

» Huntsman, Lieberman: A plan for 45th President
17/06/15 14:24 from CNN.com
This week began with Flag Day, a day that is supposed to commemorate our national unity and strength.

» Dolezal has a right to be black
17/06/15 14:24 from CNN.com

» Russia, Germany call for swift end to fighting in east Ukraine: Moscow
17/06/15 14:22 from Reuters: International
MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) - The foreign ministers of Russia and Germany spoke on Wednesday and agreed on the importance of ending fighting in eastern Ukraine immediately, Russia's foreign ministry said.

» Sediment from human activity increases disease levels in the Great Barrier Reef's fish, new study finds
17/06/15 14:21 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
Fish in the Great Barrier Reef are suffering from an increased rate of disease due to sediment thrown up by human activity, an Australian university study has found.

» Study Shows Drop in Immigration to Chicago
17/06/15 14:21 from Voice of America
As the population in large cities changes, growth depends in part on legal international immigration. But in the Midwest city of Chicago, a decline in the number of immigrants over the last decade illustrates one reason the nation’s thir...

» Service Set for Students Killed, Hurt in Balcony Collapse - ABC News
17/06/15 14:20 from Google News - World
Channel 4 News Service Set for Students Killed, Hurt in Balcony Collapse ABC News 11:10 a.m. (PDT). The Diocese of Oakland plans a service on behalf of the students injured and killed when a balcony broke from a wall in the college town ...

» Scientists Plan Risky Move to Get Rosetta Spacecraft Nearer Comet
17/06/15 14:20 from Voice of America
European scientists are planning a risky maneuver to get their Rosetta spacecraft closer to the comet it is orbiting, so it can communicate with its robotic lander on the surface and start experiments that could unlock some of the univer...

» Lifeguards using drone to spot sharks in water
17/06/15 14:18 from Latest News
Joe Bailey explains

» Former NAACP leader Dolezal found to have violated ethics rules - Spokane lawmaker
17/06/15 14:18 from Reuters: Top News
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Former Washington state NAACP leader Rachel Dolezal, accused of lying about her racial background, has been found to have violated ethics rules while serving on a police oversight commission, the Spokane city council ...

» AP Top News at 2:10 p.m. EDT
17/06/15 14:18 from TheUnion local.com | TheUnion.com
AP Top News at 2:10 p.m. EDT Prosecutor: Worker discussed murder-for-hire with inmates PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (AP) - A prison worker charged with helping two convicted murderers escape from a maximum-security facility had discussed with them ...

» Study: Immigration to Chicago Drops
17/06/15 14:17 from Voice of America
For several years, human resources director Pete Tapaskar says it’s been hard to fill all the open positions at his suburban Chicago-based technology company, ProSoft. “Getting high skilled people is still a challenge,” he said from his ...

» From Revolution To Ruin: Libya's Battle With IS
17/06/15 14:14 from Sky News | World News | First For Breaking News
Four years after the uprisings of the Arab Spring, post-revolutionary Libya battles for survival against Islamic State militants.

» China will likely never get rich — and what that means for America
17/06/15 14:12 from AEI » Latest Content
Since World War Two, South Korea is the only large country to get rich for the first time. The rest are microstates. Once promising strivers like Argentina and Thailand have all fallen victim to the "middle-income trap." And China is a l...

» Wawrinka knocked out at Queen's
17/06/15 14:10 from BBC News - World
French Open champion Stan Wawrinka is beaten in straight sets at Queen's by South African Kevin Anderson.

» Texas Officials Eye Rising Rivers Due to Tropical Depression
17/06/15 14:09 from ABC News: ABCNews
Texas officials eye rising rivers as tropical depression edges north, farther inland

» Susan Sarandon Proud to Have a Son Who Wears Dresses
17/06/15 14:08 from ABC News: ABCNews
Oscar winner says her son Miles "colors outside the lines" of gender roles.

» Chennault Museum moves forward to become independent
17/06/15 14:08 from stories: World
MONROE, La. (AP) - The Chennault Aviation and Military Museum will soon become independent from the Louisiana Secretary of State's network of museums. The News-Star (http://tnsne.ws/1JYgjVa ) reports that Secretary of State Tom Schedler ...

» New Mexico AG wants more 'transparency' in campaign finance
17/06/15 14:08 from stories: World
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas says he wants to increase "transparency and accountability" in the state's campaign finance reporting process. Balderas sent Secretary of State Dianna Duran a letter We...

» No 'Concrete Leads??? That Inmates Have Fled Far From Prison
17/06/15 14:07 from ABC News: ABCNews
Today marks 12th day in the search for Richard Matt and David Sweat.

» Is Donald Trump a serious presidential candidate?
17/06/15 14:07 from Latest News
The debate continues on 'Overtime'

» Al Qaeda reportedly executes 2 accused spies in Yemen after U.S. attack
17/06/15 14:06 from Los Angeles Times - World News
The retribution was gruesome — and not long in coming.

» Fed sets course for 2015 rate rise
17/06/15 14:05 from FT.com - World
Central bank indicates pace of increase may be slow

» Workers Face Grim Clean Up at Flooded Georgia Zoo
17/06/15 14:03 from World news
Workers removed large animal carcasses at the zoo in Tbilisi, Georgia, where flooding killed more than half of its inhabitants.

» America's Dilemma: Juggling the Gulf-Iran Cold War
17/06/15 14:03 from The National Interest
Alexander Decina Security, Middle East Time for Washington to demonstrate that it is willing to pursue an enhanced relationship with Iran and a balance between competing actors in the region. Last month, President Barack Obama reiterated...

» America's Worst Nightmare: Assad Is Too Big to Fail
17/06/15 14:03 from The National Interest
Peter Harris Security, Middle East "There are usually very real costs that flow from intervening in the affairs of others." The war in Syria began over four years ago. Since then, hundreds of thousands of civilians have died and millions...

» Why Congress Must Pass the TPP
17/06/15 14:03 from The National Interest
Douglas H. Paal Security, Asia If America is going to lead Asia in the future, it has to modernize the economic underpinnings of that role or suffer marginalization. President Obama’s own party last week defeated his central foreign poli...

» How to Save U.S.-China Ties
17/06/15 14:03 from The National Interest
Ying Ma Politics, Asia In his new book, The China Challenge, Christensen provides a guide for salvaging the U.S.-China relationship. China’s large-scale construction of artificial islands in the hotly disputed waters of the South China S...

» Erdogan's Moment: Forging a New Turkish Foreign Policy
17/06/15 14:03 from The National Interest
Joshua W. Walker Politics, Middle East The election results may well have ended Erdogan’s dream of a more powerful Turkish presidency, but it doesn’t mean that his legacy is over. With Turkey’s elections now over, chaos in the Middle Eas...

» Oh, Yeaaah! Watch Jeb Bush Slow Jam the News with Jimmy Fallon - seattlepi.com
17/06/15 14:02 from Google News - Top Stories
CNN Oh, Yeaaah! Watch Jeb Bush Slow Jam the News with Jimmy Fallon seattlepi.com Jeb Bush showed off his sensual side Tuesday on The Tonight Show-- or at least he tried. The former governor of Florida joined Jimmy Fallon and The Roots to...

» Libya's PM Seeks International Recognition
17/06/15 14:02 from Sky News | World News | First For Breaking News
Khalifa al Ghweil tells Sky News his Libya Dawn party controls 85% of the country and deserves international recognition.

» Greece could be forced to lock down savers’ cash as debt crisis worsens
17/06/15 14:02 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
Greece’s central bank has issued the clearest warning yet that the country is on course to default on its sovereign debt at the end of the month and crash out of the single currency, while finance ministers across Europe also confirmed t...

» Did Pope Francis go too far on global warming?
17/06/15 14:01 from Latest News
Does the Vatican go too far?

» Killer Mike may run for Georgia State Representative in 2016
17/06/15 14:01 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
Killer Mike plans to run for Georgia State representative in 2016.

» Chad bans face veil after bombings
17/06/15 14:00 from BBC News - World
Chad bans people from wearing the full-face Islamic veil, saying it is to counter militants after Monday's twin suicide bombings.

» Hunt for Viking DNA in Normandy riles anti-racism campaigners who fear the results could contribute to increasing xenophobia in France
17/06/15 14:00 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
It’s been more than 1,200 years since the Scandinavian longships first invaded Western Europe – but France remains scared of Vikings.

» White House turns up heat in trade battle
17/06/15 13:59 from FT.com - World
Officials say US standing in Asia will be hurt if deal not delivered

» Former Kosovo PM Arrested In Slovenia On Serbian Arrest Warrant
17/06/15 13:58 from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) party, Ramush Haradinaj, has reportedly been arrested at the airport of Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana, on a Serbian arrest warrant issued in 2006.

» Getty heir's cause of death
17/06/15 13:58 from CNN.com
Andrew Getty, grandson of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty and an heir to his fortune, died of an intestinal hemorrhage and acute methamphetamine intoxication, among other factors, the Los Angeles County coroner's office said Wednesday.

» Ramadan: Time for Muslim Rulers to Reflect on Ethical Governance - Newsweek
17/06/15 13:58 from Google News - World
Newsweek Ramadan: Time for Muslim Rulers to Reflect on Ethical Governance Newsweek Women whisper during tarawih prayers before Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 17, 2015. Olivia Harris/Reuters. Filed Under: Opinion, Islam. This Ram...

» Political infighting in Catalonia clouds independence drive
17/06/15 13:56 from Reuters: International
MADRID (Reuters) - The push by Catalonia's leaders to break away from Spain took a knock on Wednesday as infighting over the secession issue escalated and one of the parties running the region said its ministers were stepping down.

» Suicide Bombers Target Shi’ite Rebels in Yemen's Capital
17/06/15 13:56 from Voice of America
Two suicide bombers and another blast targeted the headquarters of Yemen's Shi’ite rebels in the capital, Sana’a, on Wednesday, as earlier Saudi-led airstrikes hit a convoy of civilian vehicles and killed at least 31 people, authorities ...

» FBI Arrests Man in Connection With Alleged ISIS Sympathizer
17/06/15 13:55 from ABC News: ABCNews
The man allegedly came at the agents with a knife, authorities said.

» Ireland mourns 6 students killed in balcony collapse
17/06/15 13:55 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
LONDON (AP) -- Flags flew at half-staff around Ireland and the country's parliament suspended normal business Wednesday as the nation mourned six students killed when a balcony collapsed during a party in Berkeley, California....

» Calif. to offer health coverage for undocumented immigrants
17/06/15 13:55 from Latest News
William la Jeunesse reports

» RAF Scrambled As Russians Stray Near NATO Drill
17/06/15 13:53 from Sky News | World News | First For Breaking News
The Typhoon jets are deployed as NATO carries out military exercises in the Baltic Sea, which Moscow has criticised.

» The most radical part of Pope Francis's message isn't about climate change - Washington Post
17/06/15 13:53 from Google News - Top Stories
Huffington Post The most radical part of Pope Francis's message isn't about climate change Washington Post Rarely has a papal encyclical caused so much buzz outside of the Catholic community. But Pope Francis's newest one, wh...

» Teens dare cops to shoot
17/06/15 13:53 from CNN.com
Two Nashville police officers managed to keep the peace in the face of escalating tension during an arrest. CNN's Chris Cuomo reports.

» U.S. urges 'greater commitment' to war effort from Baghdad
17/06/15 13:53 from Reuters: International
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States called for a "greater commitment" from Iraq's government on Wednesday in the fight against Islamic State as it lamented Baghdad's failure to deliver enough soldiers for training and underscored th...

» Photos: This Week in Pictures: Top Photos from Around the Globe
17/06/15 13:52 from ABC News: ABCNews
Find this week's top photos from around the globe in ABC News' This Week in Pictures slideshow

» Judge Rules Minnesota Sex Offender Program Unconstitutional
17/06/15 13:51 from ABC News: ABCNews
Federal judge rules Minnesota sex offender program unconstitutional; patients rarely released

» New Turkish Government Could Mean Policy Shift on Syria
17/06/15 13:51 from Voice of America
Throughout the general election campaign, Turkey’s opposition parties were united in their criticism of the AK Party policy of supporting Syrian rebels seeking to defeat President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The loss of the AK Party's parl...

» Afghan war over? Then set us free, Guantanamo detainees say
17/06/15 13:50 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Two Guantanamo Bay detainees are using President Barack Obama's own words to argue that the U.S. war in Afghanistan is over - and therefore they should be set free....

» Three sisters who travelled to Syria with their nine children were removed from previous flight out of UK, say police
17/06/15 13:48 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
The three British Muslim sisters who are believed to have travelled to Syria with their nine children were removed from a previous flight out of Britain for security checks, police have confirmed.

» Hungary plans giant fence to halt migrants
17/06/15 13:48 from FT.com - World
Budapest says plans for barrier on southern border with Serbia already under way

» Uber dealt employee blow by US ruling
17/06/15 13:48 from BBC News - World
An Uber driver in California is deemed an employee, not a contractor, in a ruling that could mean higher costs for the app-based taxi service.

» Delivery by drone in 30 minutes? Amazon says it's coming
17/06/15 13:46 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Borrowing a pizza delivery motto, online retail giant Amazon told Congress Wednesday it is developing the technology to use drones to deliver packages in 30 minutes or less, a broad expansion of unmanned flight that is...

» U.S.-Spain sign deal giving Marines permanent use of air base
17/06/15 13:45 from Reuters: International
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and Spain signed a defense agreement on Wednesday giving U.S. Marines permanent use of Moron air base, near Seville, from which they can be quickly deployed to Africa.

» Police Hunt 2nd Animal After Escaped Zoo Tiger Kills Man
17/06/15 13:45 from ABC News: ABCNews
A man has been killed by a white tiger that escaped from Tbilisi's zoo during floods in the Georgian capital.

» Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana take a break from super heroes
17/06/15 13:44 from Latest News
Star in the indie drama

» Confiscated Boko Haram bomb explodes
17/06/15 13:44 from BBC News - World
At least 23 people have been killed in north-eastern Nigeria after a Boko Haram bomb confiscated by vigilantes exploded amid celebrations, an MP says.

» As Iran deal takes shape, Israel plays up regional common ground
17/06/15 13:44 from Reuters: Top News
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - With a deal on Iran's nuclear program drawing near, Israel is beginning to look at what comes afterwards and how best to position itself for the longer term.

» Pentagon Chief: Anti-IS Campaign Slowed By Lack Of Recruits
17/06/15 13:44 from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter says U.S. efforts to train Iraqi forces to fight the Islamic State (IS) group have been slowed by a lack of recruits.

» Adam Lambert feels like a grown up
17/06/15 13:44 from Latest News
'Idol' alum out with third studio album

» Female prison worker, NY escapees plotted husband's murder: prosecutor
17/06/15 13:43 from Reuters: Top News
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A female prison worker in custody for helping two upstate New York inmates escape had plotted with the convicts to have her husband killed, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

» Study: Growing Minds Need Greener Spaces
17/06/15 13:42 from Voice of America
We've known for a long time that being outdoors has a host of health benefits. Getting into nature has been shown to reduce depression, improve your outlook and even boost your immune system. Now there's research suggesting kids become ...

» Bradford group questioned in March
17/06/15 13:42 from BBC News - World
The three sisters and nine children from Bradford feared to be going to Syria were stopped before taking a flight from the UK in March, the BBC learns.

» In Burma's new capital, the army is on the edge of town, yet still at the heart of things
17/06/15 13:40 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
Burma’s new capital is called Naypyidaw, which means Abode of Kings. Its existence was announced without preliminaries in 2005, when government ministries were relocated there overnight. It sprawls across the jungles of Burma’s central d...

» Patrick Schwarzenegger prank raises eyebrows
17/06/15 13:40 from CNN.com
CNN's Will Ripley reports on a prank that's put a spotlight on the increasing numbers of tourists in Tokyo.

» Yemeni capital hit by car bombings
17/06/15 13:39 from BBC News - World
Several mosques have been hit by a series of explosions in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, causing dozens of casualties, officials say.

» Judge dismisses fifth juror in Colorado movie massacre trial
17/06/15 13:37 from Reuters: Top News
DENVER (Reuters) - The judge in the Colorado movie theater massacre trial on Wednesday dismissed a fifth juror, who said she recognized a survivor of the July 2012 mass shooting and prompted the defense to seek her removal.

» Fernández weighs in on Argentine poll
17/06/15 13:36 from FT.com - World
Appointment of president’s ally on lead candidate’s ticket undermines reform hopes

» Psychiatrist called Colorado theater shooter's mother with concerns - Fox News
17/06/15 13:35 from Google News - Top Stories
Fox News Psychiatrist called Colorado theater shooter's mother with concerns Fox News CENTENNIAL, Colo – The psychiatrist who treated James Holmes before he attacked a Colorado movie theater said she did not have enough evidence to h...

» Philae Comet Probe's Journey 'Far From Over'
17/06/15 13:35 from Sky News | World News | First For Breaking News
Scientists believe Philae, currently 300 million miles away, may achieve more than planned after its landing did not go to plan.

» WorldViews: An Italian minister plots sweet revenge against the French with a delicious Nutella dinner
17/06/15 13:35 from World: World News, International News, Foreign Reporting - The Washington Post
Say you're an official and your foreign counterpart said something that rubbed you the wrong way. You could issue a terse statement, sure, or even make drastic changes to foreign policy.But what if you have the option to eat Nutella for ...

» Hungary Plans Fence to Keep Out Migrants
17/06/15 13:34 from WSJ.com: World News
Hungary’s government announced it would start plans to build a security fence on the country’s border with Serbia, saying it is frustrated with the pace of European Union efforts to handle the flow of migrants entering the bloc.

» EU without Britain is 'impossible', says Italy's Renzi after talks with Cameron
17/06/15 13:34 from Reuters: International
MILAN/LONDON (Reuters) - A European Union without Britain would be "impossible", Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Wednesday, after talks with Prime Minister David Cameron about his plans to reshape Britain's EU ties before an ...

» Female prison worker, New York escapees plotted husband's murder: prosecutor
17/06/15 13:33 from Reuters: Top News
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The female prison worker in custody for helping two New York inmates escape had discussed with the convicts a murder-for-hire plot targeting her husband, Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie said on Wednesday.

» Barcelona will not bid for 2026 Winter Olympics, says new mayor
17/06/15 13:33 from In English Section | EL PAÍS
Leftist team headed by social activist Ada Colau will put housing and basic needs on top of its list of priorities

» The birth of a psychopath
17/06/15 13:33 from CNN.com

» Haitians fear mass deportations
17/06/15 13:32 from CNN.com
Tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants in the Dominican Republic -- the vast majority Haitians -- face deportation as a deadline to apply for legal status looms.

» Girl dies day after riding coaster
17/06/15 13:32 from CNN.com
A 10-year-old who lost consciousness on a Six Flags roller coaster in Southern California has died.

» Mother of all scandals
17/06/15 13:32 from CNN.com

» Suleyman Demirel, stalwart of Turkish politics, dies at 90 - Washington Post
17/06/15 13:31 from Google News - World
Fox News Suleyman Demirel, stalwart of Turkish politics, dies at 90 Washington Post Suleyman Demirel, a leading figure in the public life of Turkey during the last half of the 20th century, whose seven terms as prime minister and one as ...

» Police Hunt 2nd Tiger After Escaped Zoo Animal Kills Man in Tbilisi, Georgia - ABC News
17/06/15 13:31 from Google News - Top Stories
ABC News Police Hunt 2nd Tiger After Escaped Zoo Animal Kills Man in Tbilisi, Georgia ABC News Residents of Tbilisi, Georgia, are being terrorized by tigers, real and imagined, after a man was killed by a white tiger and police said they...

» 'Our handling of refugees is appalling'
17/06/15 13:31 from Deutsche Welle: DW-WORLD.DE - Europe
Herbert Goldmann has witnessed authorities' inability to care for boat people on the island of Lesbos firsthand. The Green party politician told DW that the ongoing situation is inhumane and unacceptable.

» Suleyman Demirel, stalwart of Turkish politics, dies at 90
17/06/15 13:28 from World: World News, International News, Foreign Reporting - The Washington Post
Suleyman Demirel, a leading figure in the public life of Turkey during the last half of the 20th century, whose seven terms as prime minister and one as president won him international recognition as a political survivor, died June 17 at...

» Exclusive: FBI in Midst of Broad Campaign to Disrupt ISIS, Sources Say
17/06/15 13:28 from ABC News: ABCNews
The arrest of a NYC student is just the start, officials said.

» Denmark election: Country goes to the polls with opposition parties putting immigration at the top of the agenda
17/06/15 13:27 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
A last-minute effort by Denmark’s opposition parties to force immigration to the top of the political agenda threatens to undermine Helle Thorning-Schmidt’s campaign to win a second term of office in Thursday’s general election.

» Hungary to fence off border with Serbia to stop migrants
17/06/15 13:26 from Reuters: International
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary announced plans on Wednesday to build a four-meter-high fence along its border with Serbia to stem the flow of illegal migrants, a move that triggered a swift rebuke from the United Nations Refugee Agency.

» Isle has 1st crime since '60s
17/06/15 13:25 from CNN.com
Six woolly hats, a clutch of candy bars, coffee, biscuits and batteries were the unlikely targets of what's being dubbed the "crime of the century" on the tiny Scottish island of Canna.

» Chilcot inquiry delay: MPs tell Sir John to publish findings into Iraq War now or quit
17/06/15 13:24 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
Sir John Chilcot is under intense political pressure to bring his six-year investigation into the Iraq War to a close after opening up new lines of inquiry which could delay his findings for another year.

» My Day One: A Pledge for My Country
17/06/15 13:24 from White House.gov Blog Feed
June marks Immigrant Heritage Month -- and people across the country are sharing their American stories. Whether you've recently embarked on your first day as an American or want to share how your ancestors came to arrive here, we wa...

» Egypt Pardons 165; Many Had Been Held Over Protests
17/06/15 13:24 from Voice of America
Egypt's president issued a decree pardoning 165 people on Wednesday, mostly youths convicted of breaking protest laws and misdemeanors ahead of the holy month of Ramadan. Pardons during national and religious holidays are a tradition in ...

» KFC says that's no rat in our chicken
17/06/15 13:22 from CNN.com
Do you smell a rat in this chicken tender? CNN's Jeanne Moos reports on a fast food flap that has one diner fried.

» China’s stall
17/06/15 13:22 from AEI » Latest Content
China's economy is stalling out because of state intervention. More state action, such as interest rates cuts or yet more infrastructure spending, will not reverse it. Reversal requires a resumption of market reform.

» FCC to Fine AT&T for Slowing Data Speeds of Some Customers - New York Times
17/06/15 13:22 from Google News - Top Stories
New York Times FCC to Fine AT&T for Slowing Data Speeds of Some Customers New York Times The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday said it planned to fine AT&T Mobility $100 million, accusing the company of misleading mi...

» Tommy Chong Diagnosed With Rectal Cancer
17/06/15 13:22 from ABC News: ABCNews
"Cheech & Chong" star Tommy Chong just revealed he battling rectal cancer.

» Bombs Found at Boko Haram Camp Kill 63 in Nigeria
17/06/15 13:22 from ABC News: ABCNews
Home-made bombs at abandoned Boko Haram camp explode killing 63 in northeast Nigeria

» This Indonesian Volcano Could Be About to Blow
17/06/15 13:22 from TIME: Top World Stories
Authorities fear a major eruption at Mount Sinabung

» California officials cut off water supply to town
17/06/15 13:21 from Latest News
Drought crisis

» Political Crisis Threatens Palestinian Unity Government
17/06/15 13:21 from WSJ.com: World News
The future of a fragile Palestinian unity government was uncertain as leaders considered dissolving it.

» Mark Consuelos Is Fine Not Being Friends With His Kids
17/06/15 13:20 from ABC News: ABCNews
Mark Consuelos penned a touching, yet candid essay on parenting for Men's Health, where he says he has to be a dad, not a friend.

» Islamic State kills five policemen near Iraq's Baiji refinery
17/06/15 13:20 from Reuters: International
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Islamic State has killed five policemen in a town near Iraq's biggest refinery, in an attack that may help ease pressure on some of its fighters trapped in the strategically important facility, a security official sai...

» Greece central bank warns of 'painful' EU exit if no deal reached - Financial Times
17/06/15 13:20 from Google News - Top Stories
Financial Times Greece central bank warns of 'painful' EU exit if no deal reached Financial Times Greece's central bank took the highly unusual step of siding against the Greek government in its five-month standoff with bailo...

» US to abandon Chinese-owned Waldorf at UN General Assembly
17/06/15 13:19 from stories: World
WASHINGTON (AP) - The State Department will abandon decades of tradition this fall at the annual U.N. General Assembly by setting up shop in a hotel other than New York's iconic Waldorf-Astoria, which was purchased last year by a Chinese...

» Bank of Greece warns of ‘painful’ Grexit
17/06/15 13:19 from FT.com - World
Officials play down chance of deal at finance ministers’ meeting

» VOA PANEL: Cameras Fuel Power Struggle Between Police and Public
17/06/15 13:19 from Voice of America
*Check back here later to watch the full panel discussion. Video of police action – from officers wearing body cameras to citizens using cell phones – is leading to a tense new dynamic between police and the American public that has in ...

» Yemen crisis: Multiple car bombings hit Sanaa - BBC News
17/06/15 13:18 from Google News - World
BBC News Yemen crisis: Multiple car bombings hit Sanaa BBC News Several mosques have been hit by a series of explosions in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, causing dozens of casualties, officials say. At least two blasts were caused by car bom...

» Arbitrary detention and torture widespread in eastern Libya: HRW
17/06/15 13:17 from Reuters: International
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya's internationally recognized government and its forces have carried out widespread arbitrary detentions and torture in prisons in the east of the country, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday.

» Ukraine crisis: Violent arrest of leading Russian reporter fuels fears for journalists covering the conflict
17/06/15 13:16 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
The violent arrest and deportation of one of Russia leading journalists from rebel-held Donetsk has raised fears for journalists working in Ukraine.

» Assaulted pregnant woman loses baby
17/06/15 13:14 from BBC News - World
A pregnant woman who lost her baby after she was pushed to the ground and kicked may have been deliberately targeted, police say.

» US Hostage Families to Be Briefed on Potential Policy Changes
17/06/15 13:10 from ABC News: ABCNews
After deaths of American hostages, Obama ordered review of U.S. policy.

» Japan Lowers Voting Age From 20 to 18
17/06/15 13:07 from TIME: Top World Stories
Potentially adding 2.4 million voters to the voting pool

» Prosecutor: Ukrainian Soldiers Confess To Murdering Civilians
17/06/15 13:07 from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
The prosecutor's office for the Kyiv-controlled part of Ukraine's Donetsk region says two Ukrainian servicemen have confessed to murdering a mother and daughter after suspecting them of separatist sympathies.

» North Korea Is Facing Its Worst Drought in a Century
17/06/15 13:06 from International News, Opinion and Analysis - Newsweek World
North Korea Is Facing Its Worst Drought in a Century The U.N. has also expressed fears over the country’s food security. Authorities Make Contact with British Mother Who Took Children to Syria Her husband said there was no indication she...

» GE chief: Demise of Ex-Im bank would mean 'economic catastrophe'
17/06/15 13:05 from Top Stories
"If we want to compete, this is what's necessary to compete," Jeff Immelt says.

» The Latest: Tornados still possible in Arkansas, Oklahoma
17/06/15 13:02 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
11:55 a.m. CDT...

» Search for New York Prison Break Escapees Expands - Wall Street Journal
17/06/15 13:00 from Google News - Top Stories
Wall Street Journal Search for New York Prison Break Escapees Expands Wall Street Journal New York State Police announced Wednesday that the search for two inmates, Richard Matt and David Sweat, who escaped Clinton Correctional Facility ...

» Faith Leaders Stand With Pope Francis on Climate Change - TIME
17/06/15 13:00 from Google News - World
TIME Faith Leaders Stand With Pope Francis on Climate Change TIME Pope Francis is expected to take a strong stand on climate change in a major new papal document to be released Thursday. But faith leaders from other religions are already...

» Faith Leaders Stand With Pope Francis on Climate Change
17/06/15 12:58 from TIME: Top World Stories
Pope Francis is expected to take a strong stand on climate change in a major new papal document to be released Thursday. But faith leaders from other religions are already stating their support. On social media and in formal statements, ...

» 20-year-old student arrested in ISIS-inspired terror plot
17/06/15 12:58 from Latest News
Father: Son was set up by informants

» No truce in sight at UN-brokered Yemen talks
17/06/15 12:57 from Deutsche Welle: DW-WORLD.DE - Top Stories
UN-brokered talks in Geneva have stalled with the exiled government and Houthi delegations accusing each other of sabotage.Yemen's foreign minister has said "no progress" is being made.

» Def. Sec.: U.S. ISIS response slow
17/06/15 12:56 from CNN.com
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter conceded Wednesday that the U.S. should have acted sooner to arm Iraqi Security Forces amid continuing chaos in the country stemming from ISIS.

» Escaped Tiger From Zoo Kills Man In City Centre
17/06/15 12:55 from Sky News | World News | First For Breaking News
The dangerous animal has been killed by special forces after attacking a man near Tbilisi Zoo, which has been hit by heavy floods.

» Europe's largest illegal toxic dumping site discovered in southern Italy - an area with cancer rates 80% higher than national average
17/06/15 12:55 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
The biggest toxic dumping site ever discovered in Europe is being investigated in the area of southern Italy plagued by cancer rates that are up to 80 per cent higher than the national average.

» US questions Iraq's IS commitment
17/06/15 12:53 from BBC News - World
Defence Secretary Ashton Carter questions Iraq's commitment to fighting Islamic State and criticises the availability of Iraqi military recruits.

» Palestinian unity government resigns over Gaza row
17/06/15 12:53 from Deutsche Welle: DW-WORLD.DE - Top Stories
The one-year-old Palestinian unity government, formed to heal rifts between Hamas and President Abbas's Fatah party, has resigned after a tussle over control of the Gaza Strip. It may take weeks to form a new government.

» 'We are still not hearing from a black woman'
17/06/15 12:53 from Deutsche Welle: DW-WORLD.DE - Top Stories
The Rachel Dolezal controversy highlights the difficulties the US faces in grappling with its history, an Afro-American studies scholar tells DW. She criticizes that the current debate sidelines a key issue.

» Swiss Probe Dozens Of Suspicious FIFA Dealings
17/06/15 12:51 from Sky News | World News | First For Breaking News
Over 50 "suspicious bank relations" have been identified by investigators examining the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process.

» VIDEO: Gillard defends immigration policy
17/06/15 12:51 from BBC News - World
Julia Gillard, the former Prime Minister of Australia, on her country's battles over immigration.

» Uber drivers are employees, California rules - USA TODAY
17/06/15 12:50 from Google News - Top Stories
USA TODAY Uber drivers are employees, California rules USA TODAY NEW YORK — A driver who filed a complaint against Uber Technologies was an employee of the ride-hailing company, not an independent contractor, the California Labor Commiss...

» UN Envoy Condemns Recent Violence by Syria, Rebels
17/06/15 12:50 from Voice of America
The United Nations mediator for Syria, who held talks with President Bashar al-Assad this week, Wednesday condemned the government's "unacceptable" heavy bombing of civilian areas near Damascus and deadly rebel attacks on Aleppo. U.N. sp...

» Ukrainian soldiers accused of murdering civilians - New Zealand Herald
17/06/15 12:49 from Google News - World
Times LIVE Ukrainian soldiers accused of murdering civilians New Zealand Herald KIEV, Ukraine (AP) " Prosecutors in Ukraine says a pair of government soldiers has been detained on suspicion of killing two women that allegedly sympat...

» Unió to leave Catalan government over independence plan
17/06/15 12:48 from In English Section | EL PAÍS
Partner party in premier Artur Mas’s CiU bloc turns down his ultimatum and withdraws three officials from their posts. But leaders insist alliance is not broken

» Canada general sorry for sex remarks
17/06/15 12:48 from BBC News - World
Military sexual assault happens because people are "biologically wired in a certain way", Canada's top military general said on Tuesday.

» Summer Travel: Certain Cities Will Cost a Pretty Penny
17/06/15 12:48 from ABC News: ABCNews
Do not go to this city if you're on a budget.

» Dozens of casualties as Yemen car bombs hit mosques, Houthi headquarters: official
17/06/15 12:47 from Reuters: International
SANAA (Reuters) - Four car bombs targeted three mosques and the political headquarters of Yemen's dominant Houthi group on Wednesday, killing and wounding dozens of people, a security official said.

» World's most exciting aircraft
17/06/15 12:47 from CNN.com

» The future: Airplanes that fix themselves?
17/06/15 12:45 from CNN.com
It may sound like a line from a sci-fi novel, but scientist believe that in the near future airplane wings will be able to fix themselves on the go.

» Escaped tiger from flooded Tbilisi zoo 'is liquidated' after it kills man - Washington Post
17/06/15 12:44 from Google News - World
The Guardian Nigeria Escaped tiger from flooded Tbilisi zoo 'is liquidated' after it kills man Washington Post TBILISI, Georgia — A tiger that escaped a flood-ravaged zoo was shot dead in central Tbilisi on Wednesday after it kil...

» Photos: Zoo animals roam flooded town
17/06/15 12:44 from CNN.com - World
Tigers, lions, a hippopotamus are among the animals that escaped from the zoo in Georgia's capital after heavy flooding destroyed their enclosures.

» Airbus A400M flies again after tragedy
17/06/15 12:44 from CNN.com
After a fatal crash in Spain all eyes look at the heavy weight military cargo plane that will feature once again on a runway.

» This plane is completely silent
17/06/15 12:44 from CNN.com
The Airbus group makes the world's first all-electric plane that flies on battery power.

» North Korea hit by 'worst drought'
17/06/15 12:44 from BBC News - World
North Korea is facing its worst drought in a century, state media says, sparking fears of worsening food shortages.

» Iran Nuclear Talks Impeded by Disagreement on All Main Elements
17/06/15 12:44 from Voice of America
Iran and six powers are still apart on all main elements of a nuclear deal with less than two weeks to go to their June 30 target date and will likely have to extend their negotiations, two diplomats tell The Associated Press. Their comm...

» Boko Haram Is Winning
17/06/15 12:43 from World news
The Islamist terror group has retaken the initiative as it battles for control of a huge chunk of Africa.

» Predators stalk a city after zoo floods
17/06/15 12:43 from CNN.com - World
Police shot a white tiger that killed a man in Tbilisi, Georgia.

» Sticker shock: US spent billions fighting ISIS
17/06/15 12:41 from Latest News
Reaction to Pentagon report

» Hand-knitted heist rocks tiny Scottish island
17/06/15 12:41 from CNN.com - World
Six woolly hats, a clutch of candy bars, coffee, biscuits and batteries were the unlikely targets of what's being dubbed the "crime of the century" on the tiny Scottish island of Canna.

» On Eve оf Encyclical, Pope Appeals for ‘Our Ruined’ Planet
17/06/15 12:40 from Voice of America
Pope Francis, on the eve of the most contested papal writing in half a century, said on Wednesday that all should help to save "our ruined" planet, and asked critics to read his encyclical with an open spirit. In the highly personal 192-...

» Jordan arrests suspect in 1982 Paris Jewish attack
17/06/15 12:36 from Reuters: International
PARIS (Reuters) - Jordanian authorities have arrested a suspected member of a Palestinian guerrilla unit behind an attack on a Jewish restaurant in France in 1982 that killed six people, an official at the Paris prosecutor's office said ...

» Toughest stretch of Bush's presidential campaign behind him?
17/06/15 12:36 from Latest News
Gerald Seib explains

» UK mother suggests family in Syria
17/06/15 12:35 from CNN.com - World
A member of a British family that went missing last week in the Middle East has made contact, and police said Wednesday the information suggests the fathers' worst fears may have been realized.

» Tensions grow in Eastern Europe as Russia and Nato accuse each other of Cold War-style military intimidation
17/06/15 12:34 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
International tensions are mounting in Eastern Europe, as both Russia and Nato accuse each other of Cold War-style sabre rattling and military intimidation amidst continuing military exercises , which Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has...

» Kerry: Syrian regime 'absolutely' used chlorine in attacks
17/06/15 12:34 from CNN.com - World
Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday said he was "absolutely certain" that the Syrian government had attacked its own people with chlorine, an acknowledgment that the Obama administration has largely been reluctant to make.

» Cameron ‘losing patience’ with Iraq probe
17/06/15 12:31 from FT.com - World
Prime minister angered by repeated delays to Chilcot inquiry report

» Donald Trump: What you don’t know about the business magnate and presidential candidate
17/06/15 12:31 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
As you probably know by now, Donald Trump is running for president of the United States.

» Lawyers for Jesse Matthew, Jr. ask judge to recuse herself
17/06/15 12:30 from Latest News
Charged with killing Hannah Graham

» France to create 11,000 places for refugees, asylum seekers
17/06/15 12:29 from Reuters: International
PARIS (Reuters) - The French government said on Wednesday it would create 11,000 places to house refugees and asylum seekers as the number of people living in illegal migrant camps swells.

» Jeb Bush slow jams the news
17/06/15 12:29 from CNN.com
Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and slow jammed the news.

» Arturo Vidal: Ferrari stuns Chile
17/06/15 12:27 from CNN.com - World

» Shark 'was biting up my left arm,' says teen who lost limb - Los Angeles Times
17/06/15 12:26 from Google News - Top Stories
Los Angeles Times Shark 'was biting up my left arm,' says teen who lost limb Los Angeles Times Hunter Treschl was wading waist-deep with a cousin off a North Carolina beach Sunday when he first felt disaster bump against him then...

» Man arrested over 1982 Paris attack
17/06/15 12:25 from BBC News - World
The main suspect in a deadly attack on a Jewish restaurant in Paris in 1982 has been arrested in Jordan, French prosecutors say.

» EU agrees to extend Russia sanctions
17/06/15 12:25 from FT.com - World
Persistent violations harden resolve in Brussels and frustrate Moscow’s hopes of a turning point

» Egyptian court sentences Morsy to life
17/06/15 12:24 from CNN.com - World

» FIFA: Blatter may be questioned
17/06/15 12:23 from CNN.com - World
World soccer's top official, FIFA President Sepp Blatter, could face questions from Swiss investigators looking into the controversial 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process, which saw Russia and Qatar come out as the victors, respectiv...

» Minting Millionaires: Nearly a Million Joined Club Last Year
17/06/15 12:23 from Voice of America
The number of people worth $1 million or more rose by 920,000 last year, hitting a record 14.6 million. It was the sixth straight year-over-year increase as rising stock prices lifted the value of personal wealth in a few key countries, ...

» 10 of the world's best dinosaur museums - CNN
17/06/15 12:21 from world - Google News
10 of the world's best dinosaur museums CNN Most impressive is the 41-foot, 5-inch Brachiosaurus, the tallest dinosaur in the world on display. It's a Guinness World Record holder and dominates the first gallery. The museum also ...

» Muslims Worldwide to Mark the Start of Ramadan on Thursday
17/06/15 12:20 from ABC News: ABCNews
Muslims around the world to mark the start of Ramadan on Thursday with fasting and prayers

» How humble strawberry became Wimbledon's most famous food
17/06/15 12:19 from CNN.com - World
Come rain or come shine, it's one of the signs that the English summer is here -- but Wimbledon would not be Wimbledon without strawberries and cream.

» 10 ways to avoid tourist trouble in Japan
17/06/15 12:19 from CNN.com - World

» Lonely Planet's top European destinations
17/06/15 12:18 from CNN.com - World

» Runaway tiger kills man in Tbilisi after flood damages zoo
17/06/15 12:18 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) -- A tiger that broke loose after severe flooding at the Tbilisi Zoo mauled a man to death in the Georgian capital before being shot by police Wednesday, a day after officials said all the zoo's tigers had died....

» Top 10 dinosaur museums
17/06/15 12:17 from CNN.com - World

» EU to use Tekever drones to help in Mediterranean migrant crisis
17/06/15 12:16 from Reuters: International
(Reuters) - The Portuguese navy plans to use drones to help survey the Mediterranean as the European Union steps up efforts to track and rescue thousands of migrants risking often deadly sea crossings from Africa.

» Denton Texas: 92-year-old partially-sighted woman arrested by police at site of anti-fracking protest
17/06/15 12:13 from The Independent - World RSS Feed
“The media has emphasised my age," said 92-year-old, partially-sighted Violet Palmer. "But my emphasis is that I have been robbed - and so have 15,000 people – robbed of our vote.”

» Egypt's el-Sissi pardons 165 inmates who broke anti-protest law
17/06/15 12:13 from Deutsche Welle: DW-WORLD.DE - Top Stories
More than a hundred people jailed under a tough law curbing the right to demonstrate have been freed by Egyptian President el-Sissi. The move was meant to placate detractors who have accused Sissi of human rights abuses.

» N. Korea Says It Has Been Hit by Worst Drought in 100 Years
17/06/15 12:12 from ABC News: ABCNews
North Korea says it is suffering its worst drought in a century

» Carter: Not enough Iraqi or Syrian recruits to train for ISIL fight
17/06/15 12:08 from Top Stories
"We must see a greater commitment from all parts of the Iraqi government."

» Al Qaeda deputy leader killed in US bombing in Yemen - Reuters
17/06/15 12:07 from Google News - World
Reuters Al Qaeda deputy leader killed in US bombing in Yemen Reuters DUBAI/SANAA The deputy leader of al Qaeda, Nasser al-Wuhayshi, has been killed in a U.S. bombing in Yemen, the group and the White House said on Tuesday, removing the d...

» Nokia ex-boss Elop to quit Microsoft
17/06/15 12:04 from BBC News - World
The former boss of Nokia, Stephen Elop, is to leave Microsoft as part of a management reshuffle.

» Missing UK mother makes contact
17/06/15 12:02 from CNN.com
A member of a British family that went missing last week in the Middle East has made contact, and police said Wednesday the information suggests the husbands' and fathers' worst fears may have been realized.

» Photos: Balcony collapse victims
17/06/15 12:01 from CNN.com

» James Holmes' psychiatrist testifies in shooting trial
17/06/15 12:01 from Latest News
Adam Housley reports

» Escaped tiger from flooded Tbilisi zoo ‘is liquidated’ after it kills man
17/06/15 12:00 from World: World News, International News, Foreign Reporting - The Washington Post
TBILISI, Georgia — A tiger that escaped a flood-ravaged zoo was shot dead in central Tbilisi on Wednesday after it killed a man working on disaster relief.The dramatic deaths — of man and predator — shocked residents of Georgia three day...

» Commissioner slams data retention policies
17/06/15 12:00 from Deutsche Welle: DW-WORLD.DE - Top Stories
Germany’s Commissioner for Data Protection has published her latest report criticizing government plans on mass data retention laws.A previous supporter of such practices, her new position came as a surprise.

» Does Europe need debt relief?
17/06/15 11:58 from AEI » Latest Content
The bad news is that European public and private sector debt levels are unsustainable. The good news is that debt restructuring will be much easier for Europe than it would be under English or American law.

» Putin Relitigates His Midlife Crisis
17/06/15 11:58 from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
A series of moves by Russian legislators, prosecutors, and top officials aim to reimagine and reinterpret the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union -- and in some cases act as if these things never really happened at all.

» How Google's Android Bug Bounty Program Works
17/06/15 11:57 from ABC News: ABCNews
Cyber security sleuths looking to earn some extra cash may want to set their sights on finding vulnerabilities in Google's Android operating system.

» 'Heartbreak' over balcony deaths
17/06/15 11:56 from BBC News - World
Families of Irish students killed and injured after a balcony collapsed at a US apartment block are arriving in California.

» 911 call released from California balcony collapse
17/06/15 11:55 from Latest News
Claudia Cowan reports

» 20-year-old man arrested in alleged ISIS-related terror plot
17/06/15 11:55 from Latest News
Laura Ingle reports

» U.S. says hard to recruit for Syrian opposition training program
17/06/15 11:55 from Reuters: International
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday said it was proving challenging to recruit Syrian opposition forces for a program to train and equip them to battle Islamic State militants, but that it was too soon to give up on the...

» 'Jurassic World' Actually Has Really Important Things To Say About How We ... - The Dodo
17/06/15 11:55 from world - Google News
The Dodo 'Jurassic World ' Actually Has Really Important Things To Say About How We ... The Dodo I won't review the film here. Instead, I'll extract and explain five real world truths the film tells us about animals. The...

» Inside the Ring: Congress seeks to block U.S. intel from German NSA probe
17/06/15 11:51 from stories: World
President Obama wants to share U.S. secrets with a German parliamentary committee investigating the National Security Agency's spying in Germany. The move is in direct opposition to Congressional restrictions, which were added to the fis...

» Inspired by Jenner
17/06/15 11:51 from Breitbart News Network
Inspired by Jenner Former Spokane NAACP head Rachel Dolezal said that Bruce Jenner’s Vanity Fair story “resonated” with her in some ways on Wednesday’s “Today” on NBC. Ian Hanchett …Families Protest Forced Cross-Dressing of Schoolchildre...

» Neil Young doesn’t like Donald Trump using his song
17/06/15 11:49 from Latest News
Young supports Bernie Sanders

» Qatar Airways raps ILO 'vendetta'
17/06/15 11:49 from BBC News - World
The boss of Qatar Airways has vehemently rejected the findings of a 12-month inquiry that concluded his company still discriminates against female staff.

» Germany warns Russia over weapons boost
17/06/15 11:49 from Deutsche Welle: DW-WORLD.DE - Top Stories
Germany's foreign minister has warned Russia that plans to boost its nuclear arsenal are an unnessary "escalation." President Putin is looking to add 40 intercontinental ballistic missiles to the Kremlin's armory.

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The U.S. and Global Security Review - Blog by Michael Novakhov

Putin Relitigates His Midlife Crisis | » Fears for U.S.-Russia conflict rise 17/06/15 14:56 from CNN.com - World News Review

Putin Relitigates His Midlife Crisis

Putin Relitigates His Midlife Crisis
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:42 PM

RAF Scrambled As Russians Stray Near NATO Drill
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:38 PM

FBI Arrests Man in Connection With Alleged ISIS Sympathizer
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:37 PM

NY Prison Escape: Police Have No 'Concrete Leads’ That Inmates Fled Far
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:36 PM

Russia, Germany call for swift end to fighting in east Ukraine: Moscow
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:35 PM

FBI arrests man in New York as part of terrorism probe
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:33 PM

U.S. passport-visa system not expected to be on-line before next week - State Dept.
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:32 PM

Witnesses: Man Begged for Help Before Dying in Burning Bus
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:30 PM

U.S.-Russia military tango raises fears of conflict
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:24 PM

Story highlights

MUST WATCH

Military tit for tat

NATO decries 'nuclear saber-rattling'

Ukraine tension stirs rivalry

Top U.S. Officials Consider Bigger American Role in Iraq
Wednesday June 17th, 2015 at 3:24 PM

Greece's future in EU in doubt if talks fail, central bank warns

World News Review

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