The United States said on Thursday that Israel had the right to defend itself against rocket attacks from the militant Palestinian group Hamas and praised the Jewish state for "great restraint" in recent days. Israeli air strikes on Thursday destroyed a Hamas security headquarters and a car carrying one of the group's top commanders. Israel had threatened a "severe" response to cross-border rocket attacks that have persisted despite a troop and settler pullout from Gaza in 2005. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack urged restraint on all sides but said Israel had the right to respond to rocket attacks from Hamas. "Israel has the right to defend itself and it has exercised great restraint in the face of these rocket attacks," McCormack told reporters. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke earlier to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as well as Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert about the latest violence pitting Abbas' Fatah movement against Hamas. Israel has also launched deadly air strikes against the Islamists."She wanted to talk to them directly and see how they saw the situation," said McCormack of the calls Rice made to the two leaders. "We certainly want to see a reduction or an end to the violence but let's remember how that violence started and it started with these Hamas-led forces," he added.
Source: Reuters
It looks like the US just stands by while innocent people are being killed
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Israel launches Gaza air strikes
Israel's aircraft have struck a number of targets in Gaza after it vowed a severe response to rocket attacks on its soil.
A Hamas commander died in an attack on a car and another militant was killed in a housing unit, both in Gaza City.
A raid on a Hamas office also killed one person and injured at least 45.
The attacks came as efforts to end five days of fighting between rivals Hamas and Fatah again appeared to fail. At least 40 people have now died.
Correspondents say the rocket attacks into Israel appear to be an attempt to draw it into an internal Palestinian conflict.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who leads Fatah, on Thursday suddenly called off a trip to Gaza that had been billed as an effort to shore up the fourth Hamas-Fatah ceasefire in five days.
Officials said he might now travel from Ramallah in the West Bank on Friday.
The BBC's Magdi Abdelhadi says control of the security forces appears to have been the trigger for the latest factional fighting but that it has now developed a momentum of its own.
Armed supporters on the ground may no longer be paying attention to orders from their political leadership, he adds.
On Thursday, US President George W Bush said both he and visiting UK Prime Minister Tony Blair were urging all parties to work for peace.
Source: BBC News
To read the full story, please click on the source
A Hamas commander died in an attack on a car and another militant was killed in a housing unit, both in Gaza City.
A raid on a Hamas office also killed one person and injured at least 45.
The attacks came as efforts to end five days of fighting between rivals Hamas and Fatah again appeared to fail. At least 40 people have now died.
Correspondents say the rocket attacks into Israel appear to be an attempt to draw it into an internal Palestinian conflict.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who leads Fatah, on Thursday suddenly called off a trip to Gaza that had been billed as an effort to shore up the fourth Hamas-Fatah ceasefire in five days.
Officials said he might now travel from Ramallah in the West Bank on Friday.
The BBC's Magdi Abdelhadi says control of the security forces appears to have been the trigger for the latest factional fighting but that it has now developed a momentum of its own.
Armed supporters on the ground may no longer be paying attention to orders from their political leadership, he adds.
On Thursday, US President George W Bush said both he and visiting UK Prime Minister Tony Blair were urging all parties to work for peace.
Source: BBC News
To read the full story, please click on the source
Israel Soldiers Hurt In Secret Anthrax Experiment
Dozens of Israeli soldiers are today suffering from a wide range of illnesses, some incurable, after participating in a secret experiment to develop an anthrax vaccine.
Israel's Channel 2 News reported that the soldiers have developed skin tumors, severe lung infections, serious migraine headaches, bronchitis and even epilepsy.
Some 800 Israeli soldiers from have participated in the program since 1999. They were sworn to secrecy, and forbidden to tell even their families about the program even after they began displaying serious medical symptoms.
The investigative reporter behind the expose charged that Israel's Defense Ministry has so far refused to take responsibility for the medical care of the soldiers in an effort to maintain the program's secrecy.
Syria, which some military experts fear may soon engage Israel in a war involving heavy use of long-range ballistic missiles, is believed to have a large stockpile of anthrax.
Source: AHN Media Group
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Al Fayed wants Queen quizzed over Diana's death
Lawyers for Mohamed Al Fayed today tried to embroil the Queen in the Diana, Princess of Wales, inquest.
To read the full story, please click on the source
They called for the monarch to be "directly approached" over an infamous conversation she allegedly had with the former royal butler, Paul Burrell, in which she warned him of unknown "powers" at work in this country.
Mr Burrell, who previously worked for the princess, made the claim after the collapse of his Old Bailey trial for theft.
Source: Guardian UKTo read the full story, please click on the source
Reid to expand use of Taser stun guns
The use of Taser stun guns could be extended to non-firearms police officers, the Home Office said on Wednesday.
Home Secretary John Reid is due to tell the Police Federation's annual conference in Blackpool that he wants to see more frontline police officers carrying the 50,000 volt devices.
The guns, which temporarily disable a suspect, can only be used by firearms officers at the moment, but Reid wants to extend the use to non-firearms officers working in specially trained units.
Currently, officers can only use the guns when confronted by an armed person, but under the plans, officers will also be able to use them if they face violence or threats, the BBC reported.
Taser guns have been used in 619 incidents since their introduction in the UK four years ago, a Home Office spokeswoman said.
The plans have angered human rights groups who say Tasers have been linked to dozens of deaths in America and Canada.
The Home Office said no deaths have been linked to their use in Britain.
An independent medical panel is carrying out research on whether the guns, which fire two barbed darts trailing electric wires, can cause serious injury.
If the plans get the go-ahead, trials could begin from September.
Source: Reuters UK
Home Secretary John Reid is due to tell the Police Federation's annual conference in Blackpool that he wants to see more frontline police officers carrying the 50,000 volt devices.
The guns, which temporarily disable a suspect, can only be used by firearms officers at the moment, but Reid wants to extend the use to non-firearms officers working in specially trained units.
Currently, officers can only use the guns when confronted by an armed person, but under the plans, officers will also be able to use them if they face violence or threats, the BBC reported.
Taser guns have been used in 619 incidents since their introduction in the UK four years ago, a Home Office spokeswoman said.
The plans have angered human rights groups who say Tasers have been linked to dozens of deaths in America and Canada.
The Home Office said no deaths have been linked to their use in Britain.
An independent medical panel is carrying out research on whether the guns, which fire two barbed darts trailing electric wires, can cause serious injury.
If the plans get the go-ahead, trials could begin from September.
Source: Reuters UK
Lawyer for bomber's widow condemns police
The solicitor of a woman released without charge after being arrested in connection with the July 7 bombings has condemned police for her treatment.
Last night Scotland Yard confirmed three people arrested in connection with the July 7 bombings had been released without charge.
Those released include Hasina Patel, 29, the widow of London bombings ringleader Mohammed Sidique Khan.
Ms Patel's solicitor, Imran Khan, said he was relieved his client had been released, but shocked at the way she had been treated.
He said police had destroyed relations with the Muslim community in the way they had behaved towards the widow of Mohammed Sidique Khan.
A fourth man aged 34, Khalid Khaliq, remains in custody after police were granted a warrant to detain him for further questioning until May 21.
The two men released are Ms Patel's brother Arshad and Imran Motala.
The four were arrested in a series of anti-terror raids last Wednesday, during which properties in West Yorkshire and the West Midlands were searched.
All four, held on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, were taken to the high-security Paddington Green police station in London for questioning.
Mr Khan told BBC News 24: "I'm relieved that she's out after her ordeal and shocked that the police only revealed at the last minute information which they had in their possession before Hasina was arrested which shows she had no idea, not an inkling of what Mohammed Sidique Khan was going to do."
While Mr Khan said he was not at liberty to reveal what that information was, he said it showed "clearly and unequivocally" that she knew nothing of what Sidique Khan was planning.
Source: The Independent
To read the full story, please click on the source
Last night Scotland Yard confirmed three people arrested in connection with the July 7 bombings had been released without charge.
Those released include Hasina Patel, 29, the widow of London bombings ringleader Mohammed Sidique Khan.
Ms Patel's solicitor, Imran Khan, said he was relieved his client had been released, but shocked at the way she had been treated.
He said police had destroyed relations with the Muslim community in the way they had behaved towards the widow of Mohammed Sidique Khan.
A fourth man aged 34, Khalid Khaliq, remains in custody after police were granted a warrant to detain him for further questioning until May 21.
The two men released are Ms Patel's brother Arshad and Imran Motala.
The four were arrested in a series of anti-terror raids last Wednesday, during which properties in West Yorkshire and the West Midlands were searched.
All four, held on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, were taken to the high-security Paddington Green police station in London for questioning.
Mr Khan told BBC News 24: "I'm relieved that she's out after her ordeal and shocked that the police only revealed at the last minute information which they had in their possession before Hasina was arrested which shows she had no idea, not an inkling of what Mohammed Sidique Khan was going to do."
While Mr Khan said he was not at liberty to reveal what that information was, he said it showed "clearly and unequivocally" that she knew nothing of what Sidique Khan was planning.
Source: The Independent
To read the full story, please click on the source
Fox News Hannity and Colmes double-teamed Ron Paul
After the show, Hannity and Colmes double-teamed Paul in an attempt to discredit him in the eyes of both liberals and conservatives, with Colmes going after him on abortion and Hannity chomping at the bit to smear the Texas Congressman as weak on terrorism.
Here is the video:
Police release 7/7 bomber's widow
Three people, including the widow of 7 July bomber Mohammad Sidique Khan, have been released without charge after being questioned over the 2005 attacks.
Hasina Patel, 29, brother Arshad Patel, 30, and Imran Motala, 22, were held on 9 May in West Yorkshire and Birmingham.
Police have been granted a warrant to continue to detain Khalid Khaliq, 34, of Beeston, Leeds, until next Monday.
The four had been held in London on suspicion of commissioning, preparing or instigating acts of terrorism.
Last week's arrests followed an intelligence-led operation involving Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command.
Police searched seven addresses in Dewsbury, Batley and Beeston, all in West Yorkshire, and Birmingham.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: "In all operations some people may be released early without charge while others may remain in custody for further investigation.
"This is not unusual and is to be expected in large and complex criminal investigations."
Source: BBC News
To read the full story, please click on the source
Hasina Patel, 29, brother Arshad Patel, 30, and Imran Motala, 22, were held on 9 May in West Yorkshire and Birmingham.
Police have been granted a warrant to continue to detain Khalid Khaliq, 34, of Beeston, Leeds, until next Monday.
The four had been held in London on suspicion of commissioning, preparing or instigating acts of terrorism.
Last week's arrests followed an intelligence-led operation involving Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command.
Police searched seven addresses in Dewsbury, Batley and Beeston, all in West Yorkshire, and Birmingham.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: "In all operations some people may be released early without charge while others may remain in custody for further investigation.
"This is not unusual and is to be expected in large and complex criminal investigations."
Source: BBC News
To read the full story, please click on the source
Israel Jerusalem policy condemned
The international Red Cross has privately accused Israel of reshaping Jerusalem to further its own interests, in violation of international law.
A leaked ICRC report says Israeli policy has far-reaching humanitarian consequences for Palestinians living under occupation in East Jerusalem.
Israel captured East Jerusalem in 1967, and the territory is regarded as occupied land under international law.
But Israel rejects this, and says the report's premise is, therefore, wrong.
The report says Israel shows "general disregard" for its obligations under international humanitarian law and the law of military occupation in particular.
Violations that change the status of East Jerusalem include the West Bank barrier, an outer ring of Jewish settlements around the city and roads to connect Israeli districts and settlements, the report says.
An ICRC spokesman confirmed that leaked quotations in a US newspaper were from a confidential report transmitted in February 2007 to Israel and some other governments.
Source: BBC News
To read the full story, please click on the source
A leaked ICRC report says Israeli policy has far-reaching humanitarian consequences for Palestinians living under occupation in East Jerusalem.
Israel captured East Jerusalem in 1967, and the territory is regarded as occupied land under international law.
But Israel rejects this, and says the report's premise is, therefore, wrong.
The report says Israel shows "general disregard" for its obligations under international humanitarian law and the law of military occupation in particular.
Violations that change the status of East Jerusalem include the West Bank barrier, an outer ring of Jewish settlements around the city and roads to connect Israeli districts and settlements, the report says.
An ICRC spokesman confirmed that leaked quotations in a US newspaper were from a confidential report transmitted in February 2007 to Israel and some other governments.
Source: BBC News
To read the full story, please click on the source
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Investigating Scientology
Shown last night - 8.30, Panorama went uncover to understand Scientology. The documentary showed how you shouldn't call Scientology a cult, they are a religion. The newscaster had been followed by Scientology members throughout his investigation, Tactics employed similar to secret service, and it seems that Scientology are above the law. They also use the Christian cross and have Church, but the culture of Scientology is nothing to do with Christian
BBC News Item
Past issues on Scientology issues, Tom Cruise and South Park
South Part Portion with what Scientology believe in
Keith Olbermann MSNBC news coverage
BBC News Item
Past issues on Scientology issues, Tom Cruise and South Park
South Part Portion with what Scientology believe in
Keith Olbermann MSNBC news coverage
Palestine - Civil War?
Rival Palestinian gunmen battled on the streets of Gaza on Tuesday despite a renewed pledge to curb the biggest surge of factional fighting in months.
Palestinian leaders were expected to renew their appeals for calm in speeches marking the annual "Naqba", or what Palestinians describe as the tragedy that befell them when Israel became a state in 1948.
No deaths were reported in the morning in the on-going fight for supremacy between power-sharing partners Hamas and Fatah. Ten people have been killed since a new round of violence, threatening their coalition government, erupted on Friday.
Masked gunmen ruled Gaza. Residents who risked leaving home darted across streets, shoulders hunched, to the crackle of volleys from automatic weapons.
Source: Reuters UK
To read the full story, please click on the source
Palestinian leaders were expected to renew their appeals for calm in speeches marking the annual "Naqba", or what Palestinians describe as the tragedy that befell them when Israel became a state in 1948.
No deaths were reported in the morning in the on-going fight for supremacy between power-sharing partners Hamas and Fatah. Ten people have been killed since a new round of violence, threatening their coalition government, erupted on Friday.
Masked gunmen ruled Gaza. Residents who risked leaving home darted across streets, shoulders hunched, to the crackle of volleys from automatic weapons.
Source: Reuters UK
To read the full story, please click on the source
Today a Terrorist Talks in London
Today there will be a celebration of 40 years of Occupation of Jerusalem, with the guest speaker Moshe Arens who left America as a young man to join the Zionist terror group the Irgun (see 1st source) which carried out terrorist attacks against Arab civilians and the British authorities in Palestine. Its most infamous attack was the King David Hotel Bombing which killed 91 people. After the Nakba the Irgun terrorists joined the 'Israeli Defence Force' and Moshe Arens went on to hold top posts in the Israeli government, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Ambassador to the United States. And tonight he is speaking to assembled guests in North London, to celebrate the dispossession and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians of Jerusalem.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moshe_Arens
http://www.zionist.org.uk/Event/posterpage.php?evid=174
Poster:
Yet all mainstream media are not showing this event. The question you have to ask is why?
Monday, May 14, 2007
EU boycotts 'provocative' Israeli anniversary party
Ambassadors from European Union states are to boycott celebrations of the 40th anniversary of Israel's conquest of Arab East Jerusalem this week - in the opening shot of what promises to be a challenging summer for Israeli diplomacy.
The United States ambassador, Richard Jones, is also expected to join the Europeans in snubbing the celebrations .
What Israelis commemorate as the "reunification" of their historic Jewish capital is seen by most of the international community, not to mention the Palestinians, as a unilateral attempt to pre-empt a key issue in any peaceful solution. One-third of the city's 725,000 residents are Palestinians, who have opted to reject offers of Israeli citizenship. Along with most other countries, the Europeans keep their embassies in Tel Aviv.
Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestinian parliament, yesterday welcomed the European boycott as a blow for international law and peace. "The Israelis," she said, "cannot get away with creating facts on the ground and then forcing everybody to fall in line".
Foreign diplomats are likely to be equally wary of celebrating the anniversary of the 1967 June war. Most Israelis cherish it as a glorious victory, but left-wing demonstrators reminded them last week that it heralded 40 years of occupation of Palestinian and Syrian lands.
On the Europeans' behalf, Germany, which holds the rotating presidency of the 27-member union, rejected invitations to a Jerusalem Day event at Israel's parliament on Wednesday.
A spokesman for the European Commission said: "... we do not recognise the Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem. We believe that the future of Jerusalem should be settled by negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians".
The British embassy confirmed that Tom Phillips, the ambassador, would not attend the event. "We think it is not appropriate," a spokeswoman explained, "because Jerusalem is one of the unsettled final-status issues."
The Israeli reaction was calculatedly low-key. It is not spoiling for a fight over Jerusalem at this stage. Mark Regev, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, said: "We are disappointed and unhappy that not all governments will be sending representatives."
He reiterated Israel's long-standing policy: "We have agreed that the issue of Jerusalem is part of final-status talks. We will bring our position to the table. The Palestinians will bring [theirs]. But our position is that Jerusalem will remain the united capital of the Jewish state."
The Israeli cabinet, which met yesterday in the Menachem Begin Heritage Centre overlooking the Old City, approved a 5.75 billion-shekel (£7m) package designed to strengthen Israel's hold on Jerusalem over the next five years. It includes tax relief for charities, hospitals and educational institutions; and transferring more government offices to the city.
Ehud Olmert, the Prime Minister, said the measures would "advance and encourage Jerusalem". But Mohammed Baradeh, an Arab member of the Israeli parliament, protested: "Holding the government meeting across from the walls of the Old City, celebrating the occupation, is a provocation. There will be no peace without two capital cities in Jerusalem."
Source: The Independent UK
Israelis confess to killing Palestinian-police
Israeli police arrested on Monday two Israelis who said they had murdered a Palestinian found dead in Tel Aviv, a police spokesman said. Police spotted the men, aged 21 and 25 and also citizens of France, walking in the city with blood-stained hands, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. The men told the officers they had killed a man and led them to an apartment, where a body was found. Police then arrested them. The man was identified as a 35-year-old taxi driver and an Arab resident of East Jerusalem, Rosenfeld said. "The murder was carried out on a nationalistic level," Rosenfeld said. "Police are continuing the investigation." Israeli media said the Palestinian had been stabbed in the neck. Rosenfeld said he could not elaborate on how the man was killed but said he suffered several wounds.
Source: Reuters
Source: Reuters
Rice rejects 'new Cold War' talk
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has dismissed talk of a new Cold War between Russia and the US, at the start of a visit to Moscow.
Ms Rice said "I think the parallels just frankly have no basis whatsoever", while acknowledging that "it's not an easy time" for Russian-US relations.
The Kremlin has expressed strong opposition to US plans to deploy a missile defence shield in Europe.
Washington's backing for Kosovo's independence has also been attacked.
Source: BBC News
To read the full story, please click on the source
How Much Power does the state of Israel have over the free world
Dutch Documentary: Israel Lobby
Does The Israel Lobby Stifle Free Speech? - BBC chatback
Does The Israel Lobby Stifle Free Speech? - BBC chatback
China launches Nigerian satellite
China has successfully launched a communications satellite for Nigeria.
The official Xinhua news agency says it is the first time that a foreign buyer has purchased both a Chinese satellite and its launching service.
The Nigerian Communication Satellite NIGCOMSAT-1 is expected to offer broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband internet services for Africa.
Source: BBC News
To read the full story, please click on the source
Friday, May 11, 2007
"Smart cameras" to tackle abandoned luggage alarms
A suitcase lies abandoned in a busy airport terminal. Was it planted by a bomber, or carelessly left for a couple of minutes while the owner went to buy coffee?
One of the commonest headaches facing security staff may soon be remedied with the help of "intelligent security cameras" developed by European scientists.
A newly concluded research project relies on formulae known as algorithms to enable computers to analyze video images and spot potential threats, from abandoned baggage to people loitering suspiciously.
"It's (about) developing solutions so that computers can detect abnormal behavior," said project coordinator Jean-Marc Suchier of French group Sagem Defense Securite, a unit of Safran.
For security staff at airports or railway stations, often monitoring images from dozens of surveillance cameras at once, the new technology offers the promise of picking out dangers that might otherwise be missed.
"The idea is to automatically analyze and intelligently filter all of that video, but also to add a next level of intelligence," said James Ferryman, a specialist in 'computational vision' at the University of Reading in England.
"We're talking about smart cameras which go to the next level of proactive detection."
Source: Reuters
To read the full story please click on the source
Edit: Added by Peter
Make up your own minds by what is mentioned by intelligently filter?
One of the commonest headaches facing security staff may soon be remedied with the help of "intelligent security cameras" developed by European scientists.
A newly concluded research project relies on formulae known as algorithms to enable computers to analyze video images and spot potential threats, from abandoned baggage to people loitering suspiciously.
"It's (about) developing solutions so that computers can detect abnormal behavior," said project coordinator Jean-Marc Suchier of French group Sagem Defense Securite, a unit of Safran.
For security staff at airports or railway stations, often monitoring images from dozens of surveillance cameras at once, the new technology offers the promise of picking out dangers that might otherwise be missed.
"The idea is to automatically analyze and intelligently filter all of that video, but also to add a next level of intelligence," said James Ferryman, a specialist in 'computational vision' at the University of Reading in England.
"We're talking about smart cameras which go to the next level of proactive detection."
Source: Reuters
To read the full story please click on the source
Edit: Added by Peter
Make up your own minds by what is mentioned by intelligently filter?
Rumsfeld Keeps Ghastly 9/11 Souvenirs
The Justice Department investigation that criticized FBI agents for taking souvenirs from the World Trade Center site also found that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and a high-ranking FBI official kept items from the Sept. 11 attack scenes.
To read the full story, please click on the following link: TruthEra
I was very surprised to read the following, I do find this disrespectful to the victims of 9-11.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
ID card costs rise above £5bn
The official cost of the controversial ID card scheme has risen to £5.31bn.
The figures were released as Tony Blair announced his departure, leading to claims from the opposition that the government was "burying bad news".
The Tories and Lib Dems also claimed that the Home Office broke the law by releasing the updated figures a month later than they should have.
The Home Office put the £400m increased costs down to extra staff carrying out vetting and extra anti-fraud measures.
To read the full story, please click here: BBC News
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