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Showing posts from July, 2010

'Up to 6,600 graves mislabeled' at US military cemetary

More than 300,000 US military personnel are buried in Arlington Cemetery As many as 6,600 graves at the main US military cemetery were mislabeled or unmarked because of incompetence among cemetery managers, a US senator says. Senator Claire McCaskill was speaking at a US congressional hearing into contracting problems at Arlington National Cemetery. US investigators have put the problems down to poor working relationship between two top administrators. John Metzler and Thurman Higginbotham have both been called to testify. BBC

Paraguay rebel dies in shootout, officials say

Troops were deployed in force earlier this year Paraguayan police have shot dead a leader of a small rebel group accused of a number of murders and kidnappings, officials say. Severiano Martinez died in a clash with officers in the north of the country, they said. He was said to be a leader of the Paraguayan People's Army, said to number about 100 members. In April, President Fernando Lugo sent troops and extra police to northern Paraguay to track down the rebels. Police located Mr Martinez in a wooded area in the northern Chaco region that borders Bolivia, officials said. "They gave him a warning and he responded by firing at the officers, which in turn led to an exchange of fire," Interior Minister Rafael Filizzola told a news conference on Wednesday. The reputed rebel was accused of involvement in the kidnapping and murder of the daughter of the country's former president, Raul Cubas, in 2004. Earlier this year, police and soldiers were grant

Arizona plans appeal against blocks on immigration law

People in Arizona give their views of the federal block on state immigration law Arizona's governor says she will appeal against a federal court's decision to block parts of an anti-immigration law hours before it came into effect. The court issued a temporary injunction against a requirement that police check the immigration status of suspects they had stopped while enforcing other laws. A section making it a crime not to hold immigration papers was also blocked. Related stories Q&A: Arizona immigration law Arizona immigration law stokes fear in Mexico village US border violence: Myth or reality? The ruling is seen as a warning to other states considering Arizona-style immigration strictures, analysts say. The Arizona government's first step will be an appeal to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, but commentators are already predicting the legal battle cou

David Cameron defends 'frank' comments about Pakistan

David Cameron: "I think it's important to speak frankly" UK Prime Minister David Cameron has defended his comments about Pakistan's record on tackling terrorism as he continued his trip to India. He said it was "important to speak frankly" and while Pakistan had "made progress... we need them to do more". His comments on Wednesday had led to him being accused of "damaging the prospects of regional peace". He is due to meet Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh later on Thursday. The talks in Delhi, on the final day of his "jobs mission" to the country, are expected to focus on trade and security. Related stories Karzai urges action on Pakistan Candid Cameron ruffles diplomatic feathers Cameron pitch to Indian business Ahead of the meeting Mr Cameron was asked about his warning to India's neighbour Pakistan about "promoting the e

Oxford hospital child heart ops 'should stay suspended'

The report cleared consultant Caner Salih of any wrongdoing Child heart surgery should remain suspended at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital where four babies died until improvements are made, a report says. Surgery was suspended when four children died between last December and February, after being operated on by consultant surgeon Caner Salih. The report found the deaths were not due to errors of judgement but Mr Salih was not given appropriate supervision. Mr Salih was cleared of any wrongdoing by the report. The independent report , commissioned by the South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA), found there were problems in Mr Salih's induction and mentoring when he began work at the hospital. All four deaths occurred shortly after his appointment. He subsequently decided to stop operating and told the trust of his concerns, including a lack of support. The SHA's chairman Dr Geoffrey Harris has apologised to the families of the babies who di

Fugitive Polly Peck boss Asil Nadir seeks bail

Asil Nadir faces 66 charges of theft Fugitive tycoon Asil Nadir has begun a legal bid to be granted bail in the UK. Mr Nadir, 69, fled to northern Cyprus in 1993 to avoid a £34m fraud trial centring on the collapse of his Polly Peck business empire. Legal sources say a judge will hear arguments about possible bail at a hearing on Friday. Last month Mr Nadir indicated in a newspaper interview that he would return to the UK if he was guaranteed not be remanded in custody. Case listed The Serious Fraud Office (SFO), which is the prosecuting authority in the case, said it would support a bail application as long as conditions were attached. The SFO said if Mr Nadir did return to the UK he would be put on trial for 66 counts of theft. The case is listed to be dealt with at the Old Bailey by Mr Justice Bean. It is understood the hearing is a preliminary one which will involve legal submissions from both sides ahead of any formal bail application. BBC

Fixed retirement age to be axed

Asda employee, Roy Gill, 75: "Because I'm working now... I have a bit of spending money." The government is planning to scrap the default retirement age in the UK from October 2011. Under the proposal, employers would not be allowed to dismiss staff because they had reached the age of 65. Activists, who have long campaigned against the rule, welcomed the proposal as a "victory" against ageism. Currently, an employer can force an employee to retire at the age of 65 without paying any financial compensation. The only obligation on an employer is to hold a meeting with the member of staff to discuss plans at least six months before their 65th birthday. At the end of that meeting it is entirely at the discretion of the employer whether or not to terminate employment. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote [Forced retirement] makes you feel pretty rotten, as if you

Greek police clash with hauliers amid crippling strike

Greek police have fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of lorry drivers protesting in Athens. The drivers are refusing to obey an emergency government order for them to end a crippling strike. The strike, now in its fourth day, has paralysed Greece, depriving petrol stations of fuel and prompting tourists to cancel holidays. Bottles were hurled outside the transport ministry as drivers tried to climb the gates and get inside. The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says the drivers are very angry, demanding compensation for reforms that aim to liberalise the freight sector. The drivers argue that new licence charges are unfair - well below the start-up fees of up to 300,000 euros (£250,000) that existing operators had to pay. Abandoned lorries Our correspondent says police are supposed to hand out papers to the drivers telling them that their lorries are being requisitioned. But many drivers have abandoned their lorries so the papers cannot

Frenchwoman 'admits smothering eight newborn babies'

Dominique Cottrez is being detained while the investigation continues A woman in northern France has admitted killing her eight newborn babies but said her husband knew nothing about it, the prosecutor in the case has said. Dominique Cottrez, 47, has been placed under investigation over the deaths, while her husband has been freed without charge. Mr Cottrez had initially faced investigation for allegedly concealing the bodies and not reporting crimes. Mrs Cottrez faces charges of the voluntary homicide of the babies. Being placed under investigation is the first stage of criminal proceedings that can lead to charges. The prosecutor had requested the charges of failing to report the killings and hiding the bodies against Mr Cottrez, but the prosecutor said the investigating magistrate in the case had ruled against this. Wrapped in plastic The remains were found in the village of Villers-au-Tertre, near the northern city of Lille, on Wednesday. Police with

Tamil hunger striker wins damages over burger claims

Mr Subramanyam was on hunger strike for 23 days A Tamil refugee hunger striker has accepted £77,500 in damages over newspaper reports he secretly ate burgers during his protest. The articles in the Daily Mail and The Sun struck at the heart of Parameswaran Subramanyam's integrity and achievement, the High Court was told. He began his 23-day protest outside the Houses of Parliament on 7 April 2009, in a bid to raise awareness of the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils. The newspapers have apologised. Mr Subramanyam was treated in hospital for five nights after ending his hunger strike. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote The past eight months have been an unbearable strain on my life, to the extent that at times I have even contemplated taking my own life” End Quote Parameswaran Subramanyam Six months later, the Daily Mail and The Sun ran stories which reported claims that specialist monitoring equipment had caught Mr Subramanyam secretly eati

Koh-i-Noor diamond 'staying put' in UK says Cameron

The diamond was worn by the late Queen Mother David Cameron has rejected calls for the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond, which has been part of the Crown Jewels for 150 years, to be returned to India. The diamond, which was mined in India, was seized by the East India Company in 1849 and presented to Queen Victoria. Indian politicians have long urged the 105-carat treasure's return. But asked about the issue during his trip to India, Mr Cameron said such a move would set an unworkable precedent and it was "staying put". The diamond fell into British hands as part of the Treaty of Lahore, which saw Britain take control of Punjab. 'Atonement' It was last worn by the late Queen Mother and was displayed on top of her crown when her coffin lay in state after her death in 2002. Last year Tushar Gandhi, the great grandson of independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, said it should be returned as "atonement for the colonial past". But Mr Came

Second US sailor missing in Afghanistan 'found dead'

It is not clear what Jarod Newlove and his colleague were doing in such a dangerous area The second of two US servicemen who went missing in Afghanistan last week has been found dead, Afghan officials have told the BBC. The body of Petty Officer 3rd Class Jarod Newlove, 25, was found on Wednesday in the eastern province of Logar, the governor's spokesman said. Nato recovered the body of Justin McNeley, 30, in Logar on Sunday. The two vanished last Friday after driving out of a military base without escort for reasons that remain unclear. The Taliban said Petty Officer 2nd Class McNeley had been killed in a firefight, during which they captured PO Newlove, who was from the Seattle area. No explanation has been given so far for the latter's death. Taliban Conflict Mapping drone and militant attacks Q&A: Fighting the Taliban Who are the Taliban? Challenges for Afghan forces Bullet wounds Deen

David Cameron defends 'frank' comments about Pakistan

<div class="warning"> <img class="holding" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48528000/jpg/_48528807_jex_765098_de01-1.jpg" alt="Prime Minister David Cameron" /> <p><strong>Please turn on JavaScript.</strong> Media requires JavaScript to play.</p> </div> David Cameron: "I think it's important to speak frankly" UK Prime Minister David Cameron has defended his comments about

Mystery of Japanese tanker damage probed

The M Star tanker lost a life vessel, among other damage An investigation has been launched into the unexplained damage suffered by a Japanese oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman. The M Star was damaged on Wednesday while travelling from Qatar to Japan. Port officials in Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates say the ship was involved in a collision. However, the boat's owners Mitsui OSK believe their vessel may have been attacked. Early reports that the ship was struck by a freak wave have been dismissed. The M Star is currently docked in Fujairah where local officials are inspecting the damage to its hull and its interior, with the help of the British and US navies. The incident has stirred fears of a terrorist attack in the Strait, the route for 40% of the world's seaborne oil. 'Submarine collision' "What we know is some collision happened. We don't know what it was," said Capt Mousa Mourad, a port official i

Nice Photos Related Arakan

Mahamuni Buddha   Buddha Image, Mrauk-U

Arab League backs direct Palestinian talks with Israel

Mr Abbas met Arab League delegates representing 13 countries The Arab League has endorsed direct Palestinian peace talks with the Israelis, but has left the timing to the Palestinians, officials said. The US has been pushing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to restart the direct talks, suspended since 2008. Mr Abbas has been demanding guarantees on borders and a freeze on all Israeli settlement activity. He wants progress in the indirect talks mediated by US envoy George Mitchell before resuming face-to-face talks. Israel and the Palestinians Back to business in Gaza? Little room to manoeuvre Guide: Eased Gaza blockade Israel-Obama rocky friendship From our own correspondent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is ready to discuss all the core issues of the decades-old conflict, and has accused the Palestinians of avoiding direct talks. Thorny issues The Arab

Emergency ruled ended in six more Thailand provinces

The state of emergency remains in place in the protest-hit capital, Bangkok Thai authorities have lifted a state of emergency in six more provinces, more than two months after ending mass protests in Bangkok. PM Abhisit Vejjajiva said emergency rule would end in Chonburi, Ayutthaya, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan and Chaiyaphum provinces. But the laws will remain in Bangkok and in nine other provinces. The laws ban public gatherings of more than five and allow police to detain suspects for 30 days without charge. Emergency rule was introduced during anti-government protests in Bangkok earlier this year which left 90 people dead. It was lifted in five provinces on 6 July and three others on 20 July, but extended elsewhere for another three months. Rights groups and foreign diplomats have urged the Thai government to end emergency rule as soon as possible, while critics say authorities are using the laws to clamp down on the protest movement. But the go

Mystery of Japanese tanker damage probed

The M Star tanker lost a life vessel, among other damage An investigation has been launched into the unexplained damage suffered by a Japanese oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman. The M Star was damaged on Wednesday while travelling from Qatar to Japan. Port officials in Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates say the ship was involved in a collision. However, the boat's owners Mitsui OSK believe their vessel may have been attacked. Early reports that the ship was struck by a freak wave have been dismissed. The M Star is currently docked in Fujairah where local officials are inspecting the damage to its hull and its interior, with the help of the British and US navies. The incident has stirred fears of a terrorist attack in the Strait, the route for 40% of the world's seaborne oil. 'Submarine collision' "What we know is some collision happened. We don't know what it was," said Capt Mousa Mourad, a port official i

Floods wash barrels of chemicals into China river

Teams at eight stations on the river were working to collect the barrels Rescue teams in north-east China are working to retrieve 3,000 barrels of chemicals washed into a major river, state media say. Severe floods washed the barrels, from two chemical storage facilities, into the Songhua river in Jilin city. Around 400 barrels have been recovered so far by workers at eight stations on the river. Water quality was being checked and no chemicals had yet been found in the water, state media said. Several parts of China have been hit by flooding in recent weeks, amid the worst seasonal rains in a decade. Elsewhere in Jilin, 30,000 people in the town of Kouqian were said to be trapped by floodwaters after a reservoir and two rivers burst its banks. Panic-buying The Songhua River is the largest tributary of the Heilongjiang river, on the China-Russia border. Xinhua news agency said that a total of 7,000 barrels from the storage facilities of two chemica

Burmese dictator Than Shwe’s visit to India: Shame for New Delhi

By Nava Thakuria ----------------------- Cartoon by Nituparna Rajbangsi The Burmese military ruler Than Shwe is visiting India this week. The chairman of State Peace and Development Council is supposed to meet many high profiles in the largest democracy of the world. Senior General Than Shwe is expecting moral support and endorsement from New Delhi for the proposed general election in Burma (Myanmar). The international community may not repose faith on the proposed election later this year, but the regime at Naypyi Taw has completed all necessary formalities for the polls to be held after two decades in the Southeast Asian country. From the United Nations to the Amnesty International and America to several other democratic and progressive nations, everyone has raised voices for a free, fair and comprehensive election in the poverty stricken country. They are unanimous in their views that the proposed election would bring little change for the poverty stricken nation

2 Burmese Border Guards Arrested in Bangladesh

By Maung Than Sein ----------------------- In 2007, two Nasaka border guards surrendered to Bangladesh police with sophisticated weapons Cox’s bazaar: Two officers from Nasaka, Burma's border guard forces, were arrested by Bangladesh Rifles for illegally entering Bangladesh territory on Saturday, 24 July, at 11 am. According to an official source, BDR Battalion 17 arrested the two men in Chakma Headman Village located at the Gundhum - Tumbro Border Pillar 37, 120 yards inside Bangladesh. The area is located close to Maungdaw on Burma's northwest frontier. The arrestees were identified as 35-year-old Sergeant Tin Aung Soe, and 38-year-old Lance Corporal Aung Myo Thung. BDR personnel arrested the men while they were drinking wine in Chakma Village. The Nasaka officers are from a checkpost where Nasaka collects tolls for goods, including cows and goats, when they are smuggled into Bangladesh from Burma. The two officers are currently being questioned at t

Deputy Home Minister to Run in Maungdaw for Pyidaungsu Hluttaw

In Maungdaw Township, Deputy Home Minister U Phone Swe was reportedly selected as the USDP candidate for the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Union Parliament) while two other candidates have been selected for the Amyotha Hluttaw( National Parliament). "There is information spreading in Maungdaw that U Phone Swe will contest in the Maungdaw constituency for the Union Parliament and U Mra Aung and San Swe will contest in Maungdaw for the National Parliament," the official said. U Mra Aung is Chief In-Charge of the Cooperatives Department in Arakan State and U San Swe is a former teacher and owner of United Boarding in Maungdaw. Deputy Home Minister Phone Swe visited Maungdaw several times along with some prominent Muslim businessmen from Rangoon to organize the Muslim community in Maungdaw Township during the past few months. Phone Swe is very close with two Muslim businessmen - U Aung Naing and Aung Zaw Win - who are natives of Maungdaw Township, and he is receiving

Arakanese Party Opens Several Branch Office in Arakan

---------------- Maung Aye ---------------- Sittwe: An Arakanese political party, Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, has opened branch offices in several townships in Arakan State in preparation for its election campaign, after the Election Commission approved its formation, said a party leader. He said, "We opened another branch office for Sittwe Township on Saturday to carry out the party's work soon after the central office was opened in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State." The party's central office was opened by at Lanmadaw Taung Ward in Sittwe on 11 June. The party also selected two retired government officers - U Tha Lu Chay and Ko Aung Mra Kyaw - to lead the township committee in Sittwe as president and general secretary. "Many people including politicians, businessmen, and retired government officers attended the opening ceremony of the office and this showed the potential of the party is good," he said. The party also

International pressure on Burmese junta continues

------------------- Nava Thakuria ------------------- Dhaka: The Burmese government continues targeting pro-democracy activists, civilians and ethnic communities-this is how the British government commented. The UK government representative even highlighted the issueto the United Nations Security Council in a recent debate on the protection of civilians in an armed conflict zone. Burma Campaign UK has welcomed the initiative of the British government to bring the issue on the focus, stated in a release issuedby the campaign group from London. Mentionable that the UN Special Rapporteur on Burma had recently called for a UN Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma. “The Burmese military regime continues to target civilians, particularly people from ethnic minorities. The use of rape and other forms of sexual violence remain a serious concern, as do the use of child soldiers and forced labour for military use,” said Philip Parham,