US-Backed Iraqi Forces Face War Crimes Investigation After ABC Finds Gruesome Online Posts

Iraqi forces trained and equipped by the U.S. are under investigation for committing war crimes similar to those perpetrated by the Islamic State group, or ISIS, according to an investigation by ABC News.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/us-backed-iraqi-forces-face-war-crimes-investigation-after-abc-finds-gruesome-online-1844478

Ireland Legalizes Several Hard Drugs, Including Molly, Shrooms And Meth, Temporarily

It is now legal to possess drugs like ecstasy, crystal meth, ketamine and magic mushrooms (containing psilocybin) in Ireland, after the Irish Court of Appeal struck down a law banning these substances early on Tuesday. However, the ban will soon be back in place as the government rushes to sign a new emergency legislation on Wednesday.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/ireland-legalizes-several-hard-drugs-including-molly-shrooms-meth-temporarily-1843148

Pakistan Rangers Raid Karachi Offices Of Controversial Political Party MQM, Killing One

Pakistani paramilitary troops raided the headquarters of the controversial and powerful Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) party in Karachi on Tuesday, making about 20 arrests, seizing weapons and closing down the office, according to reports citing military officials. At least one person was killed during the raid.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/pakistan-rangers-raid-karachi-offices-controversial-political-party-mqm-killing-one-1843138

Former ISIS Hostage Says Jihadists Committing Acts That Are 'Impossible To Justify'

Nicolas Henin, a French journalist who was once held captive by the Islamic State group, said that he saw “flickers of doubt” among his captors during his 10 months as a hostage. Henin, who was released last April, had reportedly been held with James Foley -- the American journalist beheaded by ISIS in August -- and several other Western hostages who were subsequently executed.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/former-isis-hostage-says-jihadists-committing-acts-are-impossible-justify-1841670

Gunmen Attack Islamic State In Eastern Syria, Kill 12: Monitor

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Unidentified gunmen killed at least 12 Islamic State militants in the eastern Syrian town of al-Mayadin in an overnight attack in an area near the Iraqi border controlled by ISIS, a group monitoring the conflict reported. Gunmen on at least two motorbikes first opened fire on an Islamic State patrol before attacking Islamic State militants guarding a nearby courthouse, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/gunmen-attack-islamic-state-eastern-syria-kill-12-monitor-1839876

Bill Clinton Defends Charitable Foundation Accepting Donations From Foreign Governments

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton defended his family's philanthropic foundation's acceptance of donations from foreign governments Saturday, saying that the money had done a lot more good than harm. Speaking to Comedy Central host Larry Wilmore at a Clinton Global Initiative University event in Miami, Clinton said that he disagreed with many of the donor countries policies, but that the foundation had made significant achievements.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/bill-clinton-defends-charitable-foundation-accepting-donations-foreign-governments-1839872

CIA Director John Brennan Announces Major Shake-Up Of US Spy Agency

CIA Director John Brennan has announced one of the most significant overhauls of the U.S. spy agency in its history. The move is expected to bring about dramatic changes in the organization's management structure.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/cia-director-john-brennan-announces-major-shake-us-spy-agency-1839568

Myanmar Police Arrest 5 Students In Crackdown On Protesters Opposing New Education Law

Myanmar police arrested five students on Friday after clashes broke out between law enforcement officials and protesters opposing the country’s new education law. Security forces barred the entry of about 200 protesters into the commercial hub of Yangon, media reports said.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/myanmar-police-arrest-5-students-crackdown-protesters-opposing-new-education-law-1838328

Libya Calls On UN To Loosen Arms Embargo That The UN Calls 'Almost Nonexistent'

Libya made an urgent appeal on Wednesday to the United Nations Security Council, to allow exemptions on an arms embargo that Libya says has hobbled its ability to fight the growing threat of militancy, including recent forays into the North African nation by the Islamic State group. The U.N. had recently called for the embargo to be tightened, calling it “almost nonexistent.”



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/libya-calls-un-loosen-arms-embargo-un-calls-almost-nonexistent-1836746

More Than 30 Killed In Mine Blast In Rebel East Ukraine: Local Authority

(Reuters) - An early morning mine blast in the eastern Ukrainian rebel stronghold of Donetsk killed more than 30 people and injured 14, a local official said on Wednesday. Approximately 70 people were working underground at the time of the explosion, a local emergencies ministry official told the Donetsk separatist press service as saying. Previously, local officials had said 70 people were trapped underground. It was not clear if some of them were now being listed as killed and injured. The cause of the blast in the Zasyadko coal mine was not immediately clear.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/more-30-killed-mine-blast-rebel-east-ukraine-local-authority-1835334

Australia To Send 300 More Troops To Train Iraqi Military Fighting ISIS Militants

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced Tuesday that a further 300 troops will be sent to Iraq to train local forces fighting the Islamic State group. The additional troops will bring Australia’s total troop presence in Iraq to about 900.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/australia-send-300-more-troops-train-iraqi-military-fighting-isis-militants-1833894

Resident Evil Revelations 2 Episode 2 Review: 'Contemplation'

We now come to the second episode of Resident Evil Revelations 2, the first episodic game from publishing giant Capcom. The first episode, “Penal Colony,” started off the series on uneven footing, (read our episode 1 review here) with rocky pacing and annoying fetch quests. However, episode 2, “Contemplation,” is where Revelations 2 starts to come together.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/resident-evil-revelations-2-episode-2-review-contemplation-1833600

US Spy Chief Says 40 Americans Who Returned From Syria Don't Pose Security Threat

James Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence, said on Monday that about 40 Americans had returned to the U.S. from Syria, out of the nearly 180 who had traveled to conflict-ridden nation. Clapper added that not all the Americans who had gone to Syria had joined militants like the Islamic State group, and none of those who had returned currently pose a threat to American security.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/us-spy-chief-says-40-americans-who-returned-syria-dont-pose-security-threat-1833876

Hillary Clinton May Have Violated Record-Keeping Laws During Stint As Secretary Of State

Hillary Clinton used her personal email account to conduct government business as the U.S. Secretary of State -- a possible violation of federal laws -- The New York Times reported, citing officials from the State Department. During her four-year term, she reportedly did not have a government email address and did not retain her personal emails on department servers, as required under the Federal Records Act.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/hillary-clinton-may-have-violated-record-keeping-laws-during-stint-secretary-state-1833868

Iraq Death Toll: Over 1,100 Killed, 2,200 Wounded In Terrorist Violence In Feb. 2015: UN Official

Over 1,100 people were killed, and over 2,200 injured in terrorist violence in Iraq in Feb. 2015, according to a senior United Nations official. Nickolay Mladenov, the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Iraq and Head of UN Assistance Mission in Iraq tweeted that 1,103 people were killed and another 2,280 wounded in acts of terrorism and violence last month.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/iraq-death-toll-over-1100-killed-2200-wounded-terrorist-violence-feb-2015-un-official-1831944

Ultra-Small Bacteria That May Define New Lower Size Limit Of Life Detected

The smallest bacteria, which are believed to be as small as a living cell can get, have been detected in images taken by researchers using an electron microscope. They are so small that 150,000 bacteria can fit into the tip of a human hair. They are believed to be quite common. The ultra-small bacteria were isolated from groundwater and belong to a poorly understood phyla of microbes.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/ultra-small-bacteria-may-define-new-lower-size-limit-life-detected-1831936

Homeland Security Funding Drama Darkens US Fiscal Outlook

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress narrowly averted a partial shutdown of the U.S. domestic security agency late on Friday night, but the forces behind the chaotic episode remain - fractious Republicans and House Speaker John Boehner's lack of control over them. That may portend more serious trouble ahead as Washington confronts fiscal challenges on a grander scale. In five to seven months, the federal debt ceiling will again be reached, and by October Congress must pass spending bills to keep the government running in the new fiscal year.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/homeland-security-funding-drama-darkens-us-fiscal-outlook-1831932

North Korea's Kim Jong Un Tells Army To Prepare For 'War' Against The US And Its Allies

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told his country's army Saturday to prepare for a war against the U.S. and its allies, amid continuing tensions with South Korea. The comments follow a joint naval drill that began between the U.S. and South Korea, which took place Friday.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-tells-army-prepare-war-against-us-its-allies-1831654

Lesotho Holds Peaceful Snap Elections After Army Attempts 'Coup"

The southern African mountain kingdom of Lesotho held elections on Saturday in an effort to restore stability, after a failed coup attempt caused the government to collapse. Twenty-four parties are vying to establish a government with the support of the country’s 1.2 million voters.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/lesotho-holds-peaceful-snap-elections-after-army-attempts-coup-1831646

US Drone Attack In Yemen Kills Four Suspected Al Qaeda Militants: Security Sources

SANAA (Reuters) - A U.S. drone attack in Yemen killed four suspected al Qaeda militants on Saturday in the southern province of Shabwa, local Yemeni security officials told Reuters. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is considered one of the most powerful branches of the global militant group and claimed responsibility for deadly shootings in Paris on Jan. 7. The attack targeted militants traveling in two vehicles in the Bihan region of Shabwa province, a local security official said, adding that several other suspected militants were injured.



from International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/us-drone-attack-yemen-kills-four-suspected-al-qaeda-militants-security-sources-1831650