LATEST NEWS FROM OFF-SITE

• Violence surges in strategic Syrian city - CNN.com May 20, 2013
  As Syrian forces pound the strategic town of Qusayr with airstrikes, President al-Assad says he's dealing appropriately with the people he calls "terrorists." […]
• Nigerian forces tout 'massive deployment' against insurgents - CNN.com May 20, 2013
  An ongoing "massive deployment" against insurgent groups in northern Nigeria by the nation's special forces killed at least 14 suspected terrorists and captured 20 others, according to a statement released Sunday by Nigeria's defense ministry. […]
• Karzai seeks Indian military aid amid Pak tensions May 19, 2013
  kabul  - Afghan President Hamid Karzai plans to discuss potential arms deals with Indian officials during a trip to New Delhi this week, officials said, at a time when tensions are running high on Afghanistan’s disputed border with Pakistan. Kabul’s overtures to New Delhi are likely to rile Islamabad where a new government led by two-time prime minister Nawa […]
• UK funds surveys in Fata on US drone strikes May 19, 2013
  LONDON - INP - Britain's Foreign Office admitted that it has been funding public opinion surveys in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), which reveal that US drone attacks are causing resentment among the locals, UK newspaper The Guardian reported. Foreign Minister Alistair Burt confirmed that his office had "supported" such surveys […]
• Obama to detail terrorism policy including drone attacks and Guantánamo Bay prison - CSMonitor.com May 19, 2013
  In a national security speech, President Obama will explain his policies dealing with terrorism, the use of drone aircraft, Al Qaeda, and the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. […]
• Syrian Troops Target Key Rebel-Held Town : The Two-Way : NPR May 19, 2013
  Qusair is a strategically important town that lies between Homs, where the Syrian uprising began two years ago, and the Lebanese border. If President Bashar Assad's troops – reportedly backed by Hezbollah fighters — regain the town, they would control an important route from the coast to the capital, Damascus. » E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us […]
• Syrian Army Moves Into Rebel-Held Qusayr - NYTimes.com May 19, 2013
  The battle for Qusayr, in the heavily contested Homs Province, has deepened the involvement of Hezbollah in the Syrian conflict, raising sectarian tensions and fears of a regional war.      […]
• www.bbc.co.uk May 19, 2013
  Heavy fighting is reported in the besieged Syrian town of Qusair as state forces launch a major offensive to re-capture the rebel stronghold. […]
• Syria Army Storms Rebel Town - Report - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency May 19, 2013
  Syrian government forces have surrounded the rebel stronghold of Qusair and are storming it from several directions, says Syrian state TV. Fighting has gone on around the town, near the Lebanese border, for weeks. Syrian opposition activists said government air strikes and heavy shelling had killed at least 16 people in the town so far. Opposition groups say […]
• Video: Syrian 'cannibal' rebel explains his actions - Telegraph May 19, 2013
  Rebel commander Abu Sakkar, who was filmed cutting out and eating the organs of a pro-regime fighter, warns that if the bloodshed continues "all Syrian people" will be like him.      […]
• India to discuss Afghanistan’s demand on supply of military equipments - Khaama Press (KP) | Afghan Online Newspaper May 19, 2013
  Indian officials on Saturday announced New Delhi’s willingess to “discuss and respond” to specific requests by Afghan government regarding supply of lethal weapons to Afghan security forces. The demand to supply lethal and non-lethal weapons to Afghan security forces was raised publicy by Afghan envoy to India, however, New Delhi insisted that such discussio […]
• Twitter / cjchivers: A bust of Hafez al-Assad, updated ... May 19, 2013
  cjchivers: A bust of Hafez al-Assad, updated by rebel hands. Muslimiya. #Syria. http://t.co/bdF1IZIljo […]
• North Korea 'fires three missiles' as nuclear programme slows down, according to UN - Asia - World - The Independent May 19, 2013
  North Korea is still trying to import and export nuclear and ballistic missile-related items but financial and trade sanctions are slowing progress on development of their prohibited weapons, UN experts say in a new report. […]
• Nigeria Military Shells Camps, Killing 21 - WSJ.com May 18, 2013
  Soldiers in northeast Nigeria shelled suspected camps of Islamic extremists in the first military action of a new offensive against the insurgents, killing at least 21 people, a security official said. […]