US Spy Agency Site Crashes Amid Attack Claims

The website for America's National Security Agency is back up after going down on Friday, fuelling speculation it might have been attacked by hackers.

The public-facing site for the intelligence agency, which has been under fire after whistleblower Edward Snowden released secret documents about it, suddenly went down in the afternoon.

Several Twitter accounts that purportedly belong to people loosely associated with the hacking movement Anonymous have suggested they were responsible.

An NSA spokesperson denied the claims, saying they were "not true."

"NSA.gov was not accessible for several hours tonight because of an internal error that occurred during a scheduled update. The issue will be resolved this evening," the spokesperson said.

"Claims that the outage was caused by a distributed denial of service attack are not true."

Twitter users @AnonymousOwn3r and @TruthIzSexy implied that a DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attack - a method of over-loading a website with too much traffic - may have been waged as an act of protest against the NSA.

Other Anonymous-affiliated accounts referred to the website crash.

Tweets from AnonyOps read: "Aww don't panic about http://nsa.gov being down. They have a backup copy of the internet.

"The #NSA is lawless and believes rules don't apply to them. Time for a total reboot."

An0nPun1shm3nt wrote: "Dear National Security Agency #NSA, Lesson #1 : If you spy on us, we are coming for you!"

The outage came a day after former NSA director Michael Hayden was allegedly overheard criticising the Obama administration over claims the FSA had monitored the phone calls of at least 35 world leaders.

Mr Hayden later told the Washington Post he had not been disparaging about Mr Obama or his administration.

He said: "I didn't criticise the President. I actually said these are very difficult issues. I said I had political guidance, too, that limited the things that I did when I was director of the NSA. Now that political guidance (for current officials) is going to be more robust. It wasn't a criticism."

A rally to protest against the NSA's surveillance programmes was due to take place in Washington DC later today.

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Al Qaeda-Linked Syrian Rebel Leader 'Killed'

The leader of the powerful Syrian rebel group the al Nusra Front has been killed, according to Syrian state-run TV.

According to the one-line report, Abu Mohammad al Golani was killed in the coastal province of Latakia.

It did not say when or give further details.

However the rebel group said in a statement on Saturday that its leader was in good health.

"What was claimed by one channel alone, regarding what it claimed was the killing of the emir of al Nusra Front, was a lie," said the group.

The extremist front has become one of the most effective among the rebel groups fighting President Bashar Assad's forces.

The al Nusra Front played a key part in the Battle of Aleppo

However, it has links to al Qaeda and is classed by the US, the UK and the UN as a terrorist organisation.

If al Golani's death is confirmed it will be a significant blow to rebels, who consider the group to be the "special forces" of the battle against the regime.

The group, whose goal is to overthrow Mr Assad and establish an Islamist state under Sharia law, announced its creation in January 2012 and were key players in the Battle of Aleppo.

But they have an uneasy alliance with the National Coalition for Opposition Forces and many rebel groups consider them to be too extreme.

Al Nusra is opposed to western intervention in the nearly three-year-long Syrian civil war and many members consider the US to be an enemy of Islam.

The news of al Golani's death came as a car bomb outside a mosque in Damascus killed at least 40, including seven children.

Dozens of people were wounded in the car bombing in the rebel-controlled town of Suq Wadi Barada, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Anti-regime activists blamed the attack on government forces, while state news agency SANA said "the car exploded while the terrorists were packing it with explosives".

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Khodorkovsky: 'Russia Heading For Revolution'

ВОПРОСЫ ОТ

Updated: 12:24pm UK, Friday 25 October 2013

Считаете ли Вы, что против Вас готовятся новые обвинения? Считаете ли Вы, что будете освобождены в срок?

За 10 лет я убедился - в моем деле нет ничего невозможного.

Во время второго процесса прокурор в московском суде доказывал, что я украл всю нефть, добытую моей компанией, а представитель министерства юстиции в то же время в ЕСПЧ утверждал обратное: нефть честно продана, но за нее недоплачены налоги.

Однако наш Верховный суд согласился с обоими взаимоисключающими утверждениями.

Какова Ваша ежедневная жизнь в колонии? Надежда Толоконникова недавно сказала, что по ее мнению условия ее содержания близки к пытке, и описала изоляцию и отчуждение от других заключенных. Не могли бы Вы описать свою камеру и бытовые условия? Как Вы общаетесь с семьей и внешним миром?

Я и мои товарищи по несчастью слышали, что женские колонии страшнее мужских, но не знали, что настолько. В женских колониях 16-часовой подневольный труд, выстаивание на морозе за недовыполнение нормы, запрет ходить в туалет или мыться хотя бы раз в неделю вызывает в мужской колонии немедленный и жестокий бунт. Такое бывает, но сравнительно редко, 2-3 раза в год на всю страну.

Мне, к счастью, с подобным столкнуться не довелось, хотя и здесь жизнь - не сахар. Главное, с чем тяжело смириться, - множество бессмысленных правил (например, теплую одежду одевают и снимают не по погоде, а по решению начальства) и полная зависимость от настроения этого самого начальства.

Я опишу свой день.

У нас 8-часовой рабочий день, плюс проверки, плюс немного времени для чтения, написания бумаг или встреч с адвокатом.

У нас барачное содержание, по 100-150 человек в бараке; спальные помещения по 2 кв.м на человека; в бараках тепло, что очень важно. В колонии ночью тихо, только горит свет, и раз в два часа в помещении ходит инспектор. Но мне это не мешает.

Трансляцию телевидения или радио ведет администрация, так что я смотрю только новости (естественно, госканалы). Ограничений в доступе к книгам и письменным принадлежностям нет, кроме одного - не более 10 книг, что, конечно, очень мешает. Нет никаких ограничений в отправлении и получении писем. Мне позволены звонки в течение 15 минут один раз в неделю.

Одежду выдают и стирают. Здесь проблем нет. Туалет общий, но чистый. Душ раз в неделю.

Следы мяса в пище вижу регулярно; свежие овощи - иногда в тюремном ларьке. Продуктовые посылки - один раз в два месяца, 20 кг. Я прошу орехи, сухофрукты, кофе. За 10 лет есть опыт сохранения здоровья. Днем есть час, когда можно на улице заниматься спортом.

С родными мне разрешено один раз в три месяца проводить по три дня в комнате свиданий и один раз в два месяца 4 часа через стекло и по телефону.

Тюрьма очень сильно уравнивает - когда я попал в тюрьму, я многое потерял. Многие прибыли со столь малым, что почти не заметили разницы. Она уравнивает забавным способом. Мой столь длительный срок повысил товарищеское отношение со стороны других заключенных. Я не просто отбываю срок, я отбываю неопределенный срок по капризу властей.

Что Вы думаете о задержании активистов «Greenpeace»? Удивлены ли Вы тем, что власти теперь похоже подвергают иностранных граждан тому же обращению, что и российских активистов?

Как минимум в краткосрочной перспективе с ними будут обращаться так же, как и с россиянами, в надежде отпугнуть остальных. Потом, я думаю, они будут освобождены.

Владимир Путин очень четко обозначил свою позицию, как внутренне, так и на международном уровне - он будет пытаться (давить), а те, кто не согласен, - должны сопротивляться. Если россияне смирились - он «закручивает гайки», если возмутились - проверяет на прочность, а затем, где надо, «отвинчивает». Иностранцы смирились - почему он должен вести себя иначе? Мир прозрачен, его «не поймут».

Где, по Вашему, окажется страна, если она продолжит двигаться в этом направлении под руководством Путина? Может ли произойти революция или экономический коллапс? Как Вы видите будущее для России?

Россия уже погрузилась в застой. Темпы экономического роста для данного этапа развития - слишком низкие. Инфраструктура (дороги, коммунальные сети) не развивается. Образование и наука, по крайней мере, стоят на месте.

В современном мире это означает постепенное отставание, на фоне быстро растущей Азии. А они - наши соседи.

Причины очевидны: несменяемая, бесконтрольная власть теряет гибкость, стареет, разрушается коррупцией. Кадровые, социальные лифты замерли для всех, кроме узкого круга приближенных и уникальных лизоблюдов.

Страна теряет устойчивость перед неизбежными кризисами. Оппозиция, настроенная на эволюционное развитие, постепенно замещается радикалами.

Возможны два варианта:

(1) реформы сверху, когда Путин постепенно введет реальную политическую конкуренцию и разделение властей. На это надежды мало, хотя массовый протест способен слегка подтолкнуть систему в этом направлении; или

(2) реформы снизу - на фоне того или иного кризиса, когда тот же массовый мирный протест может привести к власти демократическую оппозицию.

Риск в том, что во втором случае очень возможен переход в революционный режим, который в России чреват возрождением авторитаризма, просто с иными персонами.

Задача всех неравнодушных и ответственных граждан России - на мой взгляд - не допустить такого развития событий.

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Iran Hangs 16 'Rebels' To Avenge Deadly Ambush

Iran has hanged 16 "rebels" of an unspecified armed group in retaliation for the death of 14 border guards in clashes near the frontier with Pakistan.

Authorities are investigating whether the attackers were drug smugglers or armed opposition groups, according to state news agency IRNA.

In response to the killings, an Iranian prosecutor announced that 16 people linked to "terrorist" groups had been executed.

"These individuals were executed this Saturday morning in response to the terrorist action of last evening at Saravan and the martyrdom of the border guards," Mohammad Marzieh, was quoted as saying by IRNA.

He did not give any details of any trial proceedings.

The clashes erupted by the Iranian town of Sarwan near the Pakistan border

The attackers ambushed security forces on Friday night in a mountainous region outside Saravan, a town in Sistan-Baluchistan province, in south-east Iran.

Some news reports said up to 20 Iranian border guards had been killed.

There were also reports of several others injured - and being captured by the attackers.

The Mehr news agency said "bandits" attacked an official post.

Rajab-Ali Sheikhzadeh, a provincial official, told the ISNA news agency: "The attackers, who saw that conditions were unsafe for their actions, retreated to the country opposite (the border) after the clash."

Security forces have fought drug traffickers before in the border region with Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The area also has a history of unrest, with the mainly Sunni Muslim population complaining of discrimination at the hands of Iran's Shi'ite Muslim authorities.

Related Stories

Man Accused Of Trying To Get Missiles For Iran

Iran Execution Survivor Saved From Hanging

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Saudi Women Protest Against Driving Ban

By Zein Ja'Far, Sky News Producer in Abu Dhabi

Women in Saudi Arabia have reportedly taken to the wheel to demand the right to drive - despite threats of immediate arrest.

Saudi authorities have warned they face arrest, possible legal action and could be stopped by force if they are caught behind the wheel.

But the threats have failed to put off many, including Bareah Albuzeedy, who says she will fight for her rights regardless of what authorities say.

Protesters were expected to drive their cars in cities across the country. 

Ms Albuzeedy said: "What we're asking for is a very simple right. It's only to let women drive and that's it."

Saudi professor and campaigner Aziza Youssef said the group had received 13 videos and another 50 phone messages from women showing or claiming they had driven, adding that it had no way to verify the messages.

Campaigners Bareah Zubeedy (L) and Dr Mahida Al Ajroush

If the numbers are accurate, this year's campaign will be the most successful effort yet.

Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that imposes a state ban on women drivers.

Although there is nothing which legally states women cannot drive, only men are granted licences and influential clerics have repeatedly called on the police to stop demonstrations from taking place.

Dr Mahida Al Ajroush, a prominent Saudi campaigner and psychotherapist, told Sky News she first drove in the country over 20 years ago and will do so again on Saturday.

She said: "The law says women can drive but the system does not give you a licence ... when a woman cannot drive it means she can't go to work on her own, she can't pick up her children, she can't run her errands nor take her children to emergency."

Despite thousands signing a petition supporting the October 26 campaign and expressing solidarity on social media, the group's website has been hacked and an Interior Ministry spokesperson warned that even those campaigning online could be punished.

Last month a conservative cleric drew widespread criticism after suggesting women could damage their ovaries by driving.

The country's ruling establishment fear that demonstrations could lead to bigger and more challenging protests in the future.

The Kingdom is currently pushing for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) and the way in which police deal with the planned action will be closely scrutinised. 

The country's first driving protest took place in 1995 with 50 women arrested for breaking the law and made to sign a declaration promising not to do so again.

In 2011 another 40 women got behind the wheel  in several cities after journalist Eman al-Nafjan was arrested for posting a video of herself driving online.

Related Stories

Iraq's Oil Plan To Rival Russia And Saudi

Women Airbrushed From Ikea's Saudi Catalogue

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

US Spying Talks Backed By David Cameron

US Spying And The Moral High Ground

Updated: 6:47am UK, Friday 25 October 2013

By Tim Marshall, Foreign Affairs Editor

All nations spy, but not all nations claim they have liberal values and transparent government.

For those that do, it is a little embarrassing to be caught spying on your friends and military allies.

To be caught listening in on the private phone calls of the head of government of an ally is to be embarrassed on a different level.

Hence we see the presence of the US Ambassador to Berlin at the German foreign ministry.

Mr John B Emerson was called in to see foreign minister Guido Westerwelle for a touch of "clarification" on remarks made by the White House on Wednesday night.

This follows a call to Chancellor Angela Merkel's office by the Der Spiegel newspaper.

It asked a question which was probably based on some of Edward Snowden's files, to which it has access: "Has the US been tapping the mobile phone of the Chancellor?"

Der Spiegel says Germany's Federal Intelligence Service had enough information for Mrs Merkel to phone Barack Obama and ask the same question.

The Chancellery was confident enough to make public the call.

Within an hour, White House spokesman Jay Carney came up with an answer: "The  President assured the Chancellor that the United States is not monitoring, and will not monitor, the communications of the Chancellor."

Sadly, at the time of writing, the White House press corps did not appear to have asked the obvious question which arises from such a slippery answer: "OK - is not, and will not monitor, but has it monitored?"

President Obama has now found himself on the receiving end of phone calls from several indignant presidents.

The leaders of Brazil, Mexico, France, and Germany have all made it clear they take a dim view of activities of the American intelligence agencies in their own countries.

Brazil's President, Dilma Rouseff, even went so far as to cancel a state visit to Washington DC.

The US administration is now asking itself how much damage all of this is causing.

Some officials argue that spy storms come and go, but relationships survive.

Others agree about survival but say the relationships will be weakened and that America's standing in the world is damaged in the long term.

It is well known that Russia spies on Britain, which spies on China, which spies on America, which spies on … well, everyone it now appears.

Spying on enemies is obvious, and spying on trade partners is tolerated even if measures are taken to prevent it.

Spying on allies is frowned upon even if most countries do it while taking counter measures.

The French are well known to have been trying to steal everyone's business secrets for decades, and very good they are it too.

The golden rule is: don't get caught and don't embarrass us in public and remember, when it comes to allies, there are limits.

If the French and Americans wanted to know their respective positions ahead of a crucial UN Security Council vote, which was in the balance, they might use a variety of measures to find out.

If some of those measures were, perhaps, questionable and became public, it would be embarrassing but, behind the scenes, both sides would shrug their shoulders.

However, listening into the private calls of a head of government of a key ally is crossing a line - it is personal, a question of trust in a personal relationship, and it is impossible to justify in public.

Therefore, if the claims are true, the Americans have a stark choice.

In their democracy, with its open government, and liberal values, what has the greater value? The information you get from spying on friends at the highest levels or the moral standing you have among those friends and global public opinion?

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Toure: Uefa Probe Into 'Russia Monkey Chants'

Uefa president Michel Platini has ordered an immediate investigation into its handling of Yaya Toure's alleged racist abuse in Russia.

The Manchester City skipper says he was the target of monkey chants during his team's 2-1 victory over CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Uefa have charged the Russian side for their fans' behaviour, although the club denies there was any racism, and they will face a disciplinary hearing on October 30.

Now European football's governing body has launched an internal probe to find out why Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan did not stop play and ask officials to broadcast a warning.

This is the first step in Uefa's three-step protocol for dealing with racist incidents.

Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan

If abuse continues, the second step is for the referee to suspend a match and take teams off the pitch. The third step is abandoning the match.

Platini's investigation puts pressure on Hategan, 33, as well as the Russian club.

TV footage showed a group of topless CSKA fans at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium waving their arms and chanting in a way that Toure found "unbelievable".

The Ivory Coast midfielder said he told Hategan about the alleged monkey noises, but he did not stop play and follow Uefa's guidelines.

Uefa said it will publish the findings of its internal investigation after CSKA's disciplinary case on Wednesday.

Earlier, Toure warned Russia that black players may boycott the 2018 World Cup unless it tackles racism in the stands.

The 30-year-old, who was wearing a 'No to racism' armband during the match, spoke of his disgust at hearing the chants.

Russian fans at the game on Wednesday

He told Russian news agency RIA Novosti: "If we aren't confident at the World Cup coming to Russia, we don't come."

Piara Powar, executive director of European anti-discrimination body FARE and a Fifa anti-discrimination task force member, praised Toure for speaking out.

He described Russian club football as "dire" and fuelled by far-right extremists.

FARE has identified banners supporting the Greek far-right party Golden Dawn - which has a swastika-like symbol - being displayed in several stadiums in eastern Europe and in Moscow on Wednesday.

CSKA issued a statement saying they were "surprised and disappointed" by Toure's allegations.

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

China Court Rejects Bo Xilai Appeal

A court in eastern China has rejected an appeal by ousted senior politician Bo Xilai and upheld his life sentence on charges of bribery, corruption and abuse of power.

In an announcement carried on its Weibo microblog, the official Xinhua news agency said that the high court in the eastern province of Shandong, where Bo was originally tried, had rejected his appeal. It gave no further details.

Once a rising star in China's leadership circles, Bo was jailed for life in September after a dramatic fall from grace that shook the ruling Communist Party.

His career was stopped short last year by a murder scandal in which his wife, Gu Kailai, was convicted of poisoning a British businessman, Neil Heywood, who had been a family friend.

The ruling is the latest development in one of China's most politically charged trials in decades.

But it comes as no surprise, with many political analysts saying such an outcome was predetermined by Communist Party leaders keen to put Bo away long enough to prevent him from making a comeback.

Bo Xilai's trial took place in the eastern city of Jinan last month

President Xi Jinping, who took office in March, will have wanted the Bo affair settled because the next few weeks are critical for his government.

At a closed-door party plenum next month, Xi will push for more economic reforms and he needs unstinting support from the party's elite 200-member Central Committee.

Bo, 64, who was Communist Party chief of the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing, mounted an unexpectedly fiery defence during his trial, denouncing testimony against him by his wife as the ravings of a mad woman hoping to have her own sentence reduced.

He repeatedly said that he was not guilty of any of the charges, although he admitted making some bad decisions and shaming his country by his handling of former Chongqing police chief, Wang Lijun, who first told Bo that Gu had probably murdered Mr Heywood.

Wang, who fled to the US consulate in the nearby city of Chengdu in February last year after confronting Bo with evidence that Gu was involved in the murder, was also jailed last year for covering up the crime.

Bo's wife Gu Kailai was found guilty of killing Briton Neil Heywood

According to Chinese law, Bo will not be able to lodge any further formal appeals, and while he can submit a "petition" to China's supreme court it is not required to take further action.

Sky's China correspondent Mark Stone said: "It is possibly the full stop that everyone has been waiting for at the end of this very long, protracted saga.

"This was a man who was once tipped for the very, very top of the Chinese government. He was to be, possibly one of the seven men on what's known as the standing committee of the politburo - the men who run the country, but his fall from grace was dramatic."

Bo cultivated a following through his populist, quasi-Maoist policies.

His policies in Chongqing won him supporters across China, but his openly ambitious approach also alienated other top party leaders, who saw it as harking back to a bygone era of strongman rule.

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nigerian Forces Kill 74 Boko Haram Militants

Nigerian armed forces have killed 74 Boko Haram militants in air and ground raids, the military has confirmed.

The troops launched their offensive against Boko Haram camps in remote villages in the northeast state of Borno, where the group has its strongest presence.

The military appears to be stepping up its offensive against the militants, who have killed thousands of people since their uprising began four years ago.

Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Dole said: "The operation, which involved ground and aerial assault supported by the Nigerian Air Force led to the destruction of the identified terrorist camps, killing 74 terrorists while others fled with serious injuries."

The army is stepping up operations in the Boko Haram stronghold of Borno

He said that two soldiers had been wounded in the operation.

It is the second strike against the Islamist sect in a week. Last week, the army said it had killed 37 Boko Haram members in a similar operation in another remote area of Borno.

Nigerian forces have intensified attacks against Boko Haram since May, when President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in three states in the northeast.

However, the group has retaliated. In late September militants shot dead 40 students as they slept at a college in the region.

Boko Haram carried out a bombing at the UN headquarters in Abuja in 2011

Boko Haram is fighting to establish an Islamic state in religiously mixed Nigeria.

The group launched its uprising against the state in 2009, turning itself from a clerical movement opposed to Western culture into an armed militia with links to al Qaeda's West African wing.

The group is seen as the biggest security threat to Nigeria, Africa's top oil producer.

Although their activities are located hundreds of miles away from its southern oil fields, they have bombed the capital Abuja at least three times, including a deadly attack on the United Nations' Nigeria headquarters in 2011.

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Maria: Bulgarian Couple Are Roma Girl's Parents

DNA tests have confirmed that a Bulgarian couple are the biological parents of a mystery girl found in a Greek Roma camp.

Samples showed that Sasha Ruseva and Atanas Rusev were the biological parents of Maria, the blonde child who made global headlines after being spotted in Athens.

Ms Ruseva has said she gave birth to a baby girl four years ago in Greece while working as an olive picker.

A picture of two of Maria's siblings in Bulgaria

She said she gave the child away because she was too poor to care for her but insisted she did not get paid.

However, she has also reportedly told one of her neighbours that she sold the child for the equivalent of around £213.

She recognised Maria when her discovery was reported in the media, she said.

According to reports Mrs Ruseva, who is married and lives in the central Bulgarian town of Nikolaevo, has as many as 10 children.

A hunt was launched for the girl's parents after she was spotted in Greece

Five of those children are blonde, and even closely resemble the girl found at the camp last week.

Maria's case came to light when Greek police noticed the lack of resemblance between the blonde girl and the adults she was staying with in Athens.

Today's confirmation comes after police arrested a childless couple in Greece on suspicion of buying a baby girl and trying to register her as their own.

The couple were arrested in Athens after they allegedly paid a Roma woman 4,000 euros (£3,400) for the baby, a Greek police statement said.

Authorities are looking for the baby's birth parents.

The suspects, aged 53 and 48, were expected to be charged with child abduction.

Under Greek law this includes cases where a minor is voluntarily given away by its parents outside the legal adoption process.

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Maria: Police Question Bulgarian 'Mother'

A woman in Bulgaria has confirmed she has been questioned by police about whether she is the mother of Maria, the blonde girl found in a Greek Roma camp.

Speaking to Bulgarian TV, Sasha Ruseva, 38, said she gave birth to a girl while working in Greece "several years ago", but had to leave the child because she did not have enough money to take her home.

It is also being reported that she is willing to take a DNA test, and take the child back if it is shown to be hers.

She insisted she did not get paid for giving up the girl. She had reportedly told one of her neighbours that she had sold the child for the equivalent of around £213, and that she had recognised Maria, when her discovery made headlines around the world.

According to reports Mrs Ruseva, who is married and lives in the central Bulgarian town of Nikolaevo, has between eight and 10 children, five of whom are blonde, and even closely resemble the girl found in central Greece last week.

Eleftheria Dimopoulou and Christos Salis claim they were given Maria

Speaking on TV, Mrs Ruseva said: "I intended to go back and take my child home, but meanwhile I gave birth to two more kids so I was not able to go back."

Police in Bulgaria have declined to comment on the case.

Investigators in Greece have also refused to be drawn on their inquiry.

"We have nothing to say at the moment, there is no information to give," a police spokesman in Athens said.

Greek police have sought help from Interpol to help identify the blonde girl, whose discovery in a Roma camp near Farsala has sparked global interest.

Christos Salis and Eleftheria Dimopoulou, a Roma couple who claimed they were given Maria by her Bulgarian mother who could not care for her, have been charged with abduction.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Migrant Crisis: 'UN Should Police Libyan Ports'

By Stuart Ramsay, Chief Correspondent

The Maltese Prime Minister has accused Northern European leaders of "hypocrisy" over the handling of immigration into Europe.

Joseph Muscat says a United Nations force should police Libyan ports to stem the tide of illegal immigrants if richer countries refuse to help frontline states.

Speaking before today's European Council meeting, Mr Muscat promised to be less co-operative on important Euro issues like bailouts if countries like Malta do not get more assistance.

Not far from the Maltese leader's office, a young Somali man shivers on the deck of a patrol boat as it enters the Grand Harbour of Valetta.

A refugee from North Africa in a Maltese detention centre for migrants

He and the others huddle together on the front and rear decks - over 120 of them.

They look scared and still worried, although in real terms they are safe now.

Fourteen hours earlier they were plucked from heavy Mediterranean seas by a United States warship, the USS San Antonio, then transferred to the Maltese armed forces.

They are herded ashore by masked and suited sailors, tagged and guided onto police buses before being driven to their new home - a detention centre where they will likely stay for the next 18 months.

Many in the centre have travelled thousands of miles from Africa

They are not prisoners, but holding centres are prisons in every sense.

High barbed wire walls keep the inmates inside. They sleep in large dormitories and they plan their moves to get an interview with a potential host nation that could offer them asylum.

As the latest inmates arrive there is a buzz of anticipation and the noise level rockets. The young men are sent to find their new accommodation. Many look terrified.

They have travelled thousands of miles from Somalia, risked their lives on unseaworthy boats, spent every penny they have and are now locked up in a huge noisy barracks. Arrival day is not a good day for Malta's new inhabitants.

Joseph Muscat: 'Europe is tackling the problem with tools of the past'

"We want freedom not this b*******," a young man whispers into my ear.

"We are escaping murder and we are treated like convicts. Nobody is happy about this, but nobody will say anything, they don't want to get sent back to Somalia," he said before disappearing into the throng.

The Maltese guards and the government accept it is not the best place in the world, but say they get little help from the outside world and the problem is not only not new, it is getting worse.

And still the international community does little to stop the stream of migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

This migrating human crisis now crosses Africa and the Middle East. Syrians are the latest nationality to join Nigerians, Somalis, Ethiopians and a host of others trying to get to Europe.

The boats usually come from Libya. A criminal network guides these people to the sea and on to Europe, although the chances of making it are often no better than 50/50.

The chaos of Libya means there is no law enforcement, so Europe's protection is down to Malta, Italy and Spain.

The centre holds migrants from Nigeria, Somalia and Ethiopia

Malta's minuscule military has tens of thousands of miles of sea to patrol. Simply put, it can't manage.

The prime minister wants a UN force to control Libya's ports and is demanding, along with other Mediterranean nations, that richer northern nations such as the UK do more, pay more and take more responsibility.

Mr Muscat will tell European leaders that countries receiving their aid money must find ways to screen people wanting to migrate.

He says that illegal immigrants who do not pass muster for legitimate immigration should be repatriated by Europe working as a united body.

"Europe is trying to tackle a problem with tools of the past. It's like trying to send an e-mail on a fax machine," he told Sky News in the magnificent surroundings of the PM's official castle built to protect Europe centuries ago.

"It is a European problem and global problem."

More migrants arrive in Malta every week

Accusing Europe of "hypocrisy" over the immigration issue, he says European leaders will "talk" and do nothing.

"It is all wrong. I turn down applications on a technicality. But if they get on a boat and come here illegally they stay and make it to Europe. They are making people act like criminals," he said.

"We could have said 'tough luck' when they wanted money for the bailouts. But we did the right thing. We need solidarity now."

The truth is that in Europe, where more than 270,000 people claimed asylum last year, governments do not like the whole immigration issue one bit.

Politically, it could cost an election, so they dodge it - or at least dodge giving an easy welcome to anyone, even if they are legitimate asylum seekers rather than benefit fraudsters.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ireland: Roma Child Removals To Be Investigated

A watchdog will investigate why two children in Ireland were taken from their Roma families and put into state care.

The Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan, will review the circumstances that led to Irish police removing the children from their homes.

She will receive two reports - from the Garda Commissioner and the Health Service Executive (HSE) - in two weeks' time.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter said it was important that the incidents - one in a Dublin suburb and the other a town in the Irish midlands - were reviewed independently, but insisted he believes the authorities acted in good faith.

"I've no doubt that in these two cases the Garda acted in good faith," Mr Shatter said.

"Fortunately it turned out that the concerns that arose in these cases were unfounded, and I'm very keen to ensure that any lessons that need to be learned are learned."

The Roma family of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed schoolgirl removed from them by Garda has supported calls for an independent investigation after tests proved she is their daughter.

A lawyer said they believed the authorities had no proper basis for their action after the seven-year-old was taken into state care for two nights.

A member of the public raised concerns about her appearance compared to relatives in the south Dublin suburb of Tallaght.

DNA results proved she belonged to her parents, who maintained she was theirs since she was taken by authorities on Monday afternoon.

Earlier, a Roma family in Athlone was reunited with their two-year-old son, who had been removed and spent Tuesday night in state care.

The toddler, also blond and blue-eyed, was returned after Garda were satisfied he was in fact theirs.

It comes amid fears there is hysteria after the case of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl named Maria who was found with a Roma family in Greece.

The Garda and health chiefs have been accused of racial profiling.

Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister also said questions need to be answered as to why the decisions were taken, and by whom to remove the children from their families.

Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore said the ordeal must have been "very distressing" for those involved, and wanted to know the nature of the complaints that were made to police, which would have justified their concerns for the youngsters.

"Every child in this country and every family in this country, irrespective of their ethnic background, their religious background and any other background, is given the same rights," Mr Gilmore said.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Germany Summons US Envoy Over Spying Row

US Spying And The Moral High Ground

Updated: 1:16pm UK, Thursday 24 October 2013

All nations spy, but not all nations claim they have liberal values and transparent government.

For those that do, it is a little embarrassing to be caught spying on your friends and military allies.

To be caught listening in on the private phone calls of the head of government of an ally is to be embarrassed on a different level.

Hence we see the presence of the US Ambassador to Berlin at the German foreign ministry.

Mr John B Emerson was called in to see foreign minister Guido Westerwelle for a touch of "clarification" on remarks made by the White House on Wednesday night.

This follows a call to Chancellor Angela Merkel's office by the Der Spiegel newspaper.

It asked a question which was probably based on some of Edward Snowden's files, to which it has access: "Has the US been tapping the mobile phone of the Chancellor?"

Der Spiegel says Germany's Federal Intelligence Service had enough information for Mrs Merkel to phone Barack Obama and ask the same question.

The Chancellery was confident enough to make public the call.

Within an hour, White House spokesman Jay Carney came up with an answer: "The  President assured the Chancellor that the United States is not monitoring, and will not monitor, the communications of the Chancellor."

Sadly, at the time of writing, the White House press corps did not appear to have asked the obvious question which arises from such a slippery answer: "OK - is not, and will not monitor, but has it monitored?"

President Obama has now found himself on the receiving end of phone calls from several indignant presidents.

The leaders of Brazil, Mexico, France, and Germany have all made it clear they take a dim view of activities of the American intelligence agencies in their own countries.

Brazil's President, Dilma Rouseff, even went so far as to cancel a state visit to Washington DC.

The US administration is now asking itself how much damage all of this is causing.

Some officials argue that spy storms come and go, but relationships survive.

Others agree about survival but say the relationships will be weakened and that America's standing in the world is damaged in the long term.

It is well known that Russia spies on Britain, which spies on China, which spies on America, which spies on … well, everyone it now appears.

Spying on enemies is obvious, and spying on trade partners is tolerated even if measures are taken to prevent it.

Spying on allies is frowned upon even if most countries do it while taking counter measures.

The French are well known to have been trying to steal everyone's business secrets for decades, and very good they are it too.

The golden rule is: don't get caught and don't embarrass us in public and remember, when it comes to allies, there are limits.

If the French and Americans wanted to know their respective positions ahead of a crucial UN Security Council vote, which was in the balance, they might use a variety of measures to find out.

If some of those measures were, perhaps, questionable and became public, it would be embarrassing but, behind the scenes, both sides would shrug their shoulders.

However, listening into the private calls of a head of government of a key ally is crossing a line - it is personal, a question of trust in a personal relationship, and it is impossible to justify in public.

Therefore, if the claims are true, the Americans have a stark choice.

In their democracy, with its open government, and liberal values, what has the greater value? The information you get from spying on friends at the highest levels or the moral standing you have among those friends and global public opinion?

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Madeleine McCann: Portugal Cops Reopen Case

Madeleine: Key Events Timeline

Updated: 3:44pm UK, Thursday 24 October 2013

Here is a timeline of the key events since Madeleine McCann's disappearance.

2007

:: May 3 - Kate and Gerry McCann leave their three children asleep in their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz while they dine with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant.

Jane Tanner, one of the friends eating with the McCanns, later reports seeing a man carrying a child away earlier that night.

:: May 5 - Portuguese police reveal they believe Madeleine was abducted but is still alive and in Portugal, and say they have a sketch of a suspect.

:: May 14 - Detectives take Anglo-Portuguese man Robert Murat in for questioning and make him an "arguido", or official suspect.

:: May 25 - Detectives release a description of the man reported by Jane Tanner three weeks earlier after pressure from the McCanns, their legal team and the British Government.

:: May 30 - Mr and Mrs McCann meet the Pope in Rome in the first of a series of trips around Europe and beyond to highlight the search for their daughter.

:: August 6 - A Portuguese newspaper reports that British sniffer dogs have found traces of blood on a wall in the McCanns' holiday apartment.

:: August 11 - Exactly 100 days after Madeleine disappeared, investigating officers publicly acknowledge for the first time that she could be dead.

:: September 7 - During further questioning of Mr and Mrs McCann, detectives make them both "arguidos" in their daughter's disappearance.

:: September 9 - The McCanns fly back to England with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie.

:: October 2 - Goncalo Amaral, the detective in charge of the inquiry, is removed from the case after criticising the British police in a Portuguese newspaper interview.

:: October 25 - The McCanns release a new artist's impression drawn by an FBI-trained expert showing the man described by Jane Tanner.

2008

:: March 19 - Mr and Mrs McCann accept £550,000 libel damages and front-page apologies from Express Newspapers over allegations they were responsible for Madeleine's death.

:: April 7 - Three Portuguese detectives, led by Paulo Rebelo, fly to Britain to re-interview the seven friends on holiday with the McCanns when Madeleine vanished.

:: July 17 - Mr Murat receives £600,000 in libel damages from four newspaper groups over "seriously defamatory" articles connecting him with the child's disappearance.

:: July 21 - The Portuguese authorities shelve their investigation and lift the "arguido" status of the McCanns and Mr Murat.

:: August 4 - Thousands of pages of evidence from the Portuguese police files in the exhaustive investigation into Madeleine's disappearance are made public.

2009

:: January 13 - Mr McCann returns to Portugal for the first time since coming back to the UK without his daughter.

:: March 24 - The McCanns launch a localised new appeal for information focused on the area in the Algarve where Madeleine disappeared.

:: April 4 - Mr McCann goes back to Portugal to help film a reconstruction of the events on the night his daughter vanished.

:: April 22 - The McCanns fly to the US to record an interview with chat show host Oprah Winfrey to mark two years since Madeleine's disappearance.

:: June 14 - Dying paedophile Raymond Hewlett says he was in the Algarve when Madeleine disappeared and has an alibi - but has no plans to reveal it.

:: August 6 - Detectives say they are hunting a "Victoria Beckham lookalike" with an Australian or New Zealand accent, reportedly seen in Barcelona three days after the little girl went missing.

2010

:: Feb 18 -  Kate and Gerry McCann say they are "pleased and relieved" at a judge's decision to uphold a ban on a book by former detective Goncalo Amaral.

:: Mar 3 -  A newly-released file from Portugese police on possible sightings is called "gold dust" and could lead to a breakthrough, says a spokesman for the McCanns.

:: May 1 - Kate McCann reveals she had thoughts about being "wiped out" in a motorway crash to end the pain of losing Madeleine - but vows never to give up.

:: November 10 - Madeleine's parents launch an online petition to help force a UK and Portuguese joint review of all evidence in the case.

:: November 15 -  The McCanns sign a deal to write a book about their daughter's disappearance.

2011

:: May 13 - The Prime Minister David Cameron asks London's Metropolitan Police to help investigate the case.

:: November 23 - Kate and Gerry McCann appear at the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics.

They tell how media pressure affected their family life and accuse newspaper editors of hampering the search for their missing daughter.

Kate McCann says she felt "violated" when her diary was published without her permission.

:: December 5 - Scotland Yard detectives spend time in Barcelona as part of their re-examination of the case.

2012

:: March 9 - Portuguese police in Oporto launch a review of the original investigation.

:: April 26 - Scotland Yard says Madeleine McCann may still be alive and release an artist's impression of what she may look like as a nine-year-old.

:: July 6 - British detectives examine a claim that the little girl's body is buried near the apartment from where she vanished. It comes after a self-styled investigator sends police radar scans he claims show a burial site.

2013

:: Feb 11 - Gerry McCann calls for politicians to implement the conclusions of the Leveson Inquiry in full, backed by legislation.

:: Feb 13 - Police say the results of DNA tests on a girl in New Zealand who was mistaken for Madeleine reveal that she is not the missing British girl.

:: Feb 21 - Retired solicitor Tony Bennett who published claims that Madeleine McCann's parents caused her death is given a suspended jail sentence.

:: May 2 - Madeleine McCann's parents tell Sky News a police review into their daughter's disappearance is making "excellent progress" as they mark the sixth anniversary since she went missing.

:: May 17 - Scotland Yard say they have identified a number of "people of interest" they want to speak to. It believes it has found enough evidence to reopen the case but the Portuguese authorities are still resistant. 

:: June 15 - The Home Office agrees to fund a full-scale investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

:: October 13 - UK detectives reviewing the case say key details in the timeline of her disappearance have "significantly changed".

:: October 14 - A fresh appeal is launched in a bid to find a suspect detectives say is of "vital importance", with two new separate e-fits - thought to be of the same man seen on the night Madeleine went missing - released by police.

:: October 17 - Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, who is leading the Scotland Yard team, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, and Mr and Mrs McCann meet officers in Lisbon to be briefed on the Portuguese case.

:: October 23 - Britain's most senior police officer Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe defends the way the Portuguese dealt with the initial investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, saying it would have been "very difficult" to immediately know if they were dealing with a serious crime.

:: October 24 - Detectives in Portugal reopen the investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance after an internal review uncovers new lines of inquiry and witnesses who were never questioned during the original Portuguese investigation.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Syrian Refugee Rescue Caught On Film

By Stuart Ramsay, Chief Correspondent

Illegal immigrants are dying in the Mediterranean in record numbers because criminal gangs know that rich northern European countries such as the UK are too scared to address the issue of international migration because of domestic politics.

As European leaders meet this week to discuss demands for help from frontline countries like Malta, Sky News has obtained exclusive pictures of the moment hundreds of Syrians are left swimming for their lives over a hundred miles from shore.

Hundreds of refugees were tipped into the sea when their boat sank

Mediterranean countries say the whole European Union has to do more and must ignore local politics to help genuine refugees.

There is nothing more scary that being in heavy waters in a rubber dinghy when you are fleeing a war-torn country and you are already completely exhausted.

For refugees and illegal migrants that is normal. Life is basically terrible.

Malta, Spain and Italy are trying to deal with this daily problem.

Survivors scrambled onto life rafts thrown to them by the Maltese navy

The system is not perfect and to be frank they are not being as vigilant as they could be because they cannot really cope with what is going on.

This is a huge international problem that has been going on for years - but nobody so far has done anything significant to stop it.

Sky News obtained a remarkable series of videos from the Maltese government that show for the first time an entire rescue.

The migrants' boat has been shot at by Libyan gunmen who are traffickers and have not been paid off.

Young children were among those pulled from the water

Within hours the boat either capsizes or sinks, with Syrian migrants dumped into the sea.

By chance a Maltese spotter plane sees them and a rescue mission, lasting more than 20 hours, begins.

This man does not know if his two children survived

The spotter plane drops a life raft that gives the survivors a point to aim for. They swim in their dozens to try to find something to hold onto.

It will take over an hour of treading water before the rescue boats arrive. Many people die in this time.

Patrol boats and launch vessels pick the survivors from the sea. This is a joint venture between the Maltese and the Italian navy.

Men, women and children are transferred from the rubber boats to the safety of the patrol vessels.

Among them, a little girl and her father clutching one another survived. Her twin sister has died; her mother, his pregnant wife, perished trying to save the girl.

They know nothing of this as they stand on the rescue ship deck being dried. As with all these disasters many families are split forever in the rescue.

On shore the Syrian migrants wait in a detention centre for news of family members who have simply disappeared. A man cries in anguish and writes on a shoe box: "Where are my two children?"

A translator says he does not know if they are dead or not.

A doctor represents the people in an emotional appeal for more information. I speak to him quietly. I ask why a paediatrician is here, risking this dreadful trip.

"We have no choice, Stuart, you know that," he says. "It is too dangerous in Syria so I decided to take my family to somewhere safe.

"But this has been terrible. Worse than I ever imagined."

I ask if he would do it again.

"Yes," he says. "There is no choice."

These are not work-shy foreigners looking for benefits. These are refugees.

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Irish Roma Family Await Decision On Taken Girl

A Roma family in Ireland who had a blonde, blue-eyed girl removed from them over concerns she was not theirs are due to hear if she will be returned.

The seven-year-old was taken into care on Monday when a member of the public reported the youngster was living with the family in a house in the south Dublin suburb of Tallaght.

It follows the case in Greece where a four-year-old girl, known as Maria, was taken into care, and a Roma couple were charged with abduction.

Police spent several hours at the property in Dublin after asking for the family to produce documents to confirm the child is theirs.

It is understood a name and date of birth the parents gave does not match records with the register office.

A birth certificate was deemed to be inconclusive, and a passport bore a picture of a baby and could not be matched to the seven-year-old.

No arrests have been made, and family members are not facing an allegation of abduction.

A number of other children, believed to be the girl's siblings, were in the house at the time and not taken into care.

It is understood the police have sought to have DNA tests carried out on the child to confirm she is the daughter of the Roma couple.

Members of a group of about 15 friends and relations from the Roma community said they were upset, claiming that the girl was part of the family, and should be returned as the family have documentary proof.

Others said the girl was not the only member of the family with blonde hair.

The only similarity with the Greek case is that both girls are blonde-haired and blue-eyed, and had a different appearance from that of the couples they were found living with.

In Greece, a DNA test on Maria proved she was not related to Christos Salis, 39, and Eleftheria Dimopoulou, 40, and the couple have been held on charges of abduction and document fraud.

Authorities in Ireland briefly removed another child from a family in Athlone due to concerns about his identity.

The two-year-old boy was returned a short time after he was placed into the temporary care of the health service.

Denise Charlton, chief executive of Pavee Point, a rights groups that works on behalf of Irish travellers and the Roma community, warned against "racial profiling" following the latest incident.

"Any targeting of members of an individual community for such scrutiny, on the basis of unfounded perceptions that they are more likely than others to break the law, is wrong," she said.

A spokesman for the organisation added: "There is a real danger that precipitative action, undertaken on the basis of appearance, can create the conditions for an increase in racism and discrimination against the Roma community living here."

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pope Suspends Germany's £26m 'Bling Bishop'

Pope Francis has suspended a German Catholic bishop dubbed the "bling bishop", who spent £26m (€31m) on his new residence.

The Vatican said: "The Holy See deems it appropriate to authorise a period of leave from the diocese for Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst."

The suspended Bishop of Limburg Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst

The Most Rev Tebartz-van Elst, Bishop of Limburg, faced calls for his resignation after it was revealed that the cost of his residence was more than six times the planned amount.

His private quarters in a new diocesan building are reported to have cost some £2.47m (€2.9m) and included a 63sq m dining room and a £12,800 (€15,000) bathtub - paid for using the revenue from a religious tax in Germany.

He was investigated by a Vatican envoy after protests in his diocese against lavish spending.

The decision to suspend him was taken after Bishop Tebartz-van Elst met Pope Francis in Rome on Monday.

The Vatican did not say if the bishop would permanently leave the diocese  but it said newly-named vicar general, Monsignor Wolfgang Roesch, would administer the diocese during his "period of time away".

Protesters pray and sing in front of the new residence of the bishop

In a statement, the Vatican said the situation in the diocese had become such that Bishop Tebartz-van Elst "could no longer exercise his episcopal ministry".

The 53-year-old bishop has defended the renovation, saying it involved 10 different projects and that there were additional costs because of regulations on buildings under historical protection.

But his alleged extravagance is at odds with Pope Francis's shift of the Church's focus towards simplicity and poverty.

The soaring cost of the stately residence next to Limburg's hilltop cathedral has been strongly criticised by churchgoers and officials after it was made public by the diocese.

Anger that taxes paid to the Church by ordinary Germans are apparently being squandered has led to demonstrations outside the bishop's residence.

The bishop's new home is part of a complex of buildings

Bishop Stephan Ackermann of Treves, in West Germany, last week told Germany's public television chain ARD that the situation has "escalated to the extent that bishop Franz-Peter can no longer on principle work in Limburg".

When the cost emerged local Catholic Raimund Champert said: "Such prestige projects simply don't fit with Catholicism.

"The Church, like the Pope, has a responsibility to be humble and lead by example. We are not in the Middle Ages any more."

His wife, Roswitha Champert, added: "It's actually shameless what's going on. I may be a Catholic but I don't agree with it."

Christoph Hefter, a lay member of the diocesan council, said: "The cost is shocking, it is beyond belief."

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Australia Bushfire 'Started By Army'

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent

A massive fire burning in Australia's Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, was caused by explosives training being carried out by the Department of Defence, a probe has found.

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) said the training exercise was responsible for causing the blaze, which has burnt out more than 46,000 hectares and sparked fears of it becoming a "mega-fire".

"The investigation has concluded the fire started as a result of exploding ordnances on the range on Wednesday," said an RFS spokesman.

Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill told ABC News that even though there was no fire ban on the day the fire started, the exercise should not have gone ahead.

"I would have hoped on a day like that which was a dry day, a hot day, with the winds, the Australian military would have known it wasn't a good time to be igniting," he said.

Fire crews have been working flat-out for a week to contain the blazes

"The fire has caused great concern to my community and it just shouldn't have happened."

A Department of Defence statement said: "Defence is aware the NSW Rural Fire Service is of the view that the cause of the State Mine Fire near Lithgow was as a result of a Defence live ordnance exercise at Marangaroo Training Area."

The statement said it "continues to co-operate fully" with the investigation and is also conducting its own inquiry.

The news comes after another day of drama for the bushfire crisis in the state of New South Wales.

Strong winds and hotter temperatures forced authorities to declare the situation was "as bad as it gets" prompting all schools in the Blue Mountains region to close and many businesses to shut. Thousands of locals also fled the area.

Last week the town of Springwood and the surrounding area lost more than 200 homes.

The ruins of a fire-damaged house in the Blue Mountains

At one stage Springwood came under renewed attack as strong winds pushed burning embers towards houses.

Thick smoke hung over residential streets as water-bombing aircraft and fire trucks targeted new areas of burning bush.

Resident Craig Robinson told Sky News he was staying to protect his home, which backs onto the bush.

"I won't go until they tell me I can't stay," he said. "We feel well prepared. We have cleared around the house and we have moved out valuables, cars and animals so we will wait and see what happens."

Back burning efforts in recent days along with non-stop water bombing meant no properties were lost despite the threat and residents were told it was safe for them to return to their homes.

NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitszimmons declared firefighters had triumphed in extreme conditions.

"It would be safe to head back home tonight because the risk has been averted," he said.

Helicopters are used to drop water onto the flames

However, he warned there was still a lot of difficult and dangerous firefighting being carried out.

State premier Barry O'Farrell lauded the "magnificent planning and preparation" which helped avert disaster.

Authorities expect a southerly change to come but it will be dry and bring "fairly strong" southwest winds on Thursday, meaning the danger is still not over.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been forced to deny climate change was to blame for the fires.

Speaking on 3AW radio he said: "Look, climate change is real, as I often said, and we should take strong action against it, but these fires are certainly not a function of climate change, they are just a function of life in Australia."

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Iran Execution Survivor Saved From Hanging

An Iranian man who was found alive in a morgue after a botched execution will not be hanged for a second time.

Iran has decided to spare the life of convicted drug trafficker, identified only as Alireza M, following calls from within Iran and appeals from international rights groups against a second execution.

Justice Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi told the official IRNA news agency: "The convict who survived (the death penalty) will not be executed again.

"After putting much effort to prevent the second execution of this convict, we have received a positive response."

Earlier this month the man was pronounced dead by the attending doctor after hanging for 12 minutes from a noose suspended from a crane at a jail in the country's northeast.

But the next day, staff at the mortuary in the city of Bojnord discovered Alireza M was still breathing.

Media later reported that he had fallen into a coma.

All judicial affairs and decisions in the Islamic republic rest with the judiciary, which constitutionally operates independently from the government.

The incident led to a heated debate between jurists, with some arguing against a repeat hanging and others for.

According to the media, a petition signed by jurists and attorneys was sent to judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, appealing for a stay in the exceptional case.

Amnesty International also called for an immediate stay of execution.

Iran has one of the highest rates of execution in the world, with more than 500 cases last year and some 508 executions so far this year, according to Human Rights Watch.

Tehran says the death penalty is essential to maintain law and order, and that it is applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings.

Murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and adultery are among the crimes punishable by death in Iran, based on its interpretation of sharia law in force since its 1979 Islamic revolution.

22.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Foreign Ministers 'Fully United' On Syria

A group of Western states and Arab powers have agreed to put their "united and collective weight" behind calls for a UN-led peace process in Syria.

The Friends of Syria group, meeting in London, called on both sides in the civil war to participate in next month's peace summit in Geneva.

It also pledged its continued support to the Syrian National Coalition (SNC), an umbrella group of moderate armed forces trying to overthrow Bashar al Assad.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the group was not making it a precondition of the talks next month that Assad can have no part in Syria's political future.

But he made it clear he does not expect him to play any role in a transitional administration because the SNC would never agree to his participation.

"The only sustainable way to end this conflict and the suffering of innocent Syrian civilians is through a political transition in Syria," he said.

William Hague called on the Syrian opposition to fully commit

"The purpose of our meeting today has been to send a signal of our resolve, unity and determination in bringing that about."

He condemned the Assad regime for "laying siege" to the Syrian people and "presiding over a humanitarian catastrophe".

And he said the Government was using tanks, torture and scud missiles as it continued its "record of utter abuse and suppression".

Mr Hague also revealed that Britain would unveil more support for the Syrian opposition before the summit in Switzerland in November.

He described it as "substantial non-lethal support" which is likely to include communication, medical and logistics equipment.

"It will help them to save lives on the ground," he said.

The Friends of Syria group includes the British foreign minister and those of 10 other countries.

Failure to have agreed a united front could have jeopardised the chances of the Geneva conference, due on November 23, from taking place.

Calling Geneva II, it is intended to build on last year's Geneva agreement where most countries including Russia signed up to a rough road map intended to bring peace.

Mr Hague said the countries had agreed to put its "united and collective weight" behind the Geneva II process, which looks to create a transitional governing body.

He insisted this would offer the Syrian people "the best hope to improve their lives" and urged the Syrian National Coalition to fully commit to it.

However, Syrian opposition chief Ahmad Jarba was reportedly set to tell Western and Arab allies he would only attend talks aimed at removing Assad from power.

According to the text of a speech he was due to give at the London meeting, he was due to warn the opposition would otherwise lose credibility.

The address, seen by Reuters, says: "Geneva cannot succeed and we cannot take part if it allows Assad to gain more time to spill the blood of our people while the world looks on."

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

'White Widow' Lewthwaite's Ode To Bin Laden

By Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent

The British terror suspect sought by police following the Nairobi shopping mall massacre wrote a poem in praise of Osama bin Laden in which she warned that al Qaeda is "stronger and fiercer" than ever, Sky News can reveal.

Samantha Lewthwaite - known as the "White Widow" - pledged to continue the fight to bring terror to the West and suggested she was prepared to be a martyr for the Islamic cause.

In the 34-line Ode To Osama, which was found by police on a computer in her Kenyan home, Lewthwaite said her love for the mastermind of the September 11 attacks "is like no other".

She lamented his death in 2011 at the hands of American special forces and called on Muslims to follow his example.

Investigators found an "Ode to Osama" on Lewthwaite's computer

"Us we are left to continue what you started," she wrote.

"To seek the victory until we are martyred. To instill (sic) terror into kuffar (non-Muslims) …Your life an example of how we should be.

"Oh Muslims listen to our beloved sheik's words, Let not his struggle and efforts go unheard, Revive what he started and strive to success, Then maybe we can be raised with the best."

The British suspect rented an apartment overlooking the Junction mall

Lewthwaite was married to July 7 bomber Jermaine Lindsay and lived with him in Buckinghamshire before the 2005 attacks. They had two children together.

Last year it emerged she had left Britain for East Africa and had been linked to the al Qaeda terror group al Shabaab.

Despite her sorrow at bin Laden's death, she warned the West - and US President Barack Obama - that the jihad was not over.

Sky News gained access to a flat directly below the one Lewthwaite rented

"As for our enemies our words will be less," she wrote.

"You picked the wrong army to contest. Al Qaeda are stronger and fiercer than ever. Their (sic) was no victory for you Mr Obama The honour is his on martyred Osama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

As part of an investigation, Sky News has discovered that Lewthwaite, who is being hunted by Interpol in the aftermath of the Westgate Shopping Mall massacre, lived in a flat in the Kenyan capital overlooking a different shopping centre  for seven months in 2011.

Sky's Alex Crawford spoke to a block supervisor, who recognised Lewthwaite

She used her South African alias Natalie Faye Webb while she rented the apartment with her four children.

Sky News sources who are involved in the hunt for her have said this was one of three addresses she acquired in the capital.

It is the first time she has been specifically placed in the city where last month's attack, which left at least 67 people dead, took place.

Lewthwaite rented the apartment using her known alias, Natalie Faye Webb

Detectives examining the hard drive of a computer left at her house in Mombasa found several self-portraits of Lewthwaite, including one where she posed with two of her children.

They also discovered evidence which led them to an apartment block in Nairobi overlooking the Junction shopping mall, which British and Kenyan intelligence believe was a potential target for the al Shabaab terror group with which Lewthwaite has been linked.

She lived there with her four children and despite having no apparent income paid 60,000 shillings (nearly £500) a month for the three-bedroom flat.

The clean-up at the site of the Westgate mall attacks is ongoing

A man from the apartment block said she used to go shopping at the nearby mall - popular just like Westgate with wealthy expats - for up to four hours at a time.

Police also traced a flash drive back to her which showed the British woman who married a suicide bomber had spent eight years researching chemicals, explosive ingredients and how to make bombs.

One document she downloaded is entitled the Mujahideen explosives handbook.

The examination of her hard drive showed she had also Googled a significant number of dieting and fitness sites, including websites with workout routines to help you lose weight and makeover sites which demonstrated how to have hair like the singer Taylor Swift.

Out of nearly 2,000 files found, a vast number were about health and body image, and she had downloaded documents about getting started in bodybuilding and visited one site about self-defence.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Australia: Bushfire Conditions Set To Worsen

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent

Fire conditions are expected to worsen in the New South Wales Blue Mountains, with anyone without a reason to be in the area warned to get out.

Firefighters in the southeast of the country have been struggling to contain raging bushfires, which have been burning for more than a week.

The Blue Mountains national park 50 miles west of Sydney has been one of the worst-affected areas.

More than 200 properties have been destroyed and one 63-year-old man lost his life, suffering a heart attack while trying to protect his home.

Bushfires have ripped through properties with devastating force

With strong winds and high temperatures set to return on Wednesday, firefighters are preparing to face an active fire edge nearly a mile long.

Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons warned: "This will be as bad as it gets.

"On days like tomorrow there's a very real potential for more loss of homes and life.

"It's a difficult, dynamic, dangerous fire ground situation."

The weather conditions will be worse than initially feared, leading to widespread extreme fire danger ratings.

Sky News spoke to Andrew and Tracy Curtis whose home was razed to the ground last week in the village of Winmalee.

The couple were both at work as their home burned - even Mrs Curtis's workplace was under threat from the flames.

"Tracy rang me to say, 'It's not looking good, I don't think I'm gonna make it. I'm gonna say goodbye, I love you'," said Mr Curtis.

Mrs Curtis explained how she thought the worst was going to happen.

"All I could see was just the flames around us - the embers coming towards the building. That's when I freaked," she said.

Fire crews on standby in the Blue Mountains, 50 miles west of Sydney

Thousands of firefighters and 90 aircraft are battling 57 fires, 17 of them uncontained, on the sixth day of the state's bushfire emergency.

Some light rain in the region has done little to ease the situation.

All Blue Mountains schools, pre-schools and childcare centres will be closed on Wednesday and some nursing homes are being evacuated.

Emergency Services Minister Michael Gallacher is telling parents to keep their children close.

"It's not a day off where mum and dad can let the kids out tomorrow into the community," he told parliament.

"We are asking parents or those who are guardians of children to keep those children under your care, under your direction tomorrow because the situation is so fluid."

The temperatures are expected to drop on Thursday, but a dry change will bring strong southwesterly winds of up to 50mph through the fire-affected areas.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Maria: Police Investigate Lisa Irwin Lead

Mystery Blonde Girl: Eight 'Promising' Leads

Updated: 11:32pm UK, Sunday 20 October 2013

A charity looking after a young girl who was found living with a Roma family in Greece say they have eight "promising" leads in relation to her case.

Authorities have put out a worldwide appeal to help identify the four-year-old-child - known as 'Maria' - and find her real family.

The youngster was discovered living in squalid conditions in a Roma camp near the town of Farsala on Wednesday after a raid by police looking for drugs and weapons.

It is thought she may have been trafficked or abducted.

South Yorkshire Police have said "there appears to be no direct correlation" between this case and the disappearance of Ben Needham who was 21 months old when he went missing on the Greek island of Koss in 1991.

In a statement they said: "The case of Ben Needham continues to be investigated by the Greek authorities and South Yorkshire Police continues to support his family.

"No investigation is currently being carried out by the Force in light of this recent case and officers from South Yorkshire Police will only become involved should authorities in Greece require our assistance."

The Smile Of The Child charity told Sky News it had received more than 5,000 calls from Greece and abroad, and thousands of emails from the United States, Europe and Australia.

It said of the eight "promising" calls, four were from the US, and one each from Sweden, France, Canada and Poland, and the organisation was passing the information to police.

Charity spokesman Panos Pardalis Dresios said the girl, who is in hospital, was playing with her toys and "feeling much better".

He added: "What we're trying to do is for the kid to be calmed down and to play, and the experts will be the ones who will decide how they're going to deal with this."

Maria was found with people who were pretending to be her parents, but DNA tests later proved they were not.

The couple, a 39-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman, were arrested and charged with abducting a minor.

But a man calling himself Kostas, the brother of the 39-year-old male, said Maria was very loved and cared for.

"We got this girl in a very nice way. We raised her. We got her. She was given to us and we raised her," he said.

"She had problems with her eyes. We took her to the doctor, we took her everywhere. We didn't take her to sell her. We loved her so much, with so much passion."

Giorgos Tsakiris, the general secretary of the Roma association in Farsala, said the girl had a good life with the people who were raising her.

He said: "I can tell you better than her other siblings, the biological ones. She spent her days very well and that is why the little girl loves them and what they say about abductions is not true."

After police raided the camp, an officer became suspicious when he noticed Maria bore no likeness to her supposed family.

Further investigations into the couple raised even more suspicions.

Authorities allege the mother claimed to have given birth to six children in less than 10 months, while 10 of the 14 children the couple registered as their own are unaccounted for.

Maria's discovery has given hope to the family of Ben Needham, a British boy who disappeared from outside his grandparent's farmhouse on the Greek island of Kos in 1991.

The news of Maria being found has also buoyed the hopes of missing Madeleine McCann's parents.

Clarence Mitchell, a spokesman for Kate and Gerry McCann, said: "They have always maintained that until there is evidence to prove otherwise missing children can still be out there waiting to be found."

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Royal Prank Radio Boss Says '**** Happens'

The boss of a media company whose radio station made a prank call to the hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth has come under fire after telling shareholders: "**** happens".

Max Moore-Wilton, chairman of Southern Cross Media, mentioned the prank by 2Day FM DJs Michael Christian and Mel Greig as he spoke to shareholders in Australia.

Nurse Jacintha Saldanha, who put the presenters through to a colleague thinking they were the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, was found dead three days after information about Kate's condition was revealed.

Kate was being treated for acute morning sickness at the time of the prank

The mother-of-two is believed to have taken her own life.

Asked about Ms Saldanha's death, which led to a global backlash against 2Day FM, Mr Moore-Wilton told an AGM in Melbourne: "These incidents were unfortunate, no doubt about that.

"But in the immortal words of someone whose identity I cannot recall, **** happens."

MP Keith Vaz, who started helping Ms Saldanha's family soon after her death, branded the comments "an insult to the memory of a loving mother and wife".

"The radio station has clearly not learnt the lessons from this incident," he said.

"Mr Moore-Wilton must apologise for his comments immediately."

Ms Saldanha reportedly criticised Mr Christian and Ms Greig in one of several notes left in nurses' quarters at King Edward VII Hospital, London, where her body was found in December last year.

An inquest into her death has been postponed twice and a new date has yet to be set.

Ms Greig is expected to travel to London to give evidence at the hearing, which will also hear from the nurse who was duty on the night Ms Saldanha died.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

India School Meal Deaths: Principal Charged

Police in India have charged a school principal and her husband with murder after 23 children died from eating their school meal.

The children, aged between four and 12, fell ill on July 16 after their midday meal was contaminated with pesticide.

Police believe the poisoning was intentional and say the couple bought the substance two days before the tragedy.

Headteacher Meena Devi and husband Arjun Rai face at least five charges, including murder and attempted murder, said local police superintendent Varun Kumar Sinha.

The poisoning took place at a village primary school in the Saran district of northeastern Bihar state.

Children suffered from stomach cramps and vomiting after eating the food

The two suspects went on the run after the deaths, leading to attacks on their house, but handed themselves in just over a week later.

Children at the school had begun vomiting and suffering stomach cramps within minutes of eating the meal, which contained lentils, potatoes and rice.

A forensic report later showed the oil the food was cooked in contained the pesticide monocrotophos at very high levels.

The deaths sparked protests from parents and local people

The World Health Organisation said it had asked India to ban the toxic substance as far back as 2009.

The tragedy sparked local protests and started a national debate about the world's largest school meals programme, where preparation is often unhygienic.

Despite concerns, the lunches are hugely popular with poor families and authorities see them as a way of increasing school attendance and fighting malnourishment.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Australia Bushfires Prompt 'Mega-Fire' Fears

A "mega-fire" is threatening southeastern Australia as fears grow that strong winds expected later this week could merge two huge bushfires that firefighters are trying to tame.

Crews have been battling fires that flared in high winds and searing heat across the state of New South Wales since last week.

The flames have destroyed 200 homes and left many others damaged.

While dozens of blazes have been contained, 63 were still alight and 17 of them out of control, enveloping Sydney in a thick white smoke haze that prompted warnings for people to stay indoors and avoid exercising.

Volunteer firefighter Mark O'Carrigan has lived in the area all his life

Volunteer firefighter Mark O'Carrigan, who has lived in the affected mountains all his life, told Sky News there had been times in the last few days when it was "pretty bloody scary".

Efforts had been hampered by people who hadn't prepared their homes for the ever-present possibility of fire but there had also been great camaraderie.

He said thousands of volunteers had come from all over Australia to help fight the fires and the response he had seen was "amazing".

"I had a volunteer firefighter ring me up to thank me for my hospitality. I couldn't believe the guy when I am so indebted to him for having saved my house.

"They are amazing people and they do it for free."

Tea cups sit on a letterbox at a home destroyed by bushfire

The main area of concern on Monday was near the town of Lithgow, west of Sydney, where a fire with a perimeter of 187 miles has already burned more than 103,000 acres. It threatens the communities of Bilpin, Bell, Clarence and Dargan.

Officials fear intensifying heat and winds this week could push it into another blaze at nearby Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains and then move towards the populated areas of Katoomba and Leura.

"I don't think I've ever used the word mega-fire," said New South Wales rural fire service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.

"But the reality is that the modelling indicates that there's every likelihood that in the forecast weather conditions that these two fires, particularly up in the back end of the mountains, will merge at some point."

The Australian military is investigating whether it was responsible for starting the blaze, northwest of Sydney.

Lyndon Dunlop with his father among the ruins of his grandparents' home

The Australian Defence Force said its personnel were carrying out explosive ordnance training in the area on Wednesday, the day the blaze started.

Meanwhile, an 11-year-old boy has been charged with deliberately lighting two fires on the New South Wales Central Coast last week.

One of those fires forced hundreds of people to flee their homes and saw the closure of Newcastle airport.

Another boy, aged 15, was arrested over one of those blazes but has not been charged.

Sue Dunlop sits in front of her home of 41 years which was destroyed

A 14-year-old has been charged with starting a separate fire on Sunday near Rutherford, a suburb north of Sydney, which was quickly extinguished. 

Amid the worst fire disaster in the state for nearly 50 years, New South Wales declared a state of emergency on Sunday, which gives firefighters the power to forcibly evacuate people, with penalties for refusing.

Emergency Services Minister Mike Gallacher said every possible resource was being used, including firefighters being drafted in from interstate and the possibility that the military could also be deployed.

"Everything is being thrown at this, I can assure you," he said.

With hundreds of people evacuated from their homes due to the encroaching flames, police have revealed they are dealing with reports of looting from victims, although the number of incidents is small.

State Premier Barry O'Farrell called looters "scumbags" and vowed to track them down.

"I'm just appalled that at these critical times, when people have been evacuated from homes or whether people have left homes because of fire dangers, that other scumbags in the community would front up and seek to rob them," he said.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

Facebook Down: Users Unable To Update Status

Facebook has said it has fixed a problem which prevented users around the world updating their status or interacting with friends.

Some of the website's estimated 1.15 billion members were shown an an error message which read: "Couldn't update status. There was a problem updating your status. Please try again in a few minutes."

Some users also said they were unable to 'Like' posts, post comments or upload photos, although others experienced no difficulties using the website.

Hundreds of comments about the apparent service outage appeared on Twitter every few minutes.

A spokesman for Facebook said: "While performing some network maintenance, we experienced an issue that prevented some users from posting to Facebook for a brief period of time.

"We resolved the issue quickly and we are now back to 100%.

"We're sorry for any inconvenience we may have caused."

Michael Allen, a director at Compuware Corporation, which tracks internet down time using its Outage Analyzer tool, said the apparent technical problems would have had an "enormous impact" on millions of people.

He said at least 3,500 other websites were affected, "although the actual number is likely to be far greater".

"This is because many other businesses and websites are connected to Facebook through the integration of its services," he said.

"For example, Facebook is used to enable people to login to many other sites and applications.

"Any organisation that is seeing errors or slowdowns with their own site or application should check to see if they are relying on Facebook services before they start fire fighting, as this might be the cause."

Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerburg, Facebook has around 700 million daily active users, according to its own figures.

It stores more than 100 petabytes (107 billion megabytes) of photos and videos at its three US data centres in Oregon, North Carolina and Iowa, as well as a fourth in Lulea, Sweden.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More

South Africa Toddler Murders: Man Confesses

A man arrested on suspicion of raping and murdering two toddlers in a Johannesburg slum has confessed, prosecutors have said.

The case sparked violent riots last week when people blocked roads with burning tyres and pelted police with rocks.

The man, in his late 20s, appeared in court briefly on Monday on two counts each of murder, kidnapping and rape, said prosecution spokesman Medupe Simasiku.

He was arrested on Friday after the two cousins' bodies were discovered in a communal toilet cubicle earlier in the week in the Diepsloot shantytown.

The girls, who were two and three years old, were raped and strangled.

Four suspected accomplices have also been detained but they have not confessed.

All five will appear in court together on Thursday.

South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world. About 16,000 people are killed a year, according to official statistics.

More than half the 54,000 crimes against children reported in the period from 2010 to 2011 were sexual offences, according to UN children's organisation Unicef.

22.56 | 0 komentar | Read More