25 killed in Damascus suicide blast as Syria civil war enters 7th year :
 The blast followed twin attacks on Saturday that killed at least 40 people in Damascus, an attack claimed by the Syria's al-Qaida branch, formerly known as the Nusra Front.
  http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/suicide-bomber-strikes-damascus-justice-building-killing-25/article17467209.ece
 
 
  U.S. military likely to send as many as 1,000 more ground troops into Syria;
 The deployment, if approved by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and President Trump, would potentially double the number of U.S. forces in Syria and increase the potential for direct U.S. combat
  http://tinyurl.com/h2smqzu
 
 
  Powerful Blast Kills 18 in Iraqi Capital:
 A powerful blast hit Baghdad Wednesday, leaving at least 18 people dead, 22 injured, sources in the local law enforcement authorities told Sputnik Arabic. A car rigged with explosives exploded in the Northern part of Baghdad.
  https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201703151051614850-baghdad-blast-dozens-dead-injured/
 
 
  George Galloway : 'Western bombardment of Mosul radicalizing Sunni Muslims around the world' -
 Nothing could more vividly demonstrate the sickening hypocrisy and double standards of the Western political class
  https://www.rt.com/op-edge/380823-mosul-iraq-operation-us/
 
 
  Iraqi Forces Tracking Down IS Leader Al-Baghdadi in Mosul;
 Iraqi forces are preparing to attack the leader of the so-called Islamic State (IS) as soon as his exact location is uncovered, the Iraqi Joint Special Operations Command said on Wednesday.
  http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/iraqi-forces-tracking-al-baghdadi-mosul/
 
 
  Yemen: Saudi-led raids kill 12 Houthi rebels near Sanaa:
 Coalition warplanes pounded mountainous areas in Nihm district, east of Sanaa
  http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/yemen-saudi-led-raids-kill-12-houthi-rebels-near-sanaa/771794
 
 
 Trump Wins Saudi Praise for 'Turning Point' After Meeting Prince:
 "Relations had undergone a period of difference of opinion," a senior adviser to the crown prince said in a statement after Tuesday's meeting. "However, today's meeting has put things on the right track"
  https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-03-15/trump-wins-saudi-praise-for-turning-point-after-meeting-prince
 
 
  South Sudan gunmen 'kill 28' in Ethiopia:
 South Sudanese gunmen killed 28 people and kidnapped 43 children in Ethiopia's Gambella province, an Ethiopian official says.
  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-39281590
 
 
  Libya: LNA lose 21 dead in retaking oil terminals :
 The bodies of 21 Libyan National Army soldiers have been brought to hospitals in Benghazi and Ajdabiya, local sources told the Libya Herald. All were killed in today's fighting that saw the LNA recapture the Sidra and Ras Lanuf oil terminals.
  https://www.libyaherald.com/2017/03/14/lna-lose-21-dead-in-retaking-oil-terminals/
 
 
  Clashes erupt in Libya's Tripoli with heavy gunfire, blasts:
 The fighting is between two militias loyal to the two rival governments in Tripoli: the UN-backed government of national accord and the deposed government of national salvation that is attempting to take over the city
  http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-03/15/c_136131047.htm
 
 
 Nigeria: Female teenage suicide bombers kill 2, wound 16:
 In a new tactic targeting an individual home, four teenage girls detonated explosives outside Maiduguri.
  http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/female-teenage-suicide-bombers-kill-2-wound-16-170315134025112.html
 
 
  Dozens killed in fresh clashes on Myanmar's China border:
 Thousands of people have since fled to China to escape the ensuing gun battles, artillery strikes and fires, leaving Kokang's capital Laukkai deserted.
  http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/03/15/asia-pacific/dozens-killed-fresh-clashes-myanmars-china-border/#.WMlmyPISJLM
 
 
  China Prepares to Counter US THAAD Missile Defense System in South Korea:
 China can disrupt the functionality of the THAAD system with the help of electromagnetic technologies.
  https://sputniknews.com/asia/201703141051557938-china-thaad-korea-counter/
 
 
  Afghanistan: 11 suspected, rebels killed in Ghazni clash, drone strike:
 Nearly a dozen Taliban militants were killed in a ground and air operation in central Ghazni province on Tuesday, officials said.
  http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/03/14/11-rebels-killed-ghazni-clash-drone-strike
 
 
  Dutch election: PM Mark Rutte's party wins most seats in election - exit poll;
 Mark Rutte is said to have beaten far-right leader Geert Wilders whose party reportedly came joint second with two others.
  http://news.sky.com/story/dutch-election-pm-mark-ruttes-party-wins-most-seats-in-election-exit-poll-10803122
 
 
  Justice Department charges alledged Russian spies and criminal hackers in Yahoo intrusion:
 The indictments target two members of the Russian intelligence agency FSB, and two hackers allegedly, hired by the Russians.
  http://tinyurl.com/zxz83o8
 
 
  Yahoo Hack: What US Mainstream Media Don't Tell You About Russian 'Spy':
 None of today's US media coverage mentioned that one of the culprits is being suspected of cooperating with foreign intelligence services including, apparently, the CIA.
  https://sputniknews.com/politics/201703151051619253-yahoo-russian-cia/
 
 
  John McCain: Rand Paul 'Is Now Working for Vladimir Putin':
 After the Kentucky senator objected to a bill advancing Montenegro's push for NATO membership, McCain lost his cool and accused his colleague of being a Putin operative.
  http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/03/15/john-mccain-rand-paul-is-now-working-for-vladimir-putin.html
 
 
  US senator wants to probe RT as a 'foreign agent'..
 "We have good reason to believe that RT News is coordinating with the Russian government to spread misinformation and undermine our democratic process," Shaheen said in a statement.
  https://www.rt.com/news/380761-rt-foreign-agent-bill/
 
 
  NBC the real meddler in election, not Russia : Video -
 NBC did more to meddle in 2016 election than Russia by being behind the worst of all leaks - the infamous Access Hollywood Trump tape to WaPo, which could have swayed the elections more than Russian hackers.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lQgfBiLr5w
 
 
  Google employs army of censors "quality raters" to combat horrid things on the web:
 The article in the Guardian covering this new development highlights its use against the usual suspect - "Holocaust denial", which is of course the thinnest and most entirely acceptable end of the wedge
  https://off-guardian.org/2017/03/15/google-employs-army-of-censors-quality-raters-to-combat-horrid-things-on-the-web/
 
 
  US Senate passes resolution calling on Trump to escalate regime-change in Venezuela:
 These moves are part of a concerted effort by American imperialism to oust the ruling chavistas and replace them with a right-wing regime more aligned with American interests.
  http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/03/15/vene-m15.html
 
 
  Violence in Sinaloa surges after El Chapo is extradited:
 The scene of a shooting in Culiacan, Sinaloa, shows what Mexico's 'war on drugs' looks like at the ground level.
  http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/03/violence-sinaloa-surges-el-chapo-extradited-170315085021060.html
 
 
  FBI Caught Manufacturing Terrorists to Justify Budget :
 Video
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmjVfdBtLvY
 
 
  Trump Admin Ups Drone Strikes, Tolerates More Civilian Deaths: U.S. Officials:
 The Trump administration is moving ahead with plans to make it easier for the CIA and the military to target terrorists with drone strikes, even if it means tolerating more civilian casualties
  http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-admin-ups-drone-strikes-tolerates-more-civilian-deaths-n733336
 
 
  The Problem With the CIA and Drones:
 A CIA label is just an excuse to not have to give up any information. That is all it has ever been."
  http://davidswanson.org/node/5485
 
 
  The real shocker in the WikiLeaks scoop:
 The dark side of this world exploded into view with WikiLeaks' publication of the CIA toolkit
  http://tinyurl.com/zbupkqd
 
 
  Snowden Has Some Advice for Donald Trump About Surveillance:
 Snowden said that if Donald Trump is concerned about the government's ability to listen in on his private communications, he should fix the NSA mass surveillance programs that collect data on every American.
  https://theintercept.com/2017/03/14/edward-snowden-has-some-advice-for-donald-trump-about-surveillance/
 
 
  Intelligence Sources Reveal: Obama Used British Agents For Trump Wire Tap Surveillance:
 "He Didn't Use the NSA, CIA or FBI"
  http://tinyurl.com/jj45hno
 
 
  Nunes: No Evidence of Trump Tower Wiretapping:
 "We don't have any evidence that that took place," Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., said in a press conference on Capitol Hill. "I don't believe there was an actual tap of Trump Tower."
  https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2017-03-15/devin-nunes-no-evidence-to-back-donald-trumps-wiretapping-claims
 
 
  Former congressman claims he was wiretapped :
 Dennis Kucinich joins to discuss the recording of his congressional office
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfT0Yv-0sHs
 
 
  Trump ally Roger Stone says US intelligence tried to assassinate him:
 Roger Stone - the Watergate-era GOP "dirty tricks" operative and longtime friend and confidant to Pres. Donald Trump claims that forces from the so-called "deep state" tried to kill him in a hit-and-run auto collision on Wednesday.
  http://www.rawstory.com/2017/03/trump-ally-roger-stone-says-us-intelligence-tried-to-assassinate-him-in-wednesday-hit-and-run-crash/
 
 
  Justice Department Sued For Records About Lynch's Tarmac Meeting With Clinton:
 "The infamous tarmac meeting between President Clinton and AG Lynch is a vivid example of why many Americans believe the Obama administration's criminal investigation into Hillary Clinton was rigged,"
  http://dailycaller.com/2017/03/15/justice-department-sued-for-records-about-lynchs-tarmac-meeting-with-clinton/
 
 
  Grassley Accuses FBI Of Withholding Information On Russia Investigations:
 Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) accused federal law enforcement officers of withholding key information from lawmakers investigating Russia's alleged interference into the 2016 election.
  http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/grassley-fbi-law-enforcement-withholding-information-russia
 
 
  How Donald Trump's Enemies Fell For A Billion-Dollar Hoax :
 An elaborate hoax based on forged documents escalates the phenomenon of "fake news" and reveals an audience on the left that seems willing to believe virtually any claim that could damage Trump.
  https://www.buzzfeed.com/kenbensinger/how-donald-trumps-enemies-fell-for-a-billion-dollar-hoax?
 
 
  Businesswoman Who Bought Trump Penthouse Is Connected to Chinese Intelligence Front Group:
 The president's company won't explain this $15.8 million deal.
  http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/03/exclusive-donald-trump-penthouse-buyer-has-ties-group-chinese-military-intelligence
 
 
  Trump blasts release of 2005 tax form, reporter's account; -
 President Donald Trump earned $153 million and paid $36.5 million in income taxes in 2005, paying a roughly 25 percent effective tax rate, according to newly disclosed tax documents.
  http://tinyurl.com/hxutn66
 
 
  MSNBC publishes Trump's 2005 tax returns ;
 Fox News Video
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r1B3Sn4aoE
 
 
 Journalist who published Donald Trump's 2005 tax returns says he and his family have received threats :
 David Cay Johnston, who runs a website called DCReport.org and won a Pulitzer Price for his work exposing loopholes in the US tax code
  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/15/journalist-published-donald-trumps-2005-tax-returns-says-family/
 
 
  Donald Trump Budget Slashes Funds for E.P.A. and State Department;
 President Trump's budget would slash the Environmental Protection Agency by 31 percent and cut State Department spending by a similar amount in a brash upending of the government's priorities
  https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/15/us/politics/budget-epa-state-department-cuts.html?_r=0