Minggu, 21 Mei 2017
Sydney siege: Families criticise 'outrageous' police tactics
Relatives of two hostages who died in the Sydney siege have criticised police over their handling of the incident.
In December 2014, self-styled Islamist Man Haron Monis held 18 people hostage inside a Lindt cafe in the city centre.
Heavily armed police stormed the building 17 hours later after Monis shot cafe manager Tori Johnson.
A subsequent inquest was on Sunday labelled a "witch hunt" by the police union, but victims' families said police tactics had put lives in danger.
The relatives said they were shocked by revelations that police had planned to intervene only if the gunman killed or injured someone.
"I'll never be able understand how you can make a calculated decision that you wait for someone to die," Mr Johnson's mother, Rosie Connellan, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) in a programme to be broadcast on Monday.
New South Wales coroner Michael Barnes will hand down his findings into the 18-month inquest on Wednesday.
Monis was shot dead by police during the raid, while another hostage, Katrina Dawson, was killed by stray bullet fragments fired by police.
The inquest aimed to establish whether deaths were avoidable and if it should have been treated as a terrorist event.
How the Sydney siege unfolded
A gunman enters the cafe early on 15 December 2014 and has a coffee before holding a gun to manager Tori Johnson's head.
The gunman is identified as Man Haron Monis, an Iranian self-styled Muslim cleric given asylum in Australia.
Monis already faces a string of criminal charges, including sexual assault and being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.
Several hostages manage to escape the cafe which is surrounded by hundreds of armed police.
Police commandos storm the cafe in the early hours of 16 December, after Monis shoots Mr Johnson dead.
Monis and cafe customer Katrina Dawson die in the police operation.
Relatives of Ms Dawson, a barrister and cafe customer, said the police tactics were "outrageous".
"The idea that we had to wait for somebody to be killed or seriously injured before the police would act was staggering," her brother, Angus Dawson, told the ABC.
The barrister's mother, Jane Dawson, said: "They should be saving them from death or serious injury."
Mr Johnson's partner, Thomas Zinn, said he had lost faith in police because of their "great level of incompetence" during the incident.
It is the first time the families have publicly criticised police, aside from when Mr Johnson's parents stormed out of the inquest during one testimony.
However, New South Wales Police Association acting chief Tony King said the inquest had scrutinised police officers "as if they were on trial".
"For some lawyers the focus appeared to be not just to attribute blame but moral culpability, twisting words to belittle experienced officers," he wrote in a long post on Medium.
Mr King said they should instead be thanked for putting their lives on the line.
Questions about why police snipers did not attempt to shoot Monis were heavily discussed during the inquest.
A police commander in charge of the operation had previously said the siege had the hallmarks of a domestic incident rather than terrorism, despite the fact that Monis asked to be given a flag of the so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group.
He said he had been advised by a psychiatrist that the siege was "final posturing" by Monis in order to gain some "street cred" before a likely jail sentence.
Monis had been facing dozens of sexual assault charges plus charges of being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-39971237
In December 2014, self-styled Islamist Man Haron Monis held 18 people hostage inside a Lindt cafe in the city centre.
Heavily armed police stormed the building 17 hours later after Monis shot cafe manager Tori Johnson.
A subsequent inquest was on Sunday labelled a "witch hunt" by the police union, but victims' families said police tactics had put lives in danger.
The relatives said they were shocked by revelations that police had planned to intervene only if the gunman killed or injured someone.
"I'll never be able understand how you can make a calculated decision that you wait for someone to die," Mr Johnson's mother, Rosie Connellan, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) in a programme to be broadcast on Monday.
New South Wales coroner Michael Barnes will hand down his findings into the 18-month inquest on Wednesday.
Monis was shot dead by police during the raid, while another hostage, Katrina Dawson, was killed by stray bullet fragments fired by police.
The inquest aimed to establish whether deaths were avoidable and if it should have been treated as a terrorist event.
How the Sydney siege unfolded
A gunman enters the cafe early on 15 December 2014 and has a coffee before holding a gun to manager Tori Johnson's head.
The gunman is identified as Man Haron Monis, an Iranian self-styled Muslim cleric given asylum in Australia.
Monis already faces a string of criminal charges, including sexual assault and being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.
Several hostages manage to escape the cafe which is surrounded by hundreds of armed police.
Police commandos storm the cafe in the early hours of 16 December, after Monis shoots Mr Johnson dead.
Monis and cafe customer Katrina Dawson die in the police operation.
Relatives of Ms Dawson, a barrister and cafe customer, said the police tactics were "outrageous".
"The idea that we had to wait for somebody to be killed or seriously injured before the police would act was staggering," her brother, Angus Dawson, told the ABC.
The barrister's mother, Jane Dawson, said: "They should be saving them from death or serious injury."
Mr Johnson's partner, Thomas Zinn, said he had lost faith in police because of their "great level of incompetence" during the incident.
It is the first time the families have publicly criticised police, aside from when Mr Johnson's parents stormed out of the inquest during one testimony.
However, New South Wales Police Association acting chief Tony King said the inquest had scrutinised police officers "as if they were on trial".
"For some lawyers the focus appeared to be not just to attribute blame but moral culpability, twisting words to belittle experienced officers," he wrote in a long post on Medium.
Mr King said they should instead be thanked for putting their lives on the line.
Questions about why police snipers did not attempt to shoot Monis were heavily discussed during the inquest.
A police commander in charge of the operation had previously said the siege had the hallmarks of a domestic incident rather than terrorism, despite the fact that Monis asked to be given a flag of the so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group.
He said he had been advised by a psychiatrist that the siege was "final posturing" by Monis in order to gain some "street cred" before a likely jail sentence.
Monis had been facing dozens of sexual assault charges plus charges of being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-39971237
Label: crime, doctor, family, health, law, news
Brazil police raid Sao Paulo 'Crackland' and make arrests
Brazilian police have arrested nearly 40 people for drug trafficking offences in central Sao Paulo where crack cocaine has been sold and consumed freely for years.
About 500 armed police officers were involved in the operation.
Dozens of addicts reacted in anger, vandalising cars and looting shops.
Sao Paulo's centre-right Mayor Joao Doria said the operation marked the end of impunity in the area, widely known as Cracolandia or Crackland.
Critics say the move will merely push the problem to other parts of the city.
Mr Doria promised to knock down many buildings and redevelop the streets near the Luz train station that have become an open-air drugs market over the past decade.
"Crackland doesn't exist any more and it won't come back. The government won't allow it," said Mr Doria during the operation.
He also announced that CCTV cameras would be installed in that part of the city.
But he later admitted in a press conference that "it will be difficult to put an end to a historical problem".
"Police will be deployed here permanently and the problem will be reduced," Mr Doria said.
The governor of Sao Paulo, Geraldo Alckmin, said state rehab centres had 3,000 places available for addiction treatments.
The mayor and the governor recently announced a plan to combat drug trafficking in the region.
The previous left-wing mayor of Sao Paulo, Fernando Haddad, had a programme that tried to solve addiction through therapy and without the use of force by police.
But many were critical and felt that something had to be done about Crackland, which became a no-go area for most residents of Brazil's largest city.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-39994177
About 500 armed police officers were involved in the operation.
Dozens of addicts reacted in anger, vandalising cars and looting shops.
Sao Paulo's centre-right Mayor Joao Doria said the operation marked the end of impunity in the area, widely known as Cracolandia or Crackland.
Critics say the move will merely push the problem to other parts of the city.
Mr Doria promised to knock down many buildings and redevelop the streets near the Luz train station that have become an open-air drugs market over the past decade.
"Crackland doesn't exist any more and it won't come back. The government won't allow it," said Mr Doria during the operation.
He also announced that CCTV cameras would be installed in that part of the city.
But he later admitted in a press conference that "it will be difficult to put an end to a historical problem".
"Police will be deployed here permanently and the problem will be reduced," Mr Doria said.
The governor of Sao Paulo, Geraldo Alckmin, said state rehab centres had 3,000 places available for addiction treatments.
The mayor and the governor recently announced a plan to combat drug trafficking in the region.
The previous left-wing mayor of Sao Paulo, Fernando Haddad, had a programme that tried to solve addiction through therapy and without the use of force by police.
But many were critical and felt that something had to be done about Crackland, which became a no-go area for most residents of Brazil's largest city.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-39994177
Label: child, crime, law, news, terror, war
Sabtu, 20 Mei 2017
General election 2017: Two million apply to register to vote
More than two million people have applied to register to vote in the month since Theresa May announced plans for a snap general election on 8 June.
The highest number of applications so far was on 18 April, the day the prime minister made her announcement, when just over 150,000 people applied.
The number of young people registering is the highest of any age group.
The deadline to register online through the official website is 23.59 GMT on Monday 22 May.
The latest official figures published in March, before the election was called, showed that 45.7 million people were registered to vote in a general election as of 1 December 2016.
The Electoral Commission have warned that approximately seven million people across Britain who are eligible to vote are not registered, including 30% of under 34s while only 28% of home movers in the past year have registered.
Anyone wanting to vote on 8 June who is not already on the electoral register needs to sign up. It takes five minutes to register online if you live in England, Wales or Scotland. Alternatively, people can fill out and return a written form by post.
Spike expected
People are advised they may need their National Insurance number or their passport if they are a British citizen living abroad.
If you live in Northern Ireland you must fill in a form and take it to your local electoral office.
Since 18 April, 2.014 million people have signed up to vote although it has yet to be confirmed how many have been added to the electoral register.
Although the number of people applying has dropped off a little after an initial flurry in mid-April, there are still significant numbers of voters making sure they can have their say at the ballot box.
In six out of the past seven days, applications have exceeded 100,000. Of those applying to vote each day, nearly 40% have been under-25s, although people of all ages have been signing up.
The 150,364 people who applied to register on 18 April was the biggest total recorded for a single day since the EU referendum campaign in 2016.
There is expected to be a spike of applications in the run-up to Monday's deadline.
In 2015, 500,000 people applied to vote on deadline day while registration for the EU referendum in 2016 had to be extended by 48 hours after the website crashed in the final few hours.
Both Instagram and Snapchat will be carrying prominent reminders of the deadline on Monday in order to encourage their users to sign up.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/39987278
The highest number of applications so far was on 18 April, the day the prime minister made her announcement, when just over 150,000 people applied.
The number of young people registering is the highest of any age group.
The deadline to register online through the official website is 23.59 GMT on Monday 22 May.
The latest official figures published in March, before the election was called, showed that 45.7 million people were registered to vote in a general election as of 1 December 2016.
The Electoral Commission have warned that approximately seven million people across Britain who are eligible to vote are not registered, including 30% of under 34s while only 28% of home movers in the past year have registered.
Anyone wanting to vote on 8 June who is not already on the electoral register needs to sign up. It takes five minutes to register online if you live in England, Wales or Scotland. Alternatively, people can fill out and return a written form by post.
Spike expected
People are advised they may need their National Insurance number or their passport if they are a British citizen living abroad.
If you live in Northern Ireland you must fill in a form and take it to your local electoral office.
Since 18 April, 2.014 million people have signed up to vote although it has yet to be confirmed how many have been added to the electoral register.
Although the number of people applying has dropped off a little after an initial flurry in mid-April, there are still significant numbers of voters making sure they can have their say at the ballot box.
In six out of the past seven days, applications have exceeded 100,000. Of those applying to vote each day, nearly 40% have been under-25s, although people of all ages have been signing up.
The 150,364 people who applied to register on 18 April was the biggest total recorded for a single day since the EU referendum campaign in 2016.
There is expected to be a spike of applications in the run-up to Monday's deadline.
In 2015, 500,000 people applied to vote on deadline day while registration for the EU referendum in 2016 had to be extended by 48 hours after the website crashed in the final few hours.
Both Instagram and Snapchat will be carrying prominent reminders of the deadline on Monday in order to encourage their users to sign up.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/39987278
Label: family, health, law, news, politic
Jumat, 19 Mei 2017
Ex-congressman Anthony Weiner pleads guilty to sexting
Former New York congressman Anthony Weiner has tearfully pleaded guilty to sending obscene material to a minor.
He must register as a sex offender and faces a possible prison term for exchanging explicit texts with a 15-year-old girl last year.
The 52-year-old's estranged wife, Huma Abedin, filed for divorce on Friday after seven years of marriage.
Weiner quit Congress in 2011 over a sex scandal and was again exposed in his 2013 run for New York mayor.
He was reportedly wearing his wedding band as he entered his plea on Friday morning at a Manhattan court.
Weiner was released on bail, pending sentencing on 8 September.
As part of his plea agreement, federal prosecutors said they would consider a term between 21-27 months "fair and appropriate".
Weiner cried in court as he said: "I have a sickness, but I don't have an excuse."
He acknowledged it was "morally wrong" and unlawful to have knowingly sent obscene messages between January and March last year to a North Carolina girl whom he knew to be 15 years old.
Weiner paused to compose himself as he read from a letter he prepared for his plea.
"Beginning with my service in Congress and continuing into the first half of last year," his statement said, "I have compulsively sought attention from women who contacted me on social media.
"These destructive impulses brought great devastation to my family and friends, and destroyed my life's dream of public service.
"And yet I remained in denial as the world around me fell apart."
He went on: "This fall, I came to grips for the first time with the depths of my sickness. I had hit bottom."
Acting Manhattan US Attorney Joon H Kim praised the work of the FBI and the special victims' division of the New York City Police Department.
"Weiner's conduct was not only reprehensible, but a federal crime, one for which he is now convicted and will be sentenced," Mr Kim said.
Weiner's sexting scandal made headlines during last year's US presidential election.
During an investigation, FBI officials found emails on Weiner's laptop from his ex-wife, Ms Abedin, who was a top aide to Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
An FBI investigation into Mrs Clinton's private use of email while she was secretary of state was closed after officials said nothing incriminating was found.
Anthony Weiner: Behind the scenes of a political marriage
The FBI began investigating Weiner last September after the Daily Mail reported that he had exchanged lewd messages with the North Carolina teenager.
The girl said he had asked her to undress on camera.
The girl's father told the British newspaper after Friday's plea deal was announced: "I don't know if it's justice.
"Just because he's pleading guilty doesn't mean he's going to do a bit of time."
A month earlier, Ms Abedin announced she was separating from her husband after it emerged he sent a photo of himself in his underpants with his toddler son nearby.
The New York Post reported that Weiner had sent sexual messages along with the alleged photo to an unidentified woman in 2015.
Once a rising Democratic star, he stepped down from Congress in June 2011 after a graphic image sent from his Twitter account went public.
Initially claiming his account was hacked, he eventually confessed to having lied.
Weiner also admitted indulging in explicit online exchanges with at least six other women and pledged to seek therapy.
He tried to revive his political career in 2013 by running for mayor of New York.
But his campaign imploded amid reports of further graphic online messages.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39979399
He must register as a sex offender and faces a possible prison term for exchanging explicit texts with a 15-year-old girl last year.
The 52-year-old's estranged wife, Huma Abedin, filed for divorce on Friday after seven years of marriage.
Weiner quit Congress in 2011 over a sex scandal and was again exposed in his 2013 run for New York mayor.
He was reportedly wearing his wedding band as he entered his plea on Friday morning at a Manhattan court.
Weiner was released on bail, pending sentencing on 8 September.
As part of his plea agreement, federal prosecutors said they would consider a term between 21-27 months "fair and appropriate".
Weiner cried in court as he said: "I have a sickness, but I don't have an excuse."
He acknowledged it was "morally wrong" and unlawful to have knowingly sent obscene messages between January and March last year to a North Carolina girl whom he knew to be 15 years old.
Weiner paused to compose himself as he read from a letter he prepared for his plea.
"Beginning with my service in Congress and continuing into the first half of last year," his statement said, "I have compulsively sought attention from women who contacted me on social media.
"These destructive impulses brought great devastation to my family and friends, and destroyed my life's dream of public service.
"And yet I remained in denial as the world around me fell apart."
He went on: "This fall, I came to grips for the first time with the depths of my sickness. I had hit bottom."
Acting Manhattan US Attorney Joon H Kim praised the work of the FBI and the special victims' division of the New York City Police Department.
"Weiner's conduct was not only reprehensible, but a federal crime, one for which he is now convicted and will be sentenced," Mr Kim said.
Weiner's sexting scandal made headlines during last year's US presidential election.
During an investigation, FBI officials found emails on Weiner's laptop from his ex-wife, Ms Abedin, who was a top aide to Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
An FBI investigation into Mrs Clinton's private use of email while she was secretary of state was closed after officials said nothing incriminating was found.
Anthony Weiner: Behind the scenes of a political marriage
The FBI began investigating Weiner last September after the Daily Mail reported that he had exchanged lewd messages with the North Carolina teenager.
The girl said he had asked her to undress on camera.
The girl's father told the British newspaper after Friday's plea deal was announced: "I don't know if it's justice.
"Just because he's pleading guilty doesn't mean he's going to do a bit of time."
A month earlier, Ms Abedin announced she was separating from her husband after it emerged he sent a photo of himself in his underpants with his toddler son nearby.
The New York Post reported that Weiner had sent sexual messages along with the alleged photo to an unidentified woman in 2015.
Once a rising Democratic star, he stepped down from Congress in June 2011 after a graphic image sent from his Twitter account went public.
Initially claiming his account was hacked, he eventually confessed to having lied.
Weiner also admitted indulging in explicit online exchanges with at least six other women and pledged to seek therapy.
He tried to revive his political career in 2013 by running for mayor of New York.
But his campaign imploded amid reports of further graphic online messages.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39979399
Label: crime, family, film, freedom, law, news
Michel Temer: Brazil president faces new corruption accusations
Brazilian President Michel Temer has taken millions of dollars in bribes since 2010, according to testimony released by the Supreme Court.
The plea-bargain testimony came from bosses of a giant meat-packing firm.
If confirmed, the accusations could prove devastating for Mr Temer's crisis-hit administration, though he has vowed to prove his innocence.
He is already facing allegations he authorised paying bribes to silence a witness in a huge corruption scandal.
On Thursday he vowed in a TV address to stay on as president.
Joesley Batista, the chairman of the company JBS, alleges that Mr Temer was paid more than $2.5m (9m reais) over the last seven years for electoral campaigning and to pay allies.
Another company director says $4.6m was distributed to Mr Temer's allies in 2014 in the guise of official election campaign donations.
Former presidents Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff received $50m and $30m respectively to fund political campaigns, the testimony says. Both have denied any accusations against them.
Separately, Prosecutor General Rodrigo Janot wrote in a court filing on Friday that Mr Temer was one of a number of politicians who obstructed investigations into the massive corruption inquiry known as Operation Car Wash.
A year ago, Mr Temer took office after Ms Rousseff's impeachment. Now there are calls for his removal too.
On Thursday Brazilian authorities released an audio recording where Mr Temer appears to be discussing bribes in conversation with Mr Batista.
Mr Temer has said the footage is authentic, taken from a meeting in March, but he has strongly denied wrongdoing.
Mr Temer is already deeply unpopular in Brazil but his centre-right party has been able to govern as part of a coalition.
Opposition parties have been demanding snap elections and his impeachment.
It is the first time Mr Temer has become fully embroiled in Operation Car Wash.
The probe, launched in March 2014, centres on companies that were offered deals with state oil giant Petrobras in exchange for bribes, which were funnelled into politicians' pockets and political party slush funds.
The scandal has engulfed Brazilian politics, with a third of Mr Temer's cabinet under investigation for alleged corruption. Former president Lula is already facing five charges.
The man Mr Temer allegedly condoned the bribery of - Eduardo Cunha - is in prison for corruption, money laundering and tax evasion.
Both men played a key role in the downfall of Ms Rousseff, who was removed from office accused of illegally manipulating government accounts. She denies all the charges.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-39982445
The plea-bargain testimony came from bosses of a giant meat-packing firm.
If confirmed, the accusations could prove devastating for Mr Temer's crisis-hit administration, though he has vowed to prove his innocence.
He is already facing allegations he authorised paying bribes to silence a witness in a huge corruption scandal.
On Thursday he vowed in a TV address to stay on as president.
Joesley Batista, the chairman of the company JBS, alleges that Mr Temer was paid more than $2.5m (9m reais) over the last seven years for electoral campaigning and to pay allies.
Another company director says $4.6m was distributed to Mr Temer's allies in 2014 in the guise of official election campaign donations.
Former presidents Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff received $50m and $30m respectively to fund political campaigns, the testimony says. Both have denied any accusations against them.
Separately, Prosecutor General Rodrigo Janot wrote in a court filing on Friday that Mr Temer was one of a number of politicians who obstructed investigations into the massive corruption inquiry known as Operation Car Wash.
A year ago, Mr Temer took office after Ms Rousseff's impeachment. Now there are calls for his removal too.
On Thursday Brazilian authorities released an audio recording where Mr Temer appears to be discussing bribes in conversation with Mr Batista.
Mr Temer has said the footage is authentic, taken from a meeting in March, but he has strongly denied wrongdoing.
Mr Temer is already deeply unpopular in Brazil but his centre-right party has been able to govern as part of a coalition.
Opposition parties have been demanding snap elections and his impeachment.
It is the first time Mr Temer has become fully embroiled in Operation Car Wash.
The probe, launched in March 2014, centres on companies that were offered deals with state oil giant Petrobras in exchange for bribes, which were funnelled into politicians' pockets and political party slush funds.
The scandal has engulfed Brazilian politics, with a third of Mr Temer's cabinet under investigation for alleged corruption. Former president Lula is already facing five charges.
The man Mr Temer allegedly condoned the bribery of - Eduardo Cunha - is in prison for corruption, money laundering and tax evasion.
Both men played a key role in the downfall of Ms Rousseff, who was removed from office accused of illegally manipulating government accounts. She denies all the charges.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-39982445
Label: crime, law, news, protest
Julian Assange defiant as Sweden drops rape investigation
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has said he will not forgive and forget attempts to arrest him over rape allegations which led him to seek asylum in Ecuador's London embassy.
Hailing an "important victory", he said he was prepared for dialogue with the US and UK authorities.
Mr Assange, 45, is wanted in the US over the leaking of military and diplomatic documents.
Sweden said on Friday it had decided to drop its rape investigation.
Meanwhile Ecuador urged the UK to allow him safe passage out of the country.
The Wikileaks founder has chosen to remain in the embassy as he fears extradition to Sweden would lead to extradition to the US.
"Today is an important victory for me and the UN human rights system, but by no means erases seven years of detention without charge... while my children grew up. That is not something I can forgive or forget," he told journalists from a balcony at the embassy.
Image copyright EPA
'War just commencing' by Tom Burridge, BBC News
Standing by the Ecuadorian flag, on the balcony which in recent years has become his podium for addressing the media, Julian Assange delivered a characteristic and vitriolic attack on Western Governments and the European Union.
He spoke slowly to the street below, full of microphones and cameras. There were no questions for the journalists.
In short, he will not be leaving the Ecuadorian embassy any time soon.
In his words: "The war is just commencing".
That seemed to be a colourful characterisation of his battle with British justice, now that the arrest warrant from Sweden has gone away.
If the founder of Wikileaks were to walk out of the embassy then British police would still be compelled to arrest him.
That is because he failed to answer bail when he took up residence at the embassy nearly five years ago.
The offence of failing to surrender to bail carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison.
"My legal staff have contacted the UK authorities and we hope to engage in a dialogue about what will be the best way forward," he added, saying he was also "happy to engage" with the US.
Police in London have said they would still be obliged to arrest Mr Assange if he left the Ecuadorean embassy, despite the Swedish prosecutors' decision.
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) said Mr Assange still faced the lesser charge of failing to surrender to a court, an offence punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine.
But the UK has not commented on whether it has received an extradition request from the US, where Mr Assange could, potentially, face trial.
The plaintiff in the rape case was "shocked" by the decision, her lawyer said, and maintained her accusations against Mr Assange, Agence France-Presse reported.
Sweden's decision coincided with the release by Wikileaks of another tranche of documents about the US Central Intelligence Agency's technical capabilities.
BBC security correspondent Gordon Correra says previous leaks, of what look like highly sensitive secret documents, have been damaging to the agency.
What does Ecuador say?
Foreign Minister Guillaume Long said that the UK should now grant Mr Assange safe passage, as the European arrest warrant against him "no longer holds".
"Ecuador welcomes the decision to drop the charges," Mr Long added, quoted by AFP, while criticising the time it took Sweden to send an investigator to London to interview Mr Assange.
"Ecuador regrets that it took Swedish prosecutor more than four years to carry out this interview. This was a wholly unnecessary delay."
Earlier a source at the ministry told the Press Association that Ecuador had "fully co-operated with the Swedish justice system".
The source added that Ecuador would now intensify its diplomatic efforts with the UK so that Julian Assange could "enjoy his asylum in Ecuador".
Why has the case been dropped?
At a press briefing on Friday, Sweden's top prosecutor Marianne Ny said that by remaining in the embassy in London Mr Assange had evaded the exercise of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) that would have seen him extradited to Sweden.
She said that under Swedish law a criminal investigation needed to be conducted "as quickly as possible".
Sweden did not expect Ecuador's co-operation in formally notifying Mr Assange of the allegations against him, a necessary step in proceeding with the case, she added.
But she said: "If he were to return to Sweden before the statute of limitation on this case expires in August 2020, the preliminary investigation could be resumed."
She said it was "regrettable we have not been able to carry out the investigation", and added: "We are not making any pronouncement about guilt."
How did Mr Assange end up where he is?
The rape allegation followed a Wikileaks conference in Stockholm in 2010. Mr Assange always denied the allegations against him, saying sex was consensual.
He also said the case was politically motivated, as it followed massive Wikileaks dumps of secret US military reports that year.
Later that year he was arrested in London after Sweden issued an international arrest warrant against him.
He spent the following months under house arrest in a small rural town in England.
Then, in June 2012, after exhausting legal avenues to prevent his extradition, Mr Assange sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy, where he remains to this day.
What will happen to Mr Assange now?
After the news was announced on Friday, Wikileaks tweeted that the "focus now moves to the UK", but Mr Assange's fate still seems unclear.
The MPS issued a statement saying that its actions had been based on a response to a "European Arrest Warrant for an extremely serious offence".
It went on: "Now that the situation has changed and the Swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter, Mr Assange remains wanted for a much less serious offence. The MPS will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence."
The MPS said it would "not comment further on the operational plan".
Last month, Mr Samuelson filed a new motion calling for his client's arrest warrant to be lifted.
He cited a comment by new US Attorney General Jeff Sessions that the arrest of Mr Assange would be "a priority".
Mr Samuelson told Agence France-Presse: "This implies that we can now demonstrate that the US has a will to take action... this is why we ask for the arrest warrant to be cancelled."
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39979343
Hailing an "important victory", he said he was prepared for dialogue with the US and UK authorities.
Mr Assange, 45, is wanted in the US over the leaking of military and diplomatic documents.
Sweden said on Friday it had decided to drop its rape investigation.
Meanwhile Ecuador urged the UK to allow him safe passage out of the country.
The Wikileaks founder has chosen to remain in the embassy as he fears extradition to Sweden would lead to extradition to the US.
"Today is an important victory for me and the UN human rights system, but by no means erases seven years of detention without charge... while my children grew up. That is not something I can forgive or forget," he told journalists from a balcony at the embassy.
Image copyright EPA
'War just commencing' by Tom Burridge, BBC News
Standing by the Ecuadorian flag, on the balcony which in recent years has become his podium for addressing the media, Julian Assange delivered a characteristic and vitriolic attack on Western Governments and the European Union.
He spoke slowly to the street below, full of microphones and cameras. There were no questions for the journalists.
In short, he will not be leaving the Ecuadorian embassy any time soon.
In his words: "The war is just commencing".
That seemed to be a colourful characterisation of his battle with British justice, now that the arrest warrant from Sweden has gone away.
If the founder of Wikileaks were to walk out of the embassy then British police would still be compelled to arrest him.
That is because he failed to answer bail when he took up residence at the embassy nearly five years ago.
The offence of failing to surrender to bail carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison.
"My legal staff have contacted the UK authorities and we hope to engage in a dialogue about what will be the best way forward," he added, saying he was also "happy to engage" with the US.
Police in London have said they would still be obliged to arrest Mr Assange if he left the Ecuadorean embassy, despite the Swedish prosecutors' decision.
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) said Mr Assange still faced the lesser charge of failing to surrender to a court, an offence punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine.
But the UK has not commented on whether it has received an extradition request from the US, where Mr Assange could, potentially, face trial.
The plaintiff in the rape case was "shocked" by the decision, her lawyer said, and maintained her accusations against Mr Assange, Agence France-Presse reported.
Sweden's decision coincided with the release by Wikileaks of another tranche of documents about the US Central Intelligence Agency's technical capabilities.
BBC security correspondent Gordon Correra says previous leaks, of what look like highly sensitive secret documents, have been damaging to the agency.
What does Ecuador say?
Foreign Minister Guillaume Long said that the UK should now grant Mr Assange safe passage, as the European arrest warrant against him "no longer holds".
"Ecuador welcomes the decision to drop the charges," Mr Long added, quoted by AFP, while criticising the time it took Sweden to send an investigator to London to interview Mr Assange.
"Ecuador regrets that it took Swedish prosecutor more than four years to carry out this interview. This was a wholly unnecessary delay."
Earlier a source at the ministry told the Press Association that Ecuador had "fully co-operated with the Swedish justice system".
The source added that Ecuador would now intensify its diplomatic efforts with the UK so that Julian Assange could "enjoy his asylum in Ecuador".
Why has the case been dropped?
At a press briefing on Friday, Sweden's top prosecutor Marianne Ny said that by remaining in the embassy in London Mr Assange had evaded the exercise of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) that would have seen him extradited to Sweden.
She said that under Swedish law a criminal investigation needed to be conducted "as quickly as possible".
Sweden did not expect Ecuador's co-operation in formally notifying Mr Assange of the allegations against him, a necessary step in proceeding with the case, she added.
But she said: "If he were to return to Sweden before the statute of limitation on this case expires in August 2020, the preliminary investigation could be resumed."
She said it was "regrettable we have not been able to carry out the investigation", and added: "We are not making any pronouncement about guilt."
How did Mr Assange end up where he is?
The rape allegation followed a Wikileaks conference in Stockholm in 2010. Mr Assange always denied the allegations against him, saying sex was consensual.
He also said the case was politically motivated, as it followed massive Wikileaks dumps of secret US military reports that year.
Later that year he was arrested in London after Sweden issued an international arrest warrant against him.
He spent the following months under house arrest in a small rural town in England.
Then, in June 2012, after exhausting legal avenues to prevent his extradition, Mr Assange sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy, where he remains to this day.
What will happen to Mr Assange now?
After the news was announced on Friday, Wikileaks tweeted that the "focus now moves to the UK", but Mr Assange's fate still seems unclear.
The MPS issued a statement saying that its actions had been based on a response to a "European Arrest Warrant for an extremely serious offence".
It went on: "Now that the situation has changed and the Swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter, Mr Assange remains wanted for a much less serious offence. The MPS will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence."
The MPS said it would "not comment further on the operational plan".
Last month, Mr Samuelson filed a new motion calling for his client's arrest warrant to be lifted.
He cited a comment by new US Attorney General Jeff Sessions that the arrest of Mr Assange would be "a priority".
Mr Samuelson told Agence France-Presse: "This implies that we can now demonstrate that the US has a will to take action... this is why we ask for the arrest warrant to be cancelled."
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39979343
Label: actor, crime, law, news
Kamis, 18 Mei 2017
'More than 3,000 escaped' Makala jail in DR Congo
More than 3,000 prisoners are believed to have escaped from the main prison in Democratic Republic of Congo, security sources have told the BBC.
The authorities say only around 50 prisoners got away when armed men attacked the prison on Wednesday.
The security sources also said dozens of people were killed during the attack on Makala prison.
Ne Muanda Nsemi, leader of the political-religious sect Bundu Dia Kongo, is among those who escaped.
More about DR Congo
A police spokesperson told a local radio station, Radio Okapi, that the prisoners were dangerous, and called for anyone who saw them to tell the authorities.
The sources say that around half of the prison's inmates fled during the attack.
Government officials say a police officer and at least five attackers were killed, while several sources say that up to 100 died.
The authorities accuse supporters of Mr Nsemi's supporters of being behind the attack, although the group has denied this.
Mr Nsemi is a self-styled prophet seeking to revive the ancient Kongo kingdom.
Bundu Dia Kongo is campaigning to restore a monarchy in parts of DR Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, Angola and Gabon.
The group mixes Christian and traditional beliefs and practices.
Mr Nsemi was an MP when he was arrested in Kinshasa after police accused him of inciting violence.
Ne Muanda Nsemi: The man behind the unrest
Former chemistry professor at the University of Kinshasa
Comes from the minority Bakongo ethnic group
Claims to have received a revelation from the "Archangel of the Kongo" in 1969
Formed the Bundu dia Kongo (BDK) movement in 1986
Wants to re-establish the Kongo kingdom that once straddled four modern-day states.
Supporters and security forces involved in violent clashes
Elected to parliament in 2006 as an independent
Formed the Bundu dia Mayala political party in 2010 after BDK banned
Arrested in March after security forces besiege his home for two weeks
Escapes from jail on 17 May
The authorities say only around 50 prisoners got away when armed men attacked the prison on Wednesday.
The security sources also said dozens of people were killed during the attack on Makala prison.
Ne Muanda Nsemi, leader of the political-religious sect Bundu Dia Kongo, is among those who escaped.
More about DR Congo
A police spokesperson told a local radio station, Radio Okapi, that the prisoners were dangerous, and called for anyone who saw them to tell the authorities.
The sources say that around half of the prison's inmates fled during the attack.
Government officials say a police officer and at least five attackers were killed, while several sources say that up to 100 died.
The authorities accuse supporters of Mr Nsemi's supporters of being behind the attack, although the group has denied this.
Mr Nsemi is a self-styled prophet seeking to revive the ancient Kongo kingdom.
Bundu Dia Kongo is campaigning to restore a monarchy in parts of DR Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, Angola and Gabon.
The group mixes Christian and traditional beliefs and practices.
Mr Nsemi was an MP when he was arrested in Kinshasa after police accused him of inciting violence.
Ne Muanda Nsemi: The man behind the unrest
Former chemistry professor at the University of Kinshasa
Comes from the minority Bakongo ethnic group
Claims to have received a revelation from the "Archangel of the Kongo" in 1969
Formed the Bundu dia Kongo (BDK) movement in 1986
Wants to re-establish the Kongo kingdom that once straddled four modern-day states.
Supporters and security forces involved in violent clashes
Elected to parliament in 2006 as an independent
Formed the Bundu dia Mayala political party in 2010 after BDK banned
Arrested in March after security forces besiege his home for two weeks
Escapes from jail on 17 May
Label: crime, law, news, terror
Rabu, 17 Mei 2017
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny to step down
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny is to step down as leader of Fine Gael from midnight, he has announced.
He will continue as taoiseach (prime minister) until the Dail (parliament) chooses a successor.
Mr Kenny, who was elected taoiseach in 2011, tendered his resignation in March, but has been acting prime minister since then.
He told a parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday that a successor would be appointed by 2 June.
The 66-year-old had been under pressure to resign from factions within his own party dissatisfied with his leadership.
The Fine Gael leadership contest will begin on Thursday with the new leader to be announced after an electoral college of the parliamentary party, county councillors and party members have their say.
The two favourites are Leo Varadkar, who is the son of an Indian immigrant, and Simon Coveney, whose father was also a government minister.
The former British prime minister, David Cameron, said Mr Kenny "was a strong leader for Ireland, a great partner for the UK, and remains a good friend".
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said Mr Kenny "did his best from his perspective" but his "political legacy is dominated by crisis, chaos, and chronic lack of accountability".
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said Mr Kenny will be "remembered in Northern Ireland for showing a true commitment to the peace process".
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39953442
He will continue as taoiseach (prime minister) until the Dail (parliament) chooses a successor.
Mr Kenny, who was elected taoiseach in 2011, tendered his resignation in March, but has been acting prime minister since then.
He told a parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday that a successor would be appointed by 2 June.
The 66-year-old had been under pressure to resign from factions within his own party dissatisfied with his leadership.
The Fine Gael leadership contest will begin on Thursday with the new leader to be announced after an electoral college of the parliamentary party, county councillors and party members have their say.
The two favourites are Leo Varadkar, who is the son of an Indian immigrant, and Simon Coveney, whose father was also a government minister.
The former British prime minister, David Cameron, said Mr Kenny "was a strong leader for Ireland, a great partner for the UK, and remains a good friend".
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said Mr Kenny "did his best from his perspective" but his "political legacy is dominated by crisis, chaos, and chronic lack of accountability".
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said Mr Kenny will be "remembered in Northern Ireland for showing a true commitment to the peace process".
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39953442
Selasa, 16 Mei 2017
Martha McSally: Man 'threatened to shoot' Trump supporter
A man in the US has been put arrested after threatening to shoot a Republican congresswoman who supports President Donald Trump.
Steve Martan allegedly called Martha McSally's office several times, making death threats and saying she should be careful if she visited Tucson, Arizona.
FBI officials traced the calls back to his mobile phone.
When they visited him, he said he was "venting frustrations" with Ms McSally's votes in support of Mr Trump.
A complaint filed with a local court alleges that Mr Martan called the congressional office three times, using expletives and making general threats such as saying her days were "numbered", as well as threats to wring Ms McSally's neck or shoot her.
Ms McSally said the threats were "especially sickening" in view of the shooting of another congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, in Tucson six years ago.
Six people died in that attack in 2011, and a total of 13 were wounded.
Ms Giffords survived the attack but spent time in an induced coma and suffered serious brain injury that left one of her arms paralysed and affected her speech. The man who shot her pleaded guilty on 19 counts of murder and attempted murder, and is serving seven life sentences plus 140 years.
Ms Giffords has issued a statement saying that the threats against Ms McSally were "reprehensible and deeply disturbing".
Ms McSally said: "We can disagree about issues and policies. We should have robust debates about the future of our country. But threats of violence cross a clear line."
Mr Martan has been released from custody, but will have to wear an electronic tag and is not permitted to contact Ms McSally or carry a gun, a local newspaper reported.
He is only allowed to leave the house for his work at a school and for his governmentally-mandated mental health programme.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39940443
Steve Martan allegedly called Martha McSally's office several times, making death threats and saying she should be careful if she visited Tucson, Arizona.
FBI officials traced the calls back to his mobile phone.
When they visited him, he said he was "venting frustrations" with Ms McSally's votes in support of Mr Trump.
A complaint filed with a local court alleges that Mr Martan called the congressional office three times, using expletives and making general threats such as saying her days were "numbered", as well as threats to wring Ms McSally's neck or shoot her.
Ms McSally said the threats were "especially sickening" in view of the shooting of another congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, in Tucson six years ago.
Six people died in that attack in 2011, and a total of 13 were wounded.
Ms Giffords survived the attack but spent time in an induced coma and suffered serious brain injury that left one of her arms paralysed and affected her speech. The man who shot her pleaded guilty on 19 counts of murder and attempted murder, and is serving seven life sentences plus 140 years.
Ms Giffords has issued a statement saying that the threats against Ms McSally were "reprehensible and deeply disturbing".
Ms McSally said: "We can disagree about issues and policies. We should have robust debates about the future of our country. But threats of violence cross a clear line."
Mr Martan has been released from custody, but will have to wear an electronic tag and is not permitted to contact Ms McSally or carry a gun, a local newspaper reported.
He is only allowed to leave the house for his work at a school and for his governmentally-mandated mental health programme.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39940443
Label: actor, crime, doctor, family, law, news, Nurse
Hebe de Bonafini: Head of Argentina Mothers of Plaza de Mayo group indicted
A judge in Argentina has indicted the head of human rights organisation the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo.
Hebe de Bonafini, 88, has been charged with misusing public funds allocated to a social housing project.
The programme, created by former President Cristina Fernández, was managed by Mrs De Bonafini's foundation, a world-famous collective of mothers looking for children who disappeared during the dictatorship.
She maintains her innocence.
As a close ally of the ex-president, she says the case against her is politically motivated and orchestrated by current President Mauricio Macri, who came into power in 2015.
"Thank you Macri for giving me the honour of being accused," she said sarcastically on Monday.
Prosecutors allege that about $13m (£10m) of public funding in the Shared Dreams programme was diverted inappropriately.
Her former aide, Sergio Schoklender, will also be investigated, according to local media.
Mrs De Bonafini has previously refused to appear in court to give evidence.
The movement of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo is highly lauded in Argentina for its human rights work.
It emerged when a military junta ruled the country (1976 -1983) and a group of women paraded around the central square in Buenos Aires to draw attention to their missing children.
Its a tradition they keep, every Thursday, to this day.
Abrupt closure
Mrs Bonafini has two sons who were "disappeared" by the military government.
The mothers group has previously said they wanted to do some of the work their children, who were mostly left-wing activists, would have ended up doing if they were alive.
The $53m Shared Dreams programme was devised to build housing, schools and health centres in low-income neighbourhoods. It was abruptly halted in 2011.
Investigations then revealed that Mr Schoklender was the major shareholder in Meldorek, the construction company used by the Mothers.
Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-39933904
Label: actor, crime, law, news
