An Excellent Infographic On Syria

WNU Editor: Al Jazeera has an excellent info-graphic on Syrian sanctions. Go here to check it out.

Wikipedia's entry on Syria's civil war is also adequate. The link is here.

U.S. Targets Iranian And Syrian High-Tech Secret Police

U.S. Puts Sanctions On Telecom Firms In Syria, Iran -- L.A. Times

The Obama administration announces sanctions for recording cellphone calls, monitoring Internet traffic and employing other technological tools to 'facilitate grave human rights abuses.'

WASHINGTON — The Internet and social media helped fuel last year's "Arab Spring" pro-democracy uprisings. Now, the Obama administration wants to prevent companies from using the same technology to help repressive regimes in Syria and Iran target dissidents.

Taking aim at what it called "digital guns for hire," the administration unveiled new sanctions against major telecom firms in those countries as well as the governments themselves for recording cellphone calls, monitoring Internet traffic and employing other technological tools to "facilitate grave human rights abuses."

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More News On The U.S. Imposing Sanctions On Iranian/Syrian Telecom Firms

Obama Levies New Tech Sanctions on Syria, Iran -- ABC News/AP
Obama seeks to stop Syria, Iran tech assault on activists -- Euronews/Reuters
Obama targets Iranian and Syrian high-tech secret police -- Deutsche Welle
Obama aims to outlaw digital guns for hire -- Sydney Morning Herald
Obama Moves to Block Technology Used by Regimes on Rebels -- Bloomberg Businessweek
US unveils Syria and Iran technology sanctions -- The Telegraph
Obama announces crackdown on Iran and Syria's cyber oppressors -- The Guardian
US targets Syria and Iran technology firms in new sanctions -- The National
Obama's new sanctions against Syria, Iran take aim at digital harassment -- Kansas City/McClatchy News
Obama targets technology in human rights abuses -- CNN
Obama announces new Iran, Syria technology sanctions -- Haaretz
U.S. Sets New Sanctions Against Technology for Syria and Iran -- New York Times
Obama administration's handling of Syria and Iran -- FOX News
US announces new Syria and Iran sanctions -- Al Jazeera

German Ship Caught Shipping Weapons To Syria

German Ship Carrying Weapons Stopped Near Syria -- Spiegel Online

At attempt to defy the weapons embargo on the Syrian regime has been thwarted in the Mediterranean Sea, SPIEGEL has learned.
On Friday, a German-owned ship carrying military equipment and munitions from Iran was stopped from docking in a Syrian port.

A German-owned freighter loaded with weapons from Iran was stopped on Friday near the Syrian port of Tartus in the Mediterranean Sea, SPIEGEL has learned.

A few days prior, the Atlantic Cruiser, owned by the Emden carrier Bockstiegel, had allegedly picked up heavy military equipment and munitions meant for Syrian dictator Bashar Assad's regime from an Iranian freighter at the Djibouti port. The cargo, desperately needed reinforcements for Assad's crackdown on dissidents, was supposed to be unloaded on Friday.

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My Comment: Sanctions are having their impact.

Syria`s Assad`s Wife And Family Facing EU Sanctions

Asma al-Assad, BBC

Assad's Relatives Face Asset Freeze And Travel Ban As EU Steps Up Sanctions -- The Guardian

Asma al-Assad, president's British-born wife, will still be allowed to visit UK, says William Hague

The European Union has stepped up pressure on Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad, by hitting his closest female relatives with new sanctions. The EU has barred his wife, mother, sister and sister-in-law from travelling in the EU and has frozen their bank accounts and other assets.

But, as armed clashes and shelling of civilian areas were reported across the country on another Friday of mass protests, it remained unclear how the move, aimed at curbing the luxury lifestyle of a dynasty engaged in a bloodbath in Syria, would affect Asma al-Assad, the president's British-born wife and until recently an international style icon.

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More News On EU Sanctions Targeting The Assad Family

EU bans Syrian president's wife from travel, shopping -- Reuters
Syria: Sanctions imposed on Bashar al-Assad's wife -- BBC
Syria’s glamorous first lady faces sanctions, contempt as Syrian conflict burns -- Washington Post/AP
Asma Assad, Syria's first lady, faces sanctions, contempt -- Christian Science Monitor/AP
Assad wife banned from entering EU -- Press Association
US hails EU sanctions on Assad family as 'very good step' -- AFP
Profile: Asma al-Assad -- BBC

My Comment: Unfortunately .... I doubt that this will impact her lifestyle one bit.