Stop Fundamentalism – A high ranking Amerian delegation met Nouri al-Maliki, Prime Minister of Iraq today in Baghdad, repoted Al-Baghdadia television from its sources.
The names of the four members of the delegation have not been released.
Kuwaiti Journalists in Iranian Prisons
Stop Fundamentalism – Iran arrested a Kuwaiti TV reporter and his cameraman on November 11, says Reporters without Borders. The journalists were arrested in the Iranian southern city of Abadan on charges of spying and entering the country illegally. The two journalists, Adel Al-Yahya and Raed Al-Majed, work for Al-Adalah television station which apparently is owned by a Shiite businessman close to Tehran, says the right group.
“The two men work for a privately-owned TV station and were making a program of a social nature,” said a Kuwaiti official to AFP rejecting Iran’s allegation that the two were involved in espionage activities against Iran. He stressed that they had entered Iran holding a visa.
Kuwait says it maintains contact with Iranian authorities to see their release as soon as possible.
U.S. Troops Packing up in Iraq
Stop Fundamentalism – As the December 31 draws near, so does the departure of the last of American troops left in Iraq as combat units. Alarabia Network reported today that the US forces in Iraq have accelerated the pace of their withdrawal from Iraq and should be able to depart early in the next month ahead of schedule. Alarabia had learned this through different sources it did not identify.
Arab League and Turkey on Syrian Crisis
Stop Fundamentalism – Arab league members and Turkey jointly called for immediate protection of protesters in Syria as Assad regime’s violence against them continues. The foreign ministers had come together in Rabat for a crisis meeting on Syria to plan on how to stop further bloodshed in that country.
The statement released in Rabat today also urged for non-interference by foreign countries. There have been reports of bus loads of tugs and militias coming in to Syria from Iraq to help Assad crackdown on Syrian demonstrators. Iran and Iraq have been outspoken supporters of Assad regime since the start of uprising in that country back in March.
21 people were killed in Syria today by gunshots fired by security forces in various parts of the country, said Aljazeera television.
Car Maker To Encourage Electric Car Usage
SF News – The idea of being able to use an electric car in replacement of current fossil fuel ones in many ways is attractive. One most important of all could be that, mankind can once again breathe fresh air. And with all the troubles in the Middle East and gasoline price hikes, the idea of using electric cars is beginning to sound quite attractive to car buyers nowadays. But when it gets to filling up the gas tank (sorry charging the battery), not everyone wants to deal with the problems coming with an electric car.
There are two main obstacles in the way of using electricity rather than gas to make your car go. First is that it take much longer for a battery to be charged (at least for now) than a gas tank to be filed. Second would be the availability of battery charge stations (rather than gas stations).
It seems now car makers are stepping in to solve this problem or at least take a step forward in that direction.
Syria’s Opposition Welcomes Arab Decision, Foreign Embassies Ransacked by Assad Supporters
Stop Fundamentalism – Following Arab League decision to suspend Syrian government if it does not comply with calls by the group to stop crackdown on its people and allow for a smooth transition of power by Wednesday, the Syrian National Council welcomed Arab countries siding with the Syrian people and their struggle to achieve freedom.
Dr. Burhan Ghalioun, chairman of the Syrian opposition Transitional National Council told an Arabic news program that the vote on Saturday was a political victory for the Syrian people and a major setback for Bashar Al-Assad’s regime
“It is everyone’s aim to topple the regime in Syria and we are on our way to form the National government,” said Ghalioun to Aljazeera TV reporter.
Insider Says Tehran Blast Killed and Wounded Hundreds
Stop Fundamentalism – A Persian Language dissident website, Human Rights Activists for Democracy in Iran (hrdai.net) reported today that according to its sources in Iran, Saturday’s blasts in a Iranian Revolutionary Guards Force military base in southwest of Tehran, has left hundreds killed or injured.
One of the military personnel at the base who wanted to remain anonymous told HRDAI reporter that between 170 to 300 IRGC personnel have been badly injured or killed as a result of the blasts.
The IRGC base which is a major top secret ballistic missile site is 46 kilometers southwest of the Capital city of Tehran but the blasts were so strong they were felt by residents in the eastern part of the city. A major part of the military base was destroyed by the blasts.
Arab League Suspends Syria’s Membership unless Peace Plan Implemented
Stop Fundamentalism – Arab League members met today in Cairo to evaluate the situation in Syria. The group of countries decided to suspend Syrian’s membership in the league within 4 days if President Bashar Al-Assad continues to defy the international community in ending the violence against his people and stop the massive crackdown on dissent in that country.
The suspension will go into effect if Assad’s government does not submit to the peace plan designed to end violence started back in March in which over 3500 people have been killed up until now by government forces, according to the latest tally by United Nations.
Arab League also called for more economic and political sanctions to be imposed on Syria and for discussion channels to be opened with this country’s opposition, facilitating transition of power.
Up Coming ‘Northern Lights’ Spectacle – Visible In Many Places on Earth
SF News – A large sunspot directed toward our planet caused a spectacular view of what is called aurora or ‘northern lights’ in southern US last week. But a space watch website, predicts that even more people around the world may be able to take a glimpse at the nature’s lightshow over the next two weeks.
The northern lights or aurora phenomenon is caused by the collision of charged particles with earth’s atmosphere in the high altitude. These particles are contained in what is called the solar wind.
The large sunspot that occurred last week unleashed solar flares toward our planet containing highly charged particles in large amounts.
Death Toll in Syria Over 3500 Says UN Agency
Stop Fundamentalism – A spokeswoman for the office of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights updated the death toll for victims of the Syrian government’s crackdown on its people to 3500 people, today.
Ravina Shamdasani, who was speaking to reporters in Geneva at OHCHR, said that, “We are deeply concerned about the situation and by the (Syrian) Government’s failure to take heed of international and regional calls for an end to the bloodshed.”
The Syrian troops have been using tanks and heavy artillery to pound cities and civilians in a bid to control the unrest. Some cities remain under siege for days now, said Shamdasani.
