Category: news

The Dubai case raised suspicions about Israel’s handling of foreign passports

Irish objections have delayed an EU deal to allow the transfer to Israel of personal data on EU citizens.

The Republic of Ireland linked its move to its concerns about the use of forged Irish passports in the killing of a top Hamas militant in Dubai in January – allegedly by Israeli agents.

A European Commission official told the BBC that objections to the proposed data deal had only come from Ireland.

Dublin says Israel must now tighten up its data protection laws.

The deal under consideration is known as a “data adequacy” agreement, intended to facilitate commerce between the EU and Israel.

The EU justice commissioner’s spokesman, Matthew Newman, said the commission would seek further clarification on the points raised by Ireland and he insisted that the proposal was “not blocked”.

The commission has not yet decided on the next step, he said, adding that a new approach to Israel might not be necessary as “we might already have this information at our disposal”.

The EU already has data adequacy agreements with several countries outside the EU, including Argentina, Canada, Switzerland and the US.

The idea is to make the EU’s international partners comply with the data protection standards that prevail inside the EU, speeding up transactions.

In the absence of such an agreement, each transfer of personal data has to be checked by the relevant country’s data protection authority, to ensure that it is not leaked to a third party.

Plans for such a deal with Israel were discussed on Thursday by data protection experts from the commission and the 27 EU member-states.

The agreement “was due to go through on written notice, with no further discussion” before Ireland objected, Irish justice ministry spokesman Richard Moore told the BBC.

“This lit a red flag here. We objected, and that triggered a meeting of this data protection committee.

“We were going to vote ‘no’ if it went to a vote. We accepted we would probably be a lone voice.”

Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was found dead in a hotel room in Dubai in January

Ireland was outraged that eight fake Irish passports were used by suspects in the killing of Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in a Dubai hotel.

Forged British, French, Australian and German passports were also used in the operation.

Speaking on Irish radio RTE on Thursday, Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said “the Israelis… can say they weren’t responsible, but quite clearly agents on behalf of the Israeli state were involved”.

Dubai police have said they are 99% sure Israeli agents were involved, though Israel says there is no proof.

Mr Ahern said Israel’s current data protection law “only applies to automated processing, it doesn’t relate to manual processing, which would possibly include the transcribing of passport details by hand”.

“We had to put up some protest,” he said, referring to Ireland’s objections to the proposed data deal with Israel.

He said Dublin was also worried that Israel’s data protection commissioner was “located within the ministry of justice – not at arm’s length, not statutorily independent”.

Ireland, the UK and Australia expelled several Israeli diplomats following the Dubai assassination, suspecting that Israel’s secret service Mossad was behind it.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Troops have been clearing debris from the streets of the capital

The police and army are patrolling the streets of the Mozambique capital Maputo after two days of deadly riots over rising food prices.

The BBC’s Jose Tembe in the city says some businesses have now reopened but there are long queues for goods such as bread and petrol, which have been unavailable since Wednesday.

He says there are no reports of any violence so far on Friday.

The government has said that the price rises are “irreversible”.

Although the city is now calm, our reporter says there is still a shortage of public transport, as some minibus-taxi owners are keeping them parked, fearing they could be damaged in a renewed outbreak of violence.

There are, however, reports of riots breaking out in the central city of Chimoio.

Portuguese radio says protesters used stick and stones to prevent shops and market from opening.

Seven people died in the riots, leading to an emergency cabinet session on Thursday.

The price of bread has risen by at least 20% in the past year in Mozambique, one of the world’s poorest countries.

Government spokesman Alberto Nkutumula said the cabinet meeting had emphasised “the importance of all citizens to abstain from participating in acts of upheaval, vandalism, looting and violence in general to enable the quick return to normality”.

He condemned the violence on the streets of the capital and appealed for people to remain calm, but said the government would not reconsider increasing the price of bread.

“The price hikes are irreversible,” he told reporters.

Troops were deployed on the streets of the capital on Thursday to clear barricades, debris and burning tyres left by protesters. Sporadic gunfire was heard during the day.

Many witnesses say police have used live bullets to break up the crowds, but this has been denied by officials.

Home Affairs Minister Jose Pacheco said the government was trying to trace the source of text messages circulating among the city’s residents, urging them to continue protests on Friday.

“I received an SMS saying the strike must continue for three more days,” Abel Salvador Bild, a street vendor in the capital, told the AFP news agency.

The violence has been the worst in Mozambique since 2008, when clashes between police and rioters over rising prices left at least four people dead.

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The summer heatwave destroyed crops in many parts of Russia

The United Nations’ food agency has called a special meeting of policy makers to discuss the recent rise in global food prices.

The announcement came after Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin extended the country’s ban on grain exports on Thursday.

This added to fears that prices of food staples would continue to rise.

The meeting will take place on 24 September, probably in Rome, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said.

“In the past few weeks, global cereal markets experienced a sudden surge in international wheat prices on concerns over wheat shortages,” the agency said.

“The purpose of holding the meeting is for exporting and importing countries to engage in constructive discussions on appropriate reactions to the current market situation.”

Mr Putin did not say when exactly the Russian grain export ban, originally to run from 15 August to 31 December, would be lifted, but said that it would not be before next year’s harvest had been reaped.

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Russia is one of the world’s biggest producers of wheat, barley and rye and was hit hard by a drought this summer.

The heatwave destroyed crops in many parts of the country, pushing food prices up.

This year’s crop could be as low as 60 million tonnes, but Russia needs almost 80 million just to cover domestic consumption, analysts say.

Other key grain producers have also reported shortages, causing the price of wheat to rise more than 50% since the beginning of July.

High food prices have triggered riots in Mozambique this week in which seven people have died.

But despite concerns about rising prices, analysts say global grain supplies are more abundant than they were two years ago.

In 2007-08, severe food shortages sparked riots in countries across the world.

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A post-mortem examination found the two-year-old had been strangled

A County Durham woman has been charged with the murder of her two-year-old son after she took his lifeless body to a police station.

Melanie Ruddell, 39, of Castle Eden, arrived at Peterlee police station on 9 August carrying her son Christy.

A post-mortem examination found the boy had been strangled.

Durham Police said the charge came after officers were given clearance to speak to Mrs Ruddell, who had been receiving hospital treatment.

She is due before magistrates in Peterlee later.

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Foreign woman suspected of being forced to work as prostitutes in Belfast are understood to have been rescued in a series of raids.

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Defence Secretary Liam Fox: “Sharing an aircraft carrier is utterly unrealistic”

Defence Secretary Liam Fox has ruled out the UK sharing aircraft carriers with France as part of closer defence co-operation and efforts to save money.

Dr Fox, who is in Paris for talks with his French counterpart, said such a move would be “utterly unrealistic”.

The Ministry of Defence, like nearly all government departments, is facing a significant cut in its future budget.

Dr Fox wants to save money in procurement and administration while prioritising front-line operations.

He has emphasised the need for much closer working with key European allies, such as France.

But at a press conference with French Defence Minister Herve Morin, Dr Fox dismissed suggestions the two could share aircraft carriers as a cost-saving measure.

“In terms of actually being able to share an aircraft carrier, I would have thought that was utterly unrealistic,” he said.

However, the two men said they would look at ways of sharing their respective fleets of A400M, a plane designed to transport soldiers and heavy equipment to combat zones.

All British government departments, except international aid and health, are facing budget cuts of between 25% and 40%. Defence, although unlikely to be among the hardest hit, will not be immune.

This has led to speculation that plans for two new aircraft carriers by 2018 – costing £5bn – could be scaled back.

Dr Fox said the future shape of the aircraft carrier fleet would be decided as part of a strategic defence review – due to be concluded later this year.

“You have to wait to see what assets you have before you can consider the pulling them,” he said.

Closer co-operation with France on defence was in the UK’s interest, Dr Fox added.

“The UK and France are facing the realities of the tough financial climate and it is in our best interests to work together to deliver the capabilities that both our nations need.”

As the UK’s future military capability is assessed, ministers have said the mission in Afghanistan will remain a priority but Dr Fox has declined to rule out cuts in overall troop numbers across the armed forces.

The Treasury has also insisted that the MoD must foot the bill for renewal of the Trident nuclear weapon system, subject of a separate value-for-money review. This would put further pressure on the MoD’s budget.

While welcoming the dialogue with the French government, former security minister Lord West told BBC Radio 5 live that there was a limit to what military resources countries can share.

“Do we really want the French using a British carrier if it’s to do with one of their dependencies abroad and some incident comes up and there’s fighting there?” he said.

“Do you want to find British pilots bombing people for a French reason?”

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Breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic procedure

Tests on a type of breast implant filled with an unapproved gel have shown no evidence they unsafe, UK experts say.

Concerns had been raised about Poly Implant Prostheses – or PIPs – after a French inquiry identified problems.

About 50,000 British women may have the implants, which are currently undergoing further tests in France.

UK plastic surgeons said the findings should reassure women – but said any ruptured implants should be removed.

In March, The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said no more PIPs should be implanted and that any remaining should be returned to the manufacturer.

The French company which produced PIPs has gone into administration. All the devices were recalled in France earlier this year.

The inquiry by the French association of plastic surgeons reported that the company had from 2005 dispensed with the protective barrier and was also using a gel with a composition different from that approved.

To determine how the altered version might react with the human body, the UK plastic surgeons organisation BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) says French colleagues contacted the gel manufacturers for any studies.

There were none, as they had understood the substance to be intended for use in mattresses.

The MHRA has now received what it described as “encouraging” results from UK tests of the implants, which found no evidence of chemical toxicity or cancer risk from the gel.

Dr Susanne Ludgate, director of clinical devices for the agency, said: “It’s reassuring that our test results have shown no evidence of any associated risks with the filler material.

“We are however waiting for the results of the French tests which are more extensive and include mechanical testing of the implant shell because there maybe a suggestion of an increased rupture rate compared with other breast implants.

“We will update clinicians and women once these test results are available and provide further advice on patient management as necessary.”

BAAPS said it was pleased the MHRA’s findings had come out so quickly.

Nigel Mercer, president of BAAPS, said: “Hopefully this will reduce the anxiety of patients whilst further studies are expected from France.

“Our advice remains that women with suspected rupture contact their surgeon and undergo an ultrasound and removal, as they should with any ruptured implant.”

He said earlier that surgeons who had fitted PIPs should not be held accountable for doing so because there was “no way of knowing” that the gel was untested or that the protective envelope had been dispensed with.

PIPs were among the cheaper brands of breast implants available. French experts started investigating after surgeons reported they were rupturing more quickly than other brands.

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Andrew Castle wished the presenters of Daybreak good luck

Morning show GMTV has appeared on ITV1 for the final time after 17 years with presenter Andrew Castle paying tribute to “loyal viewers”.

He said there had been “squabbles along the way” but “no shortage of love, effort and perseverance” on the show.

“We just want to say to the viewers who have been with us loyally for a long time – thank you so much.”

It will be replaced by Daybreak, fronted by former One Show hosts Christine Bleakley and Adrian Chiles.

Castle was joined on the sofa by presenters Richard Arnold, Emma Crosby and pop band McFly.

He wished Bleakley and Adrian Chiles all the best for the new project and said: “Fingers crossed for them, really good luck.”

GMTV regulars John Stapleton, Hilary Jones and Kate Garraway will be appearing on Daybreak.

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Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan reaches an agreement with tax authorities in Australia allowing him to return to his home in the US.

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The cost of the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster continues to mount up for BP

BP says the cost of its Gulf of Mexico oil spill has risen to $8bn (£5.2bn) – a rise of more than $2bn in the last month alone.

The company said it had paid out about $399m in claims to those affected by the spill.

Last week, responsibilty for the claims was transfered to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF), which has so far paid out a total of $38.5m.

Plans to permanently seal the well were also progressing well, BP said.

The final sealing of the well is now expected to be completed in mid-September.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

The Maoists say they are fighting for the rights of the poor

Maoist rebels in the Indian state of Bihar have said they have killed one of four policemen they have been holding hostage.

The claim has not been independently verified.

The rebels had told the state authorities they would start killing the policemen from Thursday unless eight Maoist prisoners were released.

The rebels took the policemen hostage on Monday after a gunfight in which seven other policemen were killed.

Indian security forces have been battling Maoists in several states.

More than 200 security personnel have been killed in the first six months of this year.

Scores of rebels battled with the police, who were on patrol in forests in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district, about 150km (95 miles) from the state capital, Patna, late on Sunday.

The rebels say they are fighting for the rights of the poor and the landless.

Last year, the Indian government launched a major offensive against the Maoists in several states. The insurgency is seen as the country’s biggest internal security challenge.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Iran is Japan’s fourth most important supplier of vital energy supplies

Japan has imposed new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.

The measures – which go beyond than those imposed by the UN Security Council – ban transactions with some Iranian banks, and also target energy-related investments.

Japan approved sanctions against Iran last month, but US officials have been urging Tokyo to adopt tougher measures.

Many states fear Iran’s nuclear programme is developing atomic weapons; Iran insists its programme is peaceful.

Japan is a major importer of Iranian crude oil, but did not impose any restrictions on oil imports from Iran.

“We took those steps as they are necessary to push for nuclear non-proliferation and prevent its nuclear development,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku told a news conference.

“We have traditionally close relations with Iran and from that standpoint, we will patiently encourage the country towards a peaceful and diplomatic solution,” he added.

The United States, the European Union, Canada and Australia have also announced additional sanctions, which have been opposed by Russia and China.

China is now Iran’s closest trading partner, with major energy interests in the country.

Japan’s new sanctions include a freeze on the assets of scores of groups and individuals linked to the country’s nuclear programme.

They ban the provision of insurance or reinsurance services to Iran and bar Japanese financial institutions from buying bonds issued by Iran’s central bank.

The new ban on financial activity with 15 designated Iranian banks that could contribute to nuclear activities could affect some Japanese banks, analysts said.

Toyota Motor Corp has suspended motor vehicle exports to the country indefinitely since June.

The US imposed unilateral sanctions on 1 July that go further than the fourth round of UN sanctions against Iran approved by the Security Council in June.

Major banks in Japan and Germany, oil companies in India and companies elsewhere have been scrutinising the law to determine the impact it will have on their business.

The EU has now also introduced similar tough unilateral measures.

China’s business ties with Iran are also a source of concern to the US because Beijing may try to fill the vacuum left behind by companies that pull out from Iran.

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Papers discuss existence of God

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The Maoists say they are fighting for the rights of the poor

Maoist rebels in the Indian state of Bihar have said they have killed one of four policemen they have been holding hostage.

The claim has not been independently verified.

The rebels had told the state authorities they would start killing the policemen from Thursday unless eight Maoist prisoners were released.

The rebels took the policemen hostage on Monday after a gunfight in which seven other policemen were killed.

Indian security forces have been battling Maoists in several states.

More than 200 security personnel have been killed in the first six months of this year.

Scores of rebels battled with the police, who were on patrol in forests in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district, about 150km (95 miles) from the state capital, Patna, late on Sunday.

The rebels say they are fighting for the rights of the poor and the landless.

Last year, the Indian government launched a major offensive against the Maoists in several states. The insurgency is seen as the country’s biggest internal security challenge.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Ultrafine measurements of atmospheric gases could help scientists track down the last sources of CFCs thought to be slowing the recovery of the ozone hole.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.