POLITICS & POLICY

Command and Control of U.S. Drone Operations Remains with CIA, Says Report

Since March 2013, news has been going around that the Obama administration was planning to shift its lethal targeted killing drone programme from the CIA to a more transparent Department of Defence (DoD). But as it turns out now, the shift of operational control has been stalled, at least for the time-being. Reports say it is not expected to happen any time soon. The reasons: operational efficiency and flexibility to carry out covert deployment.

Congo: Battered and Defeated, M23 Announces End of Rebellion

M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which at one point occupied a regional capital of Goma, have announced an end to its almost 2 years of insurgent struggle stating that they are ready to search for a political solution to the root causes which led to its creation. The end of the rebellion, however, came just hours after the government forces claimed total victory after driving the rebels from their last two strongholds.

U.S. Agencies Ordered Medical Staff to Sidestep Ethics in Terror-related Interrogation, says Task Force Report

The U.S. military and intelligence agencies directed doctors and psychologists working in U.S. military detention centres violated their ethical agreements when dealing with terror detainees. These charges have been made in a taskforce report released by the Institute on Medicine as a Profession. The independent taskforce included a panel of military, ethics, medical, public health, and legal experts.
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New Zealand Passes Telecoms Interception Bill for Spying on Email, Texts, Calls

The New Zealand Parliament has passed a new law, requiring telecommunication companies to allow intelligence agencies to access their subscriber's emails, calls and texts. Under the Telecommunications Interceptions and Security Capability Bill, companies will need to consult with the spy agency doing the eavesdropping.

Doomsday WW3 Rising? China Warns Japan of War if Latter Blasts Down Drone

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's rhetoric of blasting Chinese drones should these cross over the former's boundaries has upped the anxiety levels between two countries. A retired Chinese military commander has warned Japan ought to be prepared executing and defending should its rhetorics escalate to war.

New Zealand Parliament to Pass New Cyber Bullying Bill After Roast Busters Expose

The New Zealand Parliament is set to introduce a bill to put an end to cyber bullying of groups like Roast Busters. Authorities investigating the group said Roast Busters has bragged of having sex with drunk and young girls since 2011. After doing the deeds, the group will then post the names on a Facebook page and shame them.

Turkey’s Abdullah Gul: Syria 'Dying', No Hope Left

Lending credence to the argument that the U.S. and Europe allowed the situation in Syria to deteriorate, Turkey's President Abdullah Gul said Syria is dying and threatens to become an "Afghanistan on the shores of the Mediterranean."

Pakistan Begins Talks with Pakistan Taliban

Pakistan has announced that it has begun talks with the Pakistan Taliban in an effort to find a peaceful solution to end the years of violence that has plagued the country. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif revealed this at a meeting with British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in London on Thursday. Mr. Sharif, however, did not give any further details of the discussions and neither did he reveal what was on the agenda.

OPCW Crosses Key Milestone, Syria’s Chemical Weapon Production Capability Destroyed

Syria no longer has the capability to produce chemical weapons, at least as far as their disclosed facilities are concerned. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) tasked with the job of destroying Syria’s chemical weapon stockpile has said that it has overseen the destruction of equipment used for producing, mixing and filling chemical weapons. This achievement comes a day before the Nov 1 deadline.

European Intelligence Agencies Partnered NSA in Surveillance on their Citizens, reveals Report

Did European intelligence agencies partner the U.S. National Security Agency in the mass surveillance program which whistle-blower Edward Snowden exposed? If report in the Wall Street Journal, are to be believed, the millions of European phone records tracked by NSA, now threatening US’ trans-Atlantic relations, were not collected by NSA but by intelligence agencies in those countries itself. This revelation, by WSJ timed before the head of NSA was due to testify before Congress, will help to t...

China Tiananmen Square Terror Attack: Police Arrest 5, Recover Jihad Material

The police in China arrested five suspects on Wednesday evening in connection with the Monday’s deadly car crash suicide terror attack at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, state media reports. It was also revealed that the SUV used in the attack was registered in China’s restive Xinjiang province. Reports say police also found a petrol container, two knives, extremist flag and religious slogans in the vehicle.

“Noah’s Ark” Emerges in Manus Island

"Noah's Ark" emerged in Manus Island. It is fully furnished with a large bar, restaurant, gymnasium and a rooftop terrace to complement the relaxing view of the pristine waters of the Manus Island, off Papua New Guinea.

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