Wednesday Headlines

Syria
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad assigns blame on Turkey for contributing to ongoing violence during an interview with a Turkish newspaper. Meanwhile, a report by the group Human Rights Watch detailed what it termed a “state policy of torture” carried out against opposition forces.

Iran
US increases its forces in the Persian Gulf as tensions rise over Iran

State of Global Freedom
Freedom House releases its list of the most repressive regimes in 2012

Financial Markets
After a break for the Fourth of July, the markets will return to focusing on jobs – CNBC.

International Monetary Fund issued a warning to the United States about its commitment to tackle the looming “fiscal cliff. The IMF also released its economic forecast, saying that the unemployment rate likely will average 8.2% this year and 7.9% in 2013.