In November 2004, the US led an assault on Fallujah - a stronghold of opposition against the US occupation, west of Baghdad. Intense bombardment left many of its buildings destroyed and displaced much of the 300,000-strong population. Eventually, the US was forced to admit that amongst its arsenal was white phosphorus - a substance the Pentagon described as a 'chemical weapon' when it was used by Saddam Hussein against the Kurds. In addition, eyewitnesses claimed the US military used "unusual weapons". Subsequent investigations have focused on the possible use of depleted uranium by the US for its armour-piercing qualities. The US, however, denies using such weaponry. Research has shown elevated levels of radioactivity in Fallujah and across Iraq.

A. Bult Ito: Nothing de- pleted about 'depleted uranium'
G. Georgatos: Victims of war: Iraqi children and families - Depleted uranium and trauma

Despite evidence of torture and reprisal killings of regime loyalists, US support continues to flow to Syria's rebels. - Claims of a new mass killing at the hands of the Syrian government this week came alongside accusations from human rights groups that opposition fighters have engaged in reprisal killings and extrajudicial executions of regime loyalists. As violent as the Assad regime has been, both sides in Syria have been committing crimes from the beginning. But following rebel gains in recent weeks, evidence of their on crimes is becoming more frequent. [...] Almost three months ago, a United Nations investigation found that both Syrian government forces and rebel militias trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad committed serious human rights abuses. The increase in rebel crimes has increased in tandem with expanded US support as well as the increased infiltration of al-Qaeda and other Sunni extremists.

Islamabad's high commissioner believes the US should hand over control of the attacks to his government. - One of Islamabad's most senior diplomats is warning that CIA drone strikes in Pakistan's tribal areas are weakening democracy and risk pushing people towards extremist groups. Wajid Shamsul Hasan, the high commissioner to London and one of Pakistan's top ambassadors, also accuses the US of "talking in miles" when it comes to democracy but "moving in inches".

In an interview with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Hasan, four years into his second stint in the post, argues that US drone strikes risk significantly weakening Pakistan's democratic institutions. "What has been the whole outcome of these drone attacks is that you have directly or indirectly contributed to destabilising or undermining the democratic government. Because people really make fun of the democratic government – when you pass a resolution against drone attacks in the parliament and nothing happens. The Americans don't listen to you, and they continue to violate your territory," he said.

Bureau of Investigative Journalism: Obama 2012 Pakistan strikes
The Guardian: US drone strikes listed and detailed in Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen

In July 2007, he transferred 0,000 to a Washington Mutual Bank in Canada to buy a house subsequently transferred another ,000 and ,000 on two separate occasions. - A recent TOLO News investigation revealed that more than USD $1 million was deposited into the bank accounts of Afghanistan's Finance Minister, Hazarat Omar Zakhilwal, over the past five years. While some funds were deposited into Zakhilwal's accounts at Standard Chartered Bank and Alfalah Bank in Kabul, most of the money was transferred to other bank accounts outside of Afghanistan. Zakhilwal claims that he has numerous sources of income, such as consultancies with World Bank.

Peter Symonds: Afghan war crimes report suppressed

IOF destroy a Palestinian house in Nablus

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

■ IOF killed a Palestinian worker and wounded 3 others at a checkpoint near Jerusalem.

■ IOF use force to disperse peaceful protest organized by Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.
3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, and a Swedish human rights defender were wounded.

■ IOF conducted 33 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into the Gaza Strip.
IOF arrested 10 Palestinians, including a child, in the West Bank.
IOF blew up a part of a house in Nablus.

■ Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
IOF arrested a Palestinian woman in the old town of Hebron.

■ Israeli gunboats fired at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip.

■ IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Israeli settlers uprooted or burnt 30 olive trees in Nabi Saleh village near Ramallah.

British police will examine allegations that U.K. intelligence officials were complicit in the alleged torture of a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay. It could lead British detectives to ask the U.S. government for permission to interview Shaker Aamer at the detention center in Cuba. Aamer's case is one of three that are to be considered by detectives with London's Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). The investigations are understood to include allegations against officials with Britain's MI6 and MI5 intelligence services.

Kurds in northern Syria hope to set up an independent region along the lines of Iraqi Kurdistan, a senior figure in the Syrian Kurdish opposition tells Haaretz. - Members of Syria's Kurdish minority are planning to set up an independent region in the country's north, a senior figure in the Syrian Kurdish opposition told Haaretz.

Wayne Madsen comments: The Zionist plan to carve up Arab nations proceeds at full pace: Iraqi Kurdistan, Syrian Kurdistan, Cyrenaica, South Sudan, Darfur, and the list is growing.

Cat on boat playing with a curious dolphin out at sea. (This video is provided by http://goaww.com/)

Preface: Not all banks are criminal enterprises. The wrongdoing of a particular bank cannot be attributed to other banks without proof. But – as documented below – many of the biggest banks have engaged in unimaginably bad behavior. - You Won’t Believe What They’ve Done …

It’s hardly surprising that, on Wednesday, a set of computer algorithms once again co-opted the stock market, making nonsensical trades that sent portfolios on an accidental dipsy-do. It is surprising, however, that the rogue program in this case belonged to Knight Capital, one of the most adept and experienced hands in this new world of algorithms that grapple for control of our money. The only good thing about this episode is that Knight can cover the losses related to these these trades, which are going to cost the firm $440 million.