Palestinians: Kerry gave written guarantees to Abu Mazen
According to the sources, the letter stated that the parties will not make moves that would endanger the success of the talks - Israel will not publish tenders for new construction in the settlements and the Palestinians will not carry out diplomatic measures against Israel.
Benjamin Netanyahu vows to hold referendum on peace deal
Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to stage the first referendum in Israel's 65-year history to give voters the final say on any peace agreement reached with the Palestinians.
America No Longer Has a Functioning Judicial System
The Department of Justice told a federal court this week that the NSA’s spying “cannot be challenged in a court of law”. (This is especially dramatic given that numerous federal judges and legal scholars – including a former FISA judge – say that the FISA spying “court” is nothing but a kangaroo court.)
Geothermal tests trigger Swiss earthquake
"The quake is probably directly linked to trials and stimulation activities during the drilling involved in a geothermal project at St Gallen, where several mini-quakes have already been recorded in recent days," the EPFZ statement said. "The quake was widely felt in the region," it added.
India probes 'UFOs' after drone denial
India has turned to its astrophysicists to explain a ‘UFO’ mystery on its Himalayan border with China. Since the end of last year its security services have been investigating sightings of ‘yellow spheres’ rising over its highly militarised border. They initially suspected them to be Chinese unmanned aircraft or drones deployed in the cat and mouse game played by the two sides on their contested frontier.
Russian Orthodox Leader Condemns Gay Marriages, Warns of Apocalypse
Head of the Russian Orthodox Church warned Western governments on Sunday against legalization of same-sex marriages what he called a sign of approaching end of the world. Patriarch Kirill said during a service at Moscow’s major cathedral that the recent initiatives in a range of countries to legalize same-sex marriages “is a dangerous and apocalyptic symptom” that should not spread over to Russia, according to Russian media reports.
EU declares Hizbollah a terrorist organisation
European Union governments have agreed to declare the military wing of the Lebanese party Hizbollah a terrorist organisation, in a major reversal of policy driven by concern over the group's activities in Europe. The move followed a campaign spearheaded by Britain after the group was accused of involvement in last year's attack on Israeli tourists in Bulgaria.
French police, youths clash after veil incident About 250 people hurling projectiles clashed with police firing tear gas west of Paris, in apparent protest over enforcement of France's ban on Islamic face veils. Five people were injured and six detained in the violence, authorities said Saturday. The interior minister urged calm and dialogue, insisting on both the need for public order and respect for France's Muslims.
Pope Criminalizes the Reporting of Sex Crimes
According to the new laws, revealing or receiving confidential Vatican information is now punishable by up to two years in prison, while newly defined sex crimes against children carry a sentence of up to twelve years. Because all sex crimes are kept confidential, there is no longer a legal way for Vatican officials to report sex crimes.
Earthquake Sends Kiwis Screaming From Wellington Buildings
New Zealanders ran screaming from buildings in Wellington yesterday as a magnitude 6.5 earthquake blew out windows and caused part of the city’s port to slide into the sea. The earthquake struck at 5:09 p.m. local time and was centered offshore, 57 kilometers (35 miles) south-southwest of the capital city, at a depth of 14 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
NY food stamp recipients are shipping welfare-funded groceries to relatives in Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Haiti
Food stamps are paying for trans-Atlantic takeout — with New Yorkers using taxpayer-funded benefits to ship food to relatives in Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Welfare recipients are buying groceries with their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards and packing them in giant barrels for the trip overseas, The Post found.
Mortar Shells Hit Market in Syria
Government troops fired mortar rounds that slammed into a main market in a town in northern Syria on Sunday, killing at least 20 civilians, activist groups said. The mortar shells struck the town of Ariha, which is held mostly by opposition fighters, a few hours ahead of iftar, the meal that breaks the dawn-to-dusk fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Egypt starts amending constitution despite political divisions
A panel of legal experts started work on Sunday to revise Egypt's Islamist-tinged constitution, a vital first step on the road to fresh elections ordered by the army following its removal of Mohamed Mursi as president.
Pimco’s Gross Says Fed Will Tighten Policy in 2016 at Earliest
Pacific Investment Management Co.’s Bill Gross said he expects the Federal Reserve won’t tighten monetary policy until 2016 at the earliest. Treasuries had their biggest two-week gain in almost a year as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said the central bank wouldn’t slow its monthly bond-buying program unless economic conditions warrant.
EU to discuss blacklisting Lebanese militants Hezbollah
EU foreign ministers are due to meet to discuss calls to list the military wing of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation. The move requires the agreement of all the EU's 28 member states. If they agree, it will become illegal for Hezbollah sympathisers in Europe to send the group money or for European diplomats to meet its militant staff.
Japan poll: PM Abe seeks stable government after win
Japanese PM Shinzo Abe says his win in Sunday's upper house elections will help him form a stable cabinet, ending political volatility. Exit polls suggest his ruling coalition won at least 76 of the 121 seats contested, broadcaster NHK says.