Forget secular education: Somali militant’s message before suicide attack
October 6, 2011 No Comment
Man responsible for huge blast in Mogadishu that left 100 dead said young people should focus on jihad The suicide bomber who killed more than 100 people, including students seeking scholarships, in an attack near Somalia’s education ministry was a school dropout who had declared that young people should wage jihad and forget about secular education. Bashar Abdullahi Nur, who was to blame for the huge explosion on Tuesday that covered the capital, Mogadishu, in dust up to half a mile away, gave an interview before the attack. “Now those who live abroad are taken to a college and never think about the hereafter. They never think about the harassed Muslims,” he said in the interview broadcast on Wednesday by a militant-run radio station. “They wake up in the morning, go to college and studies and accept what the infidels tell them, while infidels are massacring Muslims.” The UN said on Thursday that more than 100 people had died in the explosion in Mogadishu, in an attack that killed some of Somalia’s brightest young minds, including students gathered around a noticeboard to find out who had been awarded scholarships from the Turkish government. The blast happened near a building housing several government ministries, but the precise target was not immediately clear. However, it would not be the first time that al-Qaida linked militants have targeted students. In 2009, al-Shabaab attacked a graduation ceremony, killing medical students and doctors. Shamsul Bari, the UN’s independent human rights expert in Somalia, said: “These attacks, which targeted some of the country’s very few university-level students, as well as the dedicated civil servants working to enhance Somali public institutions and social services under extremely difficult circumstances, are a direct blow to the fabric and future of the nation.” Al-Shabaab’s spokesman has vowed to increase attacks “day by day” as part of an effort to defeat the weak UN-backed Somali government and the 9,000 African Union peacekeepers stationed in the country. An ultra-conservative Islamist group, al-Shabaab is known for its harsh punishments, such as chopping off the hands of thieves and stoning adulterers to death. The organisation considers secular education as a form of western invasion into the minds of Muslims. Suicide bombings, unheard of in Somalia before 2007, have become increasingly frequent. Islamists have shown an increasing ability to carry out sophisticated large-scale bombings against high-profile targets, such as Tuesday’s attack, which occurred in a government-controlled area of the city. Somalia has been mired in violence since 1991 when civil war broke out. The country has also been suffering from its worst famine in 60 years: the US says 29,000 children have died since it began, and the UN estimates that a further 750,000 more are at risk of starving to death in the next few months. Al-Shabaab fighters have compounded the suffering by preventing aid agencies from helping famine victims in areas under militant control in southern Somalia. Somalia Global terrorism Africa guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Forget secular education: Somali militant’s message before suicide attack
October 6, 2011 No CommentMan responsible for huge blast in Mogadishu that left 100 dead said young people should focus on jihad The suicide bomber who killed more than 100 people, including students seeking scholarships, in an attack near Somalia’s education ministry was a school dropout who had declared that young people should wage jihad and forget about secular education. Bashar Abdullahi Nur, who was to blame for the huge explosion on Tuesday that covered the capital, Mogadishu, in dust up to half a mile away, gave an interview before the attack. “Now those who live abroad are taken to a college and never think about the hereafter. They never think about the harassed Muslims,” he said in the interview broadcast on Wednesday by a militant-run radio station. “They wake up in the morning, go to college and studies and accept what the infidels tell them, while infidels are massacring Muslims.” The UN said on Thursday that more than 100 people had died in the explosion in Mogadishu, in an attack that killed some of Somalia’s brightest young minds, including students gathered around a noticeboard to find out who had been awarded scholarships from the Turkish government. The blast happened near a building housing several government ministries, but the precise target was not immediately clear. However, it would not be the first time that al-Qaida linked militants have targeted students. In 2009, al-Shabaab attacked a graduation ceremony, killing medical students and doctors. Shamsul Bari, the UN’s independent human rights expert in Somalia, said: “These attacks, which targeted some of the country’s very few university-level students, as well as the dedicated civil servants working to enhance Somali public institutions and social services under extremely difficult circumstances, are a direct blow to the fabric and future of the nation.” Al-Shabaab’s spokesman has vowed to increase attacks “day by day” as part of an effort to defeat the weak UN-backed Somali government and the 9,000 African Union peacekeepers stationed in the country. An ultra-conservative Islamist group, al-Shabaab is known for its harsh punishments, such as chopping off the hands of thieves and stoning adulterers to death. The organisation considers secular education as a form of western invasion into the minds of Muslims. Suicide bombings, unheard of in Somalia before 2007, have become increasingly frequent. Islamists have shown an increasing ability to carry out sophisticated large-scale bombings against high-profile targets, such as Tuesday’s attack, which occurred in a government-controlled area of the city. Somalia has been mired in violence since 1991 when civil war broke out. The country has also been suffering from its worst famine in 60 years: the US says 29,000 children have died since it began, and the UN estimates that a further 750,000 more are at risk of starving to death in the next few months. Al-Shabaab fighters have compounded the suffering by preventing aid agencies from helping famine victims in areas under militant control in southern Somalia. Somalia Global terrorism Africa guardian.co.uk
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Military denies plan to shoehorn one of its own into presidency after unveiling 18-month timetable for transition to civilian rule Egypt’s ruling military generals have unveiled plans that could see them retain power for another 18 months, increasing fears that the country’s democratic transition process is under threat. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) took control of Egypt after the toppling of President Hosni Mubarak in February, and initially promised to return to their barracks within six months. But since then the “roadmap” to an elected, civilian government has been beset by delays and controversies, fuelling speculation that the army could be buying time in an attempt to shoehorn one of their own senior commanders into the presidency. This week Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi denied that any candidates would emerge from the country’s powerful military establishment. “These are only rumours and we shouldn’t waste time talking about rumours,” said Egypt’s current de facto ruler, who provoked a frenzy of media coverage when he made an unprecedented appearance in civilian clothing on a Cairo street recently – a move many analysts described as a carefully orchestrated political stunt. “The armed forces have no interest in staying in power for a long time,” he claimed on Thursday. However, he added, “we will not leave Egypt until we have fulfilled all we promised and do our duty towards the people.” Amid growing unease at SCAF policies, which have included a reintroduction of Mubarak-era emergency laws, the persistent use of military tribunals against civilians, and stringent crackdowns on public protest and freedom of speech, the generals have now finally unveiled an explicit timetable for transition. Elections to the upper and lower houses of Egypt’s parliament are set to begin in November and will be staggered across several months, with the new chambers coming together to form a provisional constitutional assembly in March or April next year. According to the military’s schedule the subsequent writing of a new constitution, followed by a national referendum, means that presidential elections will probably not be held until well in 2013 – with SCAF likely to continue ruling the country until then. The decision has split political parties, many of which had been mulling a boycott of the upcoming parliamentary elections due to disagreements over electoral procedure. Some critics accused SCAF of designing the poll in such a way as to allow remnants of the Mubarak regime to gain a strong showing in the final ballot; the military council has now amended the law to assuage some of the parties’ concerns, but bitter divisions remain over exactly how to proceed. The Muslim Brotherhood and several presidential hopefuls, including the former Arab League chief Amr Moussa and the Islamist intellectual Mohammad Salim al-Awa, have called for a much quicker handover to civilian rule. A number of youth-led coalitions, comprised of revolutionaries who helped lead the anti-Mubarak uprising earlier this year, have also complained of being shut out of the political process and have condemned the traditional parties for striking back-room deals with SCAF. Egypt Middle East Africa Arab and Middle East unrest Hosni Mubarak Jack Shenker guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …To the surprise of no one : After months of leaving her fans guessing, Palin said in a statement that she and her husband Todd “devote ourselves to God, family and country.” She said her decision maintains that order. Palin sent the statement to supporters. She told conservative radio host Mark Levin that she would not consider a third party candidacy because it would assure President Barack Obama’s reelection. In a video posted on YouTube, Palin said, “you don’t need an office or a title to make a difference.” I think it’s particularly telling that Palin thinks of the presidency of the United States as little more than a “title” and “office”…as if she’s opting not to run in another of her pageants. And I’m sure we’re all happy to know that Palin really soul-searched to come to the decision to forgo that title : “ If I say no to the opportunity that’s in front of me, politically speaking, will I die?,” she said, discussing her decision making process. “But no, after making the decision today and making the announcement, I know beyond a shadow of the doubt … I know that it’s the right decision.” Whew, that’s a relief. But truly, who thought this would turn out any other way? Elections and campaigning are hard work…white papers…interviews with non-friendly media asking those “gotcha” questions like what magazines you read…having to be on the alert to not incite violence against members of Congress…having to report your donations and comply with FEC restrictions…that’s no fun. It far more lucrative to give speeches and be Roger Ailes’ man magnet EDITOR’S NOTE: It’s minute 16. Bye-bye Sarah. It’s been fun.
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Wayne Rooney Sr and eight others including Motherwell player Steve Jennings detained following nine-month investigation Police have arrested Wayne Rooney’s father, his uncle Richie and seven other people, including a Scottish Premier League player, over allegations of a football betting scam. The arrests, carried out across Merseyside and Glasgow, relate to a game between Motherwell and Hearts in December last year, which Hearts won 2-1 following a second half penalty. The Motherwell midfielder Steve Jennings was arrested after allegedly getting himself sent off deliberately during the match. It is believed that there was a pattern of irregular betting, with stakes being put on a red card being given. One was allegedly from a new account opened in Liverpool, from where £500 was staked at odds of 10/1. Rooney’s 48-year-old father, also called Wayne, is thought to have been arrested at his home in the West Derby district of Liverpool. Thursday’s arrests follow a nine-month investigation into the sending off of 26-year-old Jennings, who previously played for Tranmere Rovers. Jennings, who was born in Kirkby, was arrested at his home in Glasgow on behalf of the Gambling Commission . After being booked for a foul early in the game, he was given a red card for putting his hand on referee Stevie O’Reilly and arguing when a penalty appeal was turned down in the 83rd minute of the game. He is alleged to have asked O’Reilly when he was going to stop “cheating” Motherwell. Bookmakers raised concerns when it emerged that several bets had been made on a player being sent off, including the £500 staked in Liverpool. Two members of the Association of British Bookmakers , including the online betting company Blue Square, expressed concerns the day after the match. A Merseyside police statement said: “Detectives have today executed warrants at 10 addresses across Merseyside and Glasgow and arrested nine men as part of an investigation into suspicious betting activity. “The arrests are the culmination of a joint operation with the Gambling Commission, and the nine who have been arrested for conspiracy to defraud are being interviewed by detectives. “The investigation relates to a match between Motherwell and Hearts on 14 December 2010.” In a statement, the Scottish FA’s chief executive, Stewart Regan, said: “While the investigation involves several other individuals outside Scotland, it is important to stress that the evidence gathered throughout this thorough period of investigation has involved only one Scottish match. “Motherwell FC are aware of the situation and will issue a response in due course. The Scottish FA will make no further comment at this stage.” Wayne Rooney Motherwell Hearts Sport betting Gambling Helen Carter guardian.co.uk
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Scottish Power expected to pull out of government-promoted scheme to build a £1bn prototype CCS plant at Longannet A £1bn flagship government project for fighting climate change – the construction of a prototype carbon capture and storage (CCS) project at Longannet in Scotland – is on the verge of collapse, it emerged on Thursday. Talks between the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) and Scottish Power have run into deep trouble and the electricity supplier is expected to pull the plug on the government-promoted scheme, which hoped to bury carbon emissions from the coal power station in the North Sea. The potential demise of the scheme comes amid growing fears among renewable power enthusiasts that David Cameron and George Osborne want to scale back the “green” agenda on the grounds that low-carbon energy schemes such as CCS and offshore wind cost too much at a time of austerity. Osborne told the Conservative party conference in Manchester that if he had his way the UK would cut “carbon emissions no slower but also no faster than our fellow countries in Europe”. Scottish Power, and its partners Shell and the National Grid, have just completed a detailed study of the CCS scheme and have deep concerns about its commercial viability without heavier public backing. Decc had promised £1bn of public money but the developers are understood to be arguing that they cannot proceed without more money to trial the scheme, close to the Firth of Forth. Both sides insist “talks are ongoing” but well-placed industry and political sources say the process is “pretty much over” and a statement to that effect could be expected shortly. Jeff Chapman, the chief executive of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association , said the collapse of the Longannet scheme would be a “severe disappointment” for the wider hopes of the sector. “Everybody knows the negotiations have been very difficult, so to that extent it’s quite possible [the talks] don’t come to a conclusion – although there are other projects coming through the system hopefully.” A senior Conservative backbencher with deep knowledge of the energy sector told the Guardian he expected the CCS deal to collapse within weeks. He said the underlying blame lay with the Labour government, which had dithered for so long in awarding the CCS demo contract that bidders dropped out until only one was left, leaving the government in an impossible negotiating position. A Decc spokesman said Longannet was only one CCS project and the government still planned to choose by the end of the year another three that could be eligible for European Union funding. In May, the department submitted seven UK CCS projects for European funding – including Longannet – but the Fife scheme was by far the most advanced and spearheaded the drive to develop this new technology in Britain. Ministers have repeatedly stressed the importance of CCS as a way of keeping coal and potentially other fossil-fuel burning power stations in operation without undermining moves to cut CO 2 . But they have already seen E.ON back out of plans to construct a new coal-fired power station with prototype CCS technology on the site of an existing plant at Kingsnorth in Kent. Longannet is the third largest coal-fired power station in Europe at 2,400MW and was once highlighted as Scotland’s biggest single polluter. In 2009 at the launch of a small-scale pilot study , Ignacio Galán, chairman of Scottish Power and its parent group Iberdrola of Spain, highlighted the importance of the Fife scheme. “We believe that the UK can lead the world with CCS technology, creating new skills, jobs and opportunities for growth. There is the potential to create an industry on the same scale as North Sea Oil, and we will invest in Scotland and the UK to help realise this potential. Iberdrola will set up its global Centre of Excellence for CCS in the UK to help accelerate the deployment of full-scale CCS,” he said. No CCS projects have yet been successfully built at a large scale. Charles Hendry, the energy minister said in May that Longannet and other CCS schemes in Britain showed the UK was “at the cutting edge of the low-carbon agenda.” But an industrialist embedded in his department told the Guardian that ministers were now internally questioning renewable power and other schemes that involved substantial public subsidies. Ministers have come under sustained lobbying from traditional power companies and energy-intensive manufacturers to concentrate on lower price but higher carbon alternatives such as gas. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) Energy Fossil fuels Carbon emissions Climate change Coal Energy industry Scotland Damian Carrington Terry Macalister guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …via Political Wire ” Forbes magazine named Scott Brown Wall Street’s favorite senator. I was thinking that’s probably not an award I’m going to get.” — U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren (D), quoted by the Boston Herald, taking a swipe at Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) in last night’s Massachusetts Democratic primary debate.
Continue reading …Bozell: Congress Must Stop Using Taxpayer Money to Fund Left-Wing Propaganda at PBS, NPR
October 6, 2011 No Comment“It’s an outrage that federal money has been an enabler for NPR and PBS since 1967 in their efforts to undermine conservatives and Christians,” NewsBusters publisher Brent Bozell complained in a statement released this morning that accompanies the release of a new Media Research Center (MRC) study detailing a comprehensive compilation of the 20 most memorable leftist excesses of National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting System. “In this current era of huge deficits, surely this is the most non-essential spending. The pattern of bias from PBS hosts and contributors is more than severe. Now is the time for Congress to finally put an end to it,” the MRC founder argued. Some of the 20 instances in the MRC’s report on NPR & PBS include: PBS host Tavis Smiley insists America has a terrible Christian terrorist problem. In 2010, he told an author that Christians blow up people “every day” in the United States. NPR reporter Nina Totenberg wishes Jesse Helms death from AIDS. When Helms insisted in 1995 that AIDS drew a disproportionate amount of federal funding, Totenberg was disproportionately mean-spirited. PBS regular Julianne Malveaux hopes Clarence Thomas dies young of heart disease. On the talk show To the Contrary in 1994, panelist Malveaux proclaimed, “I hope his wife feeds him lots of eggs and butter and he dies early like many black men do, of heart disease.” Longtime PBS host Bill Moyers proclaims GOP officials wearing flag pins after 9/11 remind him of communist China. On his weekly show Now in 2003, Moyers ranted, “When I see flags sprouting on official lapels, I think of the time in China when I saw Mao's Little Red Book.” To see the full list from the MRC, visit here for the PDF version or here for the HTML version .
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The industry will be forced to pay for their carbon emissions on all flights to and from, as well as within, Europe Airlines can be charged for their greenhouse gas emissions on flights to and from Europe, according to a landmark court ruling on Thursday. The indicative ruling, by the advocate general of the European court of justice , is a blow to airlines and non-European governments that had hoped to escape from the extension of the European Union’s emissions trading scheme to cover air transport from next year. It was greeted with jubilation by environmental campaigners, who want to ensure that emissions from aviation are subject to the same controls as those of other industries. If the ruling is followed, airlines will be forced from next year to pay for their carbon emissions on all flights to and from, as well as within, Europe. Sarah Burt, staff attorney at the campaigning organisation Earthjustice , said: “In the absence of an effective global measure for reining in greenhouse gases from aviation, the EU law is a necessary step to address this significant and rapidly expanding source of pollution. We are pleased that the advocate general’s opinion confirms the legality of this important action.” The UK’s climate change minister, Greg Barker, said: “We welcome today’s legal opinion. The UK and EU will continue to robustly defend our policy to bring aviation into the EU’s emissions trading system and believe it is consistent with international law. The aviation industry, in the same way as other industries, needs to play its part in reducing emissions.” If successful, Europe’s move to include international flights in its emissions trading system will be the first time that emissions from flights – which make up about 2 to 3% of global greenhouse gases – have been regulated. Aviation and maritime transport were explicitly excluded from the 1997 Kyoto protocol , the only international binding treaty on emissions reduction. Air industry bodies that helped bring the case to court vowed to fight on. The Air Transport Association said: “[We are] disappointed that Advocate General Kokott does not believe that the European Union is bound by the Chicago Convention , the treaty governing aviation, and that the unilateral application of the EU [emissions trading sytem] to international aviation otherwise does not violate law. ATA’s view that the extension of this unilateral, regional scheme to aviation violates international law is supported by more than 20 countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, Japan, the United States and many others, which recently reconfirmed their opposition to the EU.” Under the EU’s plans, all flights to, from and within Europe will be subject to emissions trading, a system whereby companies must have permits to cover the carbon dioxide they produce. A small number of permits are allocated to companies for free, while the rest must be paid for, and the proportion of free permits is reduced over time. At present, the permits are changing hands for about €14 per tonne on the open market. The trading system will add to airlines’ costs, at a level of as much as €5-10 per passenger, according to some estimates. All of the costs are likely to be passed on to passengers, raising ticket prices. Airlines based outside Europe have bitterly opposed the plans , arguing that the trading system amounts to a tax, which is illegal under international rules on aviation. The US, China and other non-EU governments have taken up the cause , vowing to fight the plans in all legal forums available. Thursday’s ruling – an indicative and preliminary finding by one senior judge – was a severe setback to their legal challenges, but is not the end. The governments, and airlines, will continue to fight against the EU in the courts and explore other options. The ATA said: “Today’s action is an important step in the court process, but as it is a non-binding preliminary opinion it does not mark the end of this case. The opinion will provide a basis on which the judges assigned to the case can further deliberate and come to a full and unanimous decision. In complex cases such as this one, it would not be unusual for the full court’s final opinion to vary from the preliminary opinion.” Outside the international legal system, however, the opportunities for airlines are limited, as mooted alternatives such as stopping or refuelling outside the EU in order to avoid the charge are likely to cost more than paying it. Analysts also regard it as extremely unlikely that the cost of trading permits will diminish the number of flights into and out of Europe. Governments such as the US have argued that the International Civil Aviation Organisation should be in charge of reducing emissions from international aviation. ICAO has discussed ways of cutting emissions from aviation for most of the last decade. It has yet to come forward with binding plans that would reduce emissions. In his legal opinion, the advocate general said: “The EU institutions could not reasonably be required to give the ICAO bodies unlimited time in which to develop a multilateral solution.” Annie Petsonk, international counsel at the US-based Environmental Defense Fund , said: “Airlines operate in a global market, and the reality is that those markets will be increasingly carbon-constrained. It’s time for the US airlines to provide leadership and demonstrate that we can compete in the carbon-limited markets of the 21st century. No lawsuit will stop climate change or its effects, so it’s time to move forward and implement the solutions already available: Europe’s aviation directive.” Richard Dyer, transport campaigner at Friends of the Earth , urged governments to spend more time considering lower carbon forms of transport. He said: “The aviation industry has consistently opposed measures to protect our economy and our environment from global warming – the EU must stand firm and force the sector to play its part. Governments must also take action to make alternatives to short-haul flights, such as making long-distance rail travel cheaper and easier to use.” Carbon offsetting Air transport Airline industry Carbon emissions Climate change European Union Fiona Harvey guardian.co.uk
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Six women and six men will hear case against Dutch engineer accused of killing Joanna Yeates in December 2010 A jury has been sworn in to hear the trial of Vincent Tabak, the man accused of murdering the Bristol landscape architect Joanna Yeates. Six women and six men will hear the case against Tabak, a Dutch engineer, who denies murdering Yeates, 25, shortly before Christmas last year. Bespectacled Tabak, wearing a suit, tie and casual training shoes, watched from the dock, his hands clasped in front of him, as the panel took its place in the jury box. The clerk told the jury that Tabak, 33, was charged with murdering Yeates between 16 and 19 December last year. He informed them that the defendant had pleaded not guilty and it was the jury’s job to say whether he was guilty or not. Mr Justice Field, the trial judge, told the 12
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