Egypt calls for Gaza ceasefire as fighting rages

GAZA/CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt called on Israel and the Palestinians on Saturday to halt hostilities and resume peace talks, but both sides kept up attacks, including an Israeli air strike which destroyed a residential tower block in the center of Gaza City.

China executes eight for 'terrorist' attacks in Xinjiang

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China has executed eight people for "terrorist" attacks in its restive far western region of Xinjiang, including three who "masterminded" a dramatic car crash in the capital's Tiananmen Square in 2013, state media said.

Western Iran hit by quake of magnitude 5.2

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A shallow earthquake of magnitude 5.2 struck northwest of the western Iranian city of Dezful on Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, some 300 miles (480 km) from Tehran, the capital.

Forces from Libyan city of Misrata say they seized Tripoli airport

TRIPOLI/BENGHAZI Libya (Reuters) - Forces from the Libyan city of Misrata on Saturday seized Tripoli's main airport after more than a month of fighting with a rival group, a Misrata spokesman said.

Niger minister arrested in 'baby-trafficking' investigation

NIAMEY (Reuters) - Niger's agriculture minister has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in a baby-trafficking network, a spokesman for his political party and legal sources said on Saturday.

Editor's Note

For the past few weeks we have been receiving visitors and family at our home. Playing host while doing the work that I do .... coupled with this blog .... has been a challenge. Fortunately .... the last person is leaving tomorrow night and I do not expect any visitors till the next vacation cycle .... which is next year. So ... blogging is going to be light for the next 24-36 hours .... but everything should return to normal by Monday morning.

A Game Changer In Amphibious Warfare?

Star Wars At Sea! The $10m 'X-Wing' Stealth Speedboat That Could Fly Across The Water To Deliver Troops Into Battle -- Daily Mail

38-foot long main cabin rests on top of a pair of 12-foot tall struts

At high speeds they raise cabin above the water like a hydrofoil



It looks uncannily like the X-Wing fighter from the sci-fi blockbuster Star Wars.



However, in fact this is the Ghost - a $10m ship designed to 'fly' above the water on legs and deliver marines into battle.



Invented by a Maine medical tech millionaire, the US Navy is already considering buying the craft.



Read more ....



My Comment: The above video is impressive. From the vintage PT boats of the Second World War .... to vessels like this .... you cannot help but be impressed on how innovative the U.S. Navy is in developing new technologies and applications.

A Look At The Russian Arms Buildup (Video)

My Comment: This Russian arms buildup still does not match what the U.S. and China have done during this same time frame .... but with the crisis in Ukraine continuing .... and tensions with the West escalating .... I do not expect this Russian arms buildup to be curtailed anytime soon.

Intel Community Now Zeroing In On Those Responsible For The Beheading Of U.S. Journalist James Foley

Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary, a British man who rapped under the name "L Jinny," is a suspect in the beheading murder of journalist James Foley.

The Rapper, The Hacker And The Terror Travel Guide Writer. Is One Of These British Extremists Jihadi John? Three Potential Islamic State 'Beatles' Emerge As MI5 'Zeroes In' On Murderer Who Beheaded U.S. Journalist James Foley -- Daily Mail

* Intelligence agencies hunting for identity of jihadist who murdered reporter

* Reports have suggested Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary, a 23-year-old from London

* Abu Hussain al-Britani, 20, and Abu Abdullah al-Britani, also potential match

* Young men have posed with heads and 'launched cyber attacks on West'

* Security sources say they are 'zeroing in' on suspected matched

* Police are preparing to raid several British homes to help establish identity

* Man in video known as 'John', reportedly in British group called 'the Beatles'

* Theresa May poised to bring in new laws to tackle British extremists



Three British men waging jihad in the Middle East alongside the Islamic State (IS) have emerged as potential identities for the masked extremist who killed James Foley in a brutal propaganda video.



The men, all in their early twenties, are thought to be in the IS capital of Raqqa, Syria. They enter the frame as security sources say MI5 are getting closer to discovering who the executioner, known only as 'John', could be.



The fighter, who spoke with a British accent, butchered Mr Foley, an American journalist, in front of cameras, claiming it was retaliation for U.S. air strikes on the Islamic State (formerly ISIS).



Read more ....



Update #1: British Rapper A Suspect In Journalist’s Beheading By ISIS -- New York Post

Update #2: Two British jihad fighters probed in bid to identify James Foley executioner 'John' -- Mirror



My Comment: It would not surprise me if the intel community already knows who was responsible for this murder.

Germany has spied on Turkey since 1976: Focus magazine

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's foreign intelligence agency has been spying on Turkey for nearly four decades, Focus magazine said on Saturday in a report which could raise tensions further between the NATO allies.

India reviews state hospitals to end widespread corruption

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Indian government on Saturday ordered a review of activities at all state-owned hospitals to end what the health minister called systemic corruption, as part of the new administration's crackdown on malpractice in the healthcare sector.