US weighs sanctions against Syrian leaders - Middle East - Salon.com: "The Obama administration has begun drawing up targeted sanctions against Syrian President Bashar Assad and his inner circle, officials said Monday, as the White House escalated U.S. condemnation of the increasingly violent crackdown against anti-government protesters in which more than 300 people have been killed.
An official familiar with the process said inter-agency discussions about the severity and scope of possible sanctions are under way but that they would likely involve asset freezes and travel bans on Assad, members of his family and senior regime officials. Syria already is subject to numerous penalties as it is deemed a 'state sponsor of terrorism' by the State Department. But the new sanctions now being considered would target specific individuals accused of ordering or committing human rights abuses, the official said.
Similar sanctions were crafted for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, his family and top aides"
Sept 21, 2015 International Day of Peace Celebration at Lyceum University Cavite, Philippines
Ambassador Zara Bayla Juan, Sailing for Peace #PeaceDay
Monday, April 25, 2011
Armed groups in Central African Republic continue to recruit children – UN report
Armed groups in Central African Republic continue to recruit children – UN report: "“In spite of the Government’s commitment to end the use and recruitment of children, their mobilization into the ranks of rebel groups and self-defence militias throughout the country continued during the reporting period,” Mr. Ban says in the report, which covers the period from December 2008 to December 2010.
The report notes continued grave violations, such as the killing of children, sexual violence, attacks on health centres and the denial of humanitarian access. In addition, in the south-east of the country, the Ugandan rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) continues to abduct and forcibly recruit children and use them as combatants, spies, sex slaves and porters.
The lack of systematic birth registration exacerbated challenges related to addressing grave violations, according to the report, since it is often not possible to prove the age of an individual. Official statistics show that only 49 per cent of births were registered nationally in 2010."
The report notes continued grave violations, such as the killing of children, sexual violence, attacks on health centres and the denial of humanitarian access. In addition, in the south-east of the country, the Ugandan rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) continues to abduct and forcibly recruit children and use them as combatants, spies, sex slaves and porters.
The lack of systematic birth registration exacerbated challenges related to addressing grave violations, according to the report, since it is often not possible to prove the age of an individual. Official statistics show that only 49 per cent of births were registered nationally in 2010."
Oil dips in choppy trade after silver pull back-UPDATE 7 04:08 Hours ago
Oil dips in choppy trade after silver pull back-UPDATE 7 04:08 Hours ago: "MARKETS-OIL (UPDATE 7)
* US crude hits falls from highest level since Sept. 2008
* Silver's turn lower bolsters dollar, pressures oil
* Middle East, Nigeria unrest remain supportive to oil
* Coming up: API oil data at 4:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday (Recasts, updates with market activity to settlement)
By Robert Gibbons
NEW YORK, April 25 (Reuters) - Oil prices slipped on Monday in thin, choppy trade as a sell-off in silver from near record highs lifted the dollar off its lows, prompting a bout of profit taking in crude.
Silver surged as much as 8 percent in record volumes for U.S. futures before pulling back sharply when a failure to pierce the all time high from 1980 unleashed a wave of technical selling."
* US crude hits falls from highest level since Sept. 2008
* Silver's turn lower bolsters dollar, pressures oil
* Middle East, Nigeria unrest remain supportive to oil
* Coming up: API oil data at 4:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday (Recasts, updates with market activity to settlement)
By Robert Gibbons
NEW YORK, April 25 (Reuters) - Oil prices slipped on Monday in thin, choppy trade as a sell-off in silver from near record highs lifted the dollar off its lows, prompting a bout of profit taking in crude.
Silver surged as much as 8 percent in record volumes for U.S. futures before pulling back sharply when a failure to pierce the all time high from 1980 unleashed a wave of technical selling."
The Hindu : News / International : America regards ISI as “terrorist” organisation
The Hindu : News / International : America regards ISI as “terrorist” organisation: "Besides the ISI and the Al-Qaeda, the (terrorist) “associations” include the Egyptian Islamic Jihad led by Al-Qaeda's deputy chief Ayman al-Zawahiri; the Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs ; the Iranian intelligence services; the Hezbollah; the Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Observers said the disclosure that the ISI was seen in Washington as posing the same level of threat as the Al-Qaeda and the Taliban would infuriate Pakistan and was likely to further “damage” the already strained relationship between the two countries.
The document is among more than 700 leaked secret files containing details about the “inner workings” of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp including guidance for American interrogators on how to decide whether to continue to detain or release prisoners, according to The Guardian. The newspaper said though the document dated from 2007 it was “unlikely” the ISI had been removed from the current Threat Indicator Matrix."
Observers said the disclosure that the ISI was seen in Washington as posing the same level of threat as the Al-Qaeda and the Taliban would infuriate Pakistan and was likely to further “damage” the already strained relationship between the two countries.
The document is among more than 700 leaked secret files containing details about the “inner workings” of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp including guidance for American interrogators on how to decide whether to continue to detain or release prisoners, according to The Guardian. The newspaper said though the document dated from 2007 it was “unlikely” the ISI had been removed from the current Threat Indicator Matrix."
9&10 News - Pope calls for end to Libyan armed conflict...Christians mark Easter in Jerusalem
9&10 News - Pope calls for end to Libyan armed conflict...Christians mark Easter in Jerusalem: "VATICAN CITY (AP) — An overflow crowd at St. Peter's Square has heard Pope Benedict call for peace in the Middle East, an end to fighting in Libya and for diplomacy there. Benedict says politics in North Africa and the Middle East should be based on respect for all. Tens of thousands of people attended the open-air, Easter Sunday Mass."
UN rep urged to probe Matuguinao incident | Sun.Star
UN rep urged to probe Matuguinao incident | Sun.Star: "'The CPP called on UN Special Representative Coomaraswamy to look into the particular incident where four siblings were terrorized by soldiers inside their home. The children whose ages range from four to 12 years old were left alone in their house after their father was compelled by the military to attend the anti-NPA meeting,' Valbuena added."
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