More Than 300 Killed in Syria, "Rights Group Says":   The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday that nearly 100 of the people killed in the violence were government troops. Many civilians were also killed.  http://is.gd/M1eNnz 

In case you missed it:
The The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights: The Inside Story:   The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has become the most quoted, and most disputed, primary source of casualty figures in Syria. Al-Akhbar investigates the political disputes, personal gain and prejudice, and media role behind a recent row over its ownership.  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31934.htm 

Syrian troops secure Damascus neighborhood:   Syrian troops and tanks on Friday drove rebels from a Damascus neighborhood where some of the heaviest of this week's fighting in the capital left cars gutted and fighters' bodies in the streets.  http://is.gd/295TsY 

Free Syrian Army executes 22 Syrian soldiers: Iraq official :   Iraqi border guards had witnessed the Free Syrian Army take control of a border outpost, detain a Syrian army lieutenant colonel, and then cut off his arms and legs. "Then they executed 22 Syrian soldiers in front of the eyes of Iraqi soldiers."  http://is.gd/4uxA6u 

Iraqi army seals border with Syria:   Iraqi army officials shut off their side of the gate with huge oblong blast walls on Friday, the Reuters photographer said. Officials told him they were preparing for possible outbreaks of fighting on the Syrian side during the night.  http://is.gd/QsQxI7 

Syrian troops 'claw back' Turkish border posts:   Rebels gained control of key border posts into Iraq, say Iraqi officials, threatening to open up access for weaponry supplies  http://is.gd/HXmdZ2 

Insurgents forming unit to "secure" chemical weapons site:   The opposition Free Syrian Army is creating a special unit of men trained to secure Syria's chemical weapons sites, a former general in the country's chemical and biological weapons administration has told the Daily Telegraph.  http://is.gd/KQcLfQ 

Russian envoy to France: Assad ready to step down:   Assad accepted the final statement of the June 30 Geneva agreement for a transition "toward a more democratic regime" and in essence this meant that "he accepted to leave, but leave in a civilized way."  http://www.goupstate.com/article/20120720/API/1207200622 

UNSC unanimously extends Syria observer mission for 'final' 30 days:   "We are glad because, first of all, the resolution is balanced and second, we appreciate the role the UN mission observers have played and will play in the Syrian conflict. We were the initiators who launched this mission, that is why we believe that is important to extend it," Russia's Ambassador to the UN said.  http://www.rt.com/news/un-council-mission-vote-701/ 

Putin Warns Against Bypassing Security Council Syria Veto:   After Russia and China vetoed the Western-backed UN Security Council resolution, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said that the United States and its partners "have no choice but to look to partnerships and actions outside of this council to protect the Syrian people."  http://en.rian.ru/russia/20120720/174704600.html 

Russian Arms Ship Offloads Syria Helicopters:   A Russian cargo ship carrying a batch of Mi-25 attack helicopters and air defense systems for Syria has offloaded the aircraft in the Russian port of Baltiysk in the Kaliningrad region, a security source said on Friday.  http://en.rian.ru/russia/20120720/174698082.html 

Not Everyone Hates Syrian President Bashar al-Assad:   "Now that the army is gone, there is no one to stop them from killing us for speaking out," she said.  http://is.gd/zw2St9 

Afghan district police chief among five killed by bomb:   A roadside bomb killed five Afghan policemen, including a district police chief, when it ripped through their vehicle in a volatile part of southern Afghanistan, provincial authorities said  http://is.gd/yFeOeV 

More than half Iran parliament backs Hormuz closure bill:   "If the sanctions continue, the countries that have imposed sanctions have no right to cross the Strait of Hormuz without harm," the Iranian Students' News Agency quoted Qodoosi as saying.  http://is.gd/wvRxrJ 

Bulgarian media name Swedish citizen and former Guantanamo detainee as Burgas suicide bomber:   Reports claim that the person responsible for the Burgas terror attack, which killed five Israelis, is 33-year-old Mehdi Ghezali - a Swedish citizen of Algerian descent.  http://is.gd/v5ped6 

Sweden denies that Burgas bus bomber was a Swede:   The Swedish intelligence (SAPO) denied that Mehdi Ghezali, a Swedish citizen of Algerian origin, was the suicide bomber who blew himself up at the Burgas airport in Bulgaria.  http://is.gd/hiIuNH 

Jewish voices call for an end to Israel's occupation of Palestine:   Jewish voices in calling for a just and lasting peace, which would allow both Israelis and Palestinians to thrive, say that first and foremost this requires an end to the occupation.  http://is.gd/ZfpB4I 

Moshe Silman dies after self-immolation at Israeli protest :   "Moshe was simply not willing for the State of Israel to run him over anymore," a friend said.  http://is.gd/2VVber 

Julian Assange Interviews Anwar Ibrahim Leader of the Malaysian Opposition: Video -   In 2008, he was again targeted for sex crimes allegations, he won the case earlier this year. With Malaysian elections looming with Anwar tipped to win, he has now been charged with unauthorized assembly. If found convicted, he will be prevented from running.  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31931.htm 

WikiLeak suspects treatment 'shocking':   EVIDENCE showing the mistreatment of WikiLeaks suspect Bradley Manning at a military brig should "shock the conscience" of the court, his lawyer says.  http://is.gd/OSj6N9 

Defense lawyers say Guantanamo court rigged to deliver death sentence:   The Pentagon official overseeing the Guantanamo tribunal tried to rig the jury selection process to boost the odds of obtaining a death sentence for a prisoner accused of directing a deadly attack on a U.S. warship, defense lawyers alleged on Thursday.  http://is.gd/oMGD4S 

Mexico presidential runner-up alleges money laundering in election:   López Obrador accuses president-elect Peña Nieto of using illicit funds and money laundering to finance his campaign  http://is.gd/BdPSEn 

Engineering Consent For A War On Terror?
U.S. government issues another worldwide security caution:   Terrorist groups "continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East," a statement by the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs said.  http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/18/travel/us-worldwide-caution/index.html 

Colorado man avoids jail after conspiring to sell machine guns and C4:   A 35-year-old Colorado man avoided a jail sentence on Wednesday even after pleading guilty to conspiring to sell more than 30 machine guns with optical sights, five pounds of C4 explosives, grenades and 14 semi-automatic pistols smuggled into the country from Iraq.  http://is.gd/afpFG7 

Gunman kills 12 in Denver suburb at Batman movie:   Aurora Police spokesman Frank Fania said the suspect was carrying a knife, a rifle and a handgun when arrested, and one other gun was recovered from the theater. The gunman was also wearing a bulletproof vest.  http://is.gd/iP0Jt2 

Spanish rallies turn violent as million people protest in 80 cities (VIDEO, PHOTOS) -   Spanish police have clashed with protesters marching against the latest batch of austerity measures. Over a million public employees, trade union members and fed-up citizens have taken to the streets in over 80 Spanish cities.  http://www.rt.com/news/spain-protests-austerity-cuts-634/ 

Most members of Congress keep their tax returns secret:   Just 17 out of the 535 members of Congress released their most recent tax forms or provided some similar documentation of their tax liabilities in response to requests from McClatchy over the last three months. Another 19 replied that they wouldn't release the information, and the remainder never responded to the query.  http://is.gd/IDQZzS