EU to support US sanctions on Syria

US Treasury will provide the names of the Syrian most powerful man and other officials against whom the financial and other sanctions will be imposed following death of 453 civilians in clashes between govt. backed army and anti-govt. protesters, special UN HRC session on Syria.

The statement issued by an EU executive confirms that EU members will discuss the possibility of slapping sanctions against Syria; other options will also be discussed in a meeting being held on Friday 29 Apr 2011.

Michael Mann, at European commission briefing also confirmed the scheduled meeting. In case EU members agreed for sanctions, there is a great possibility of imposing travel restrictions on key Syrian officials and freezing heir financial assets in foreign countries. The Syrian observatory for Human Rights confirmed having the names of 453 citizens killed in clashes.

In further developments against Syria, Germany supported the imposing of sanctions on Syria and demand that Damascus to punish those who are responsible for the human loss in clashes.

Steffen Seibert, German Government Spokes man stated at a news briefing. He further asserted that the sanctions would include travel restrictions on Syrian leader and officials, freezing of their financial assets in other countries and stopping all the economic aid being provided by the European countries.

Sony Corp admits hacking play station network

Sony Corporation, One of the largest producers of video-game players, has investigated its PlayStation Network hack and after 4 days of interruption, they admitted that external intruders are responsible for causing this inflection.

Sony said that they are still investigating to know whether consumer information retrieved after intruders attacked its PlayStation Network and Qriocity web services. Meanwhile they had closed the network willingly “in order to perform a complete investigation and to get full details of what occurred and what triggered the problem”.

The inflection, which occurred on April 21, is denying about 75 million users globally from using the network to play games and watch movies. According to Sony Corp. operations of Qriocity, that provides movies and music for web-connected devices of Sony, also affected due to halt in its services.

Patrick Seybold, Sony’s senior director of social media, said, “An external intrusion on our system has affected Qriocity services and our PlayStation Network. We are doing everything possible to settle this condition faster, and we once more thank you for your endurance.”

He has also published an online post expressing regret for the inflection, and confessing the rupture of safety.

Satoshi Fukuoka, a representative for Sony Japan, said, “Consumers will be able to play on site but they won’t be able to play against others”.

He further said, “Sony is reinforcing its network’s security to confirm the efficient and safe operation of its services and has no guess when it will resume the services”.

US President to root out gas price manipulation

Obama is experiencing a a heavy summer this year. Obama stated that he would try to ensure that nobody took advantage from the dwindling prices and lure the American consumers due to this factor.

Obamaadmitted the gas-price issue was serious and stressed on developing alternative energy sources as a solution for energy crisis. The president stated that the gouging prices were also being monitored by the Justice Department. Obama’s main thrust in the entire speech was over ways to reduce the American debt ceiling, which currently surpasses $14 trillion.

The President talked about the pro and cons of U.S, energy programs. He also discussed in detail about all the energy sources, their advantages and disadvantages. Admiring the use of nuclear power as a clean energy source he pointed out the Japanese nuclear disaster and stated that the incident undermined the use of nuclear energy. Obama also answered questions regarding his healthcare plan and predicted that the law will pass all the hassles  despite all odds like the controversial Social Security Bill which passed in 1930 amidst strong resistance by the opposition members.

Regarding tax cuts, the US President stated that he had reduced the existing taxes on education and many other welfare factors and pointed out that that present taxes are much lower than their earlier level, however for the maintenance of a good society and better essential services, the Americans needed to pay more.

Pro-Gaddafi forces accused of using banned bombs in Libya

Pro-government security forces in Libya have been accused of violating human rights in suppressing the rebellions who demanded ouster of Gaddafi government. The security forces were found using cluster bombs according to a human rights group. These bombs are prohibited in more than 100 nations of the world.

Human Rights Watch stated that there were projectiles found being launched in Libya that exploded near Misrata in Libya. However the administration denied the allegations.

The international Convention on Cluster Munitions which was adopted in Dublin by the international community in 2008 bans its 108 signatories from using cluster bombs due to its severe impact on human lives.

The Gaddafi-supporting security forces are continuously pushing rebellions out of their strongholds and Misrata is the only city left in their hands so far.

According to a report, Misrata residents are scared of a possible massacre in case they do not receive immediate help from the NATO-led international security forces

The meeting of global diplomats in Berlin, which was led by NATO ministers, did not reach any commitment over contributing warplanes.

The US, UK and France expressed in a joint statement that without forcing Gaddafi to resign, it would not be possible to safeguard the life of Libyan people. Russia urged NATO not to go beyond UN Security Council’s mandate for protecting Libyans.

Google’s ITA deal approved

The Justice Unit affirms Google’s acquisition of the ticketing software firm ITA Software over assurance of availability of the ITA’s products for Google’s opponents.

The unit revealed that Google would reduce opponents’ entry to ITA’s information.  Google may employ its authority of web search to send consumers to its personal tourism provisions, it revealed further.

Opponents comprise Expedia, Kayak and TripAdvisor, which possesses the globe’s major scheme that unites fare subscriptions from several airlines to split among tourism organizations.

The Justice Unit stated on Friday that Google would be obliged to certify the software, to carry on improving it and to set up firewalls to conceal ITA consumers’ registered software — which ITA can view — to defend their intellectual possessions.

The Justice Unit stated the contract as formerly offered by Google would have considerably diminished battle between flight-search sites and lessened improvement and customer pick.

Google, the globe’s No. 1 Internet search engine, stated in July that it would purchase ITA Software for $700 million in ready money. The statement flashed bothers that tourism websites, for instance, Kayak and TripAdvisor might be dispossessed of ITA’s software.

The TX legal representative and the EU are inspecting Google’s supremacy in Internet search and broadcasting reports have recommended that the FTC may track match

Libyan rebels hope to gain information from defecting foreign minister

Libyan opposition members and rebellions are optimistic to get some strategic details from the defecting minister of Gaddafi’s government. The rebellions’ party Transitional Council has started contacting Moussa Koussa, who has rebelled against the Gaddafi regime citing oppression against the demonstrators.

The minister’s rebel from the government is being considered as an indication of the end of Gaddafi’s rule.

Moussa Koussa knows a great deal about 1988 Pan Am] Lockerbie bombing and approaching him, the rebellions hope to get more factual information to fledge the autocratic Libyan ruler and win the confidence and support of the international community.

And he is watching carefully, revealed a rebel, Awad Juma. Ali Treki, who refused replacing Libyan representative in the United Nations, has also declared his protest by resigning from Gaddafi’s government. Juma added that this clearly shows the beginning of fall of Gaddafi after being in power for 42 years.

The rebellion further stated that Gaddafi was ruling Libyan people at gunpoint. He has suppressed every person who opposed or tried to opposed his acts and put leaders under pressure by targeting their families.

Robert Gates U.S. Defense Secretary has continuously opposed assisting the NATO-led coalition of international security forces to assist the Libyan rebels and save them from atrocities of pro-Gaddafi forces.

US administration’s strategy ‘not clear’ over Libyan Issue

US administration maintains international security forces are working in Libya only to establish peace and for humanitarian purpose. The Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi has fled from the country following mounting pressure from the anti-government rebellions and international community.

The role of the United States in any overseas operation involving UN security Council, international security forces has however not been just for humanitarian purposes so far especially since Obama came in power.

The NATO-led military mission has now taken full control over Libya and now the difference among diplomats over Libyan issue is quite evident in the Congress.

Though Obama retains that arming the Libyan rebellions against the autocratic ruler Gaddafi could also be considered as an option however it was yet not been followed as NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet refused.

The opposition Republicans severely criticized Robert Gates, defense secretary, Adm. Mike Mullen, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman over America’s role in Libya.

The US president stated that the military action launched in Libya was aimed to avoid a massacre by the pro-government security forces in Libya.

However, Gaddafi’s military force used anti-aircraft vehicles to counter US air strikes and it became impossible for the international forces to differentiate Gaddafi’s forces from the civilians.

The Republicans has raised their eyebrows over US decision to handover Libyan mission fully to NATO forces after 12 days of operation. Obama still refuses possibilities of sending any ground troop to Libya and there has been no time limit set for the NATO-led mission.

United Nations expresses concern over Ivory Coast security issues

International community states the increasing anti-government protests and President Gbagbo’s supporting force in Ivory Coast have posed threat to security of the citizens. The recent political crisis in different nations in the Middle East region has induced a rebellion voice in many of the nations in the region from Egypt to Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen and now in Ivory Coast.

The UN expresses concern over safety of the organization’s staff’s and Ivory civilians in the current scenario.

The  international body has been severely criticized over not providing any protection to the civilians in Ivory Coast.

The international body submitted its vehicles last month and handed over to the government security officials following the abduction of two UN staffs by pro-Gbagbo civilians, however they were released later.

Also, some of the UN staffs were doubted of sharing confidential information with the pro-government security officials that included details on how to use 3 UN MI-24 helicopters. Am Ivory Coast daily, Fraternité Matin, published an article showing the details of plan to attack the protesting civilians by these helicopters. However Gbagbo’s spokesperson gave no comment over inquiry.

More than 450 civilians have been killed in Ivory Coast following the November presidential elections and last week 52 people including two of the UN employees lost their lives in the conflict with Gbagbo supporting security forces.

Head of the U.N. mission in Ivory Coast, Young-jin Choi stated that the document shared with the government authorities was just a draft however he assured to probe into the incident of leakage.

Demonstrators protest against Syrian regime

Demonstrators protest against Syrian regime

Syrians witnessed an intense upsurge of feelings against the autocratic government with thousands of demonstraters marching in the capital ciry roaring slogans against the President Bashar al-Assad. Many of the protesters have been killed and injured during fierce clashes with the government supporting security forces in Syria.

Surprisingly, the demonstrations speeded up after the Syrian president tried to lure and appease them with some economic and political concessions.

The international community involving security forces from the United States, Israel and Europe affirm that Assad’s government is losing control over the regime.

The unrest among Syrian people has a great potential of turning into a wide scale violent rebel to force Mr Assad to step down from president’s post.

The international community fears over the possibilities of another unrest in the Middle East following Syrian crisis.

The political crisis stated in the last week amidst rebels everywhere in the Middle East—following Egypt, Southern Syrian towns have witnessed violent confrontations among government security forces and protesters and in the capital city Damascus.

Last Friday thousands of protesters came into streets asking fo reforms and grieved over the death of people during violence clashes with security forces. If the same situation continues, Syria might face regional repercussions. Being a key factor in the Middle East politics, Syria influences Iran, Lebanon and Palestine, It supports Hezbollah and Hamas and this way creates a pain to the United States, which has always boasted to be the big brother, and crusader of anti-terrorism campaign.

US reviews reactors following crisis at Japanese nuclear plants

US reviews reactors following crisis at Japanese nuclear plantsA US official revealed that authorities will inspect reactors in the United States to check if there is any fault in the safety system in the reactors and power plants so that there is no repetition of Japanese nuclear emergency.

Bill Borchardt, chief of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, stated that a temporary inspection will be organized for all 104 reactors in the United States to examine their conditions and assess the safety measures.

He added that the United States should learn from Japan and be prepared to safeguard nuclear plants and weapons prior to any natural disaster like earthquake and tsunami which might endanger them. Borchardt said that the inspection team would check to ensure how the nuclear plant operators would manage in case of severe accidents like Japanese earthquake that culminated radiation crisis at nuclear plants

” A model scenario similar to Japanese disaster has been created to ensure how the power plant will operate at the time total failure of power supply, or at the time of flooding and earthquake sv  The crisis at Fukushima Daiichi plant started when its cooling system failed owing to disruption caused by earthquake and tsunami stated Borchardt.

He also assured Americans radiations from the Fukushima plant would have no impact on the United States mainland or coastal areas.