Palestinian attorney general bans Watan ala Water after public servants and officials complained they were being ridiculed A popular satirical television show has been ordered off the air by the Palestinian attorney general after public servants and officials complained they were being ridiculed. Watan ala Water (Country on a String) is broadcast nightly throughout Ramadan, and the show has attracted a huge following for its mockery of Palestinian leaders , officials, corruption, nepotism and social attitudes. According to reports in the Palestinian media, complaints about the show were made by the head of the Palestinian Medical Association, the chief of police and the head of the anti-corruption authority. Ahmad Mughani, the attorney general, said the programme’s language was offensive and the show did not “serve the public interest” and was “harmful to Palestinian society”. It had crossed “red lines”, he said. Yasser Abed Rabbo, the secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the chairman of Palestine TV, which broadcasts the show, said he would comply with the order. However, he told the Wafa news agency that “we will turn this matter into a public issue” and that the order “set a serious precedent”. The show’s star and scriptwriter told the Guardian last year that he had come under “tremendous pressure” to abandon the programme. “I feel there is a lot of electricity surrounding me. The programme bothers a lot of people,” said Imad Farajin. The show touched on “traditionally taboo issues”, he said. Palestinian territories Censorship Television Harriet Sherwood guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Palestinian attorney general bans Watan ala Water after public servants and officials complained they were being ridiculed A popular satirical television show has been ordered off the air by the Palestinian attorney general after public servants and officials complained they were being ridiculed. Watan ala Water (Country on a String) is broadcast nightly throughout Ramadan, and the show has attracted a huge following for its mockery of Palestinian leaders , officials, corruption, nepotism and social attitudes. According to reports in the Palestinian media, complaints about the show were made by the head of the Palestinian Medical Association, the chief of police and the head of the anti-corruption authority. Ahmad Mughani, the attorney general, said the programme’s language was offensive and the show did not “serve the public interest” and was “harmful to Palestinian society”. It had crossed “red lines”, he said. Yasser Abed Rabbo, the secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the chairman of Palestine TV, which broadcasts the show, said he would comply with the order. However, he told the Wafa news agency that “we will turn this matter into a public issue” and that the order “set a serious precedent”. The show’s star and scriptwriter told the Guardian last year that he had come under “tremendous pressure” to abandon the programme. “I feel there is a lot of electricity surrounding me. The programme bothers a lot of people,” said Imad Farajin. The show touched on “traditionally taboo issues”, he said. Palestinian territories Censorship Television Harriet Sherwood guardian.co.uk
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Seventeen-year-old Turkish boy arrested after the two women killed in Izmir following suspected row Two women from Northern Ireland have been stabbed to death in Turkey. It is understood they were killed on Thursday night in the city of Izmir, about 75 miles from the resort of Kusadasi. Their names have not been released but the women, in their 50s, are thought to be from County Down. A 17-year-old Turkish boy has been arrested. The women were travelling on Irish passports and diplomats from Dublin are liaising with their relatives. It is understood that Turkish police are investigating claims the stabbing happened after a row between the suspect and the mother of a girl dating him. The SDLP assembly member for Newry and Armagh, Dominic Bradley, said the whole area around Newry and Mourne was “totally stunned by the news from Turkey”. He said: “Their families are very much in the thoughts and prayers of people in this part of the world. I know that the people here will rally round the families and give them all the support they are going to need.” A spokesman for the department of foreign affairs in Dublin confirmed consular staff were trying to track down family members. “We are providing consular assistance through the embassy in Ankara,” the spokesman said. It is understood one of the women owned a property in the Kusadasi area. The Turkish Aegean is one of the most popular sun holiday destinations for tourists from Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Turkey Ireland Europe Henry McDonald guardian.co.uk
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Steve Coogan leads battle to reveal whether News of the World ordered hacking of Elle MacPherson and five other public figures Glenn Muclaire, the private investigator at the centre of the News of the World phone hacking, has been ordered by a court to reveal who instructed him to access the voicemails of model Elle MacPherson and five other public figures including Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes. Mulcaire is due to reveal these details by the end of next week in a move that will throw further light on the scale of phone hacking at the now defunct News International tabloid. The Guardian has learned that Mulcaire has lost an attempt to appeal against a court order obliging him to identify who instructed him to hack the phones, something he has resisted since February. Mulcaire, who was jailed in 2007 after pleading guilty to hacking the phones of members of the royal household for the News of the World, has been forced into making the disclosure following legal action by the comedian and actor Steve Coogan. In February, Coogan’s lawyers argued in court that if it were proved that the News of the World had instructed Mulcaire to hack into the phones of the six public figures, it would show that phone hacking was taking place at an industrial scale. Mulcaire must now name names in relation to MacPherson, Hughes and four others – the celebrity PR Max Clifford; the football agent Sky Andrew; Jo Armstrong, a legal adviser to the Professional Footballers Association; and Gordon Taylor, the former head of the PFA. At his trial in 2006 Muclaire also admitted hacking the phones of five of the six names in Coogan’s court order. Taylor was gagged by News International after reaching a £700,000 out-of-court settlement. Armstrong also settled with the paper out of court. “After six months of refusing to answer these questions I am pleased that Glenn Mulcaire has now finally been ordered to say who at the News of the World asked him to hack the mobile phones of Max Clifford, Sky Andrew, Gordon Taylor, Simon Hughes MP, Elle MacPherson and Jo Armstrong,” Coogan said. “Whilst I am pleased with this latest development I remain frustrated by Mr Mulcaire’s refusal to answer questions about who authorised him to unlawfully access my voicemail messages and will continue to press for these answers.” The latest developments are the second blow this week to News International. On Tuesday it emerged that NI’s head of human resources had been sent a letter by the News of the World’s former royal editor, Clive Goodman, alleging that phone hacking had been “widely discussed” in editorial meetings chaired by the paper’s former editor, Andy Coulson. Goodman was jailed at the same time as Mulcaire in early 2007 on the basis that he was the only News of the World journalist involved in intercepting mobile phone messages. Coulson has maintained that he was unaware of this activity at the News of the World when he was editor, while News International claimed phone hacking was the work of a single “rogue reporter” – Goodman – until December 2010. The high court ordered Mulcaire to reveal the names in relation to the six people and refused him leave to appeal against the order. Mulcaire went back to the court of appeal but on 1 August Lord Justice Toulson rejected his application for leave to appeal. Separately, Mulcaire is appealing against an order requesting him to name who ordered him to hack Coogan’s voicemail, and a court case is expected to be listed in October. That appeal may fall by the wayside because News International has stopped paying his legal fees. However, Mulcaire is now suing News International in an attempt to force the company to continue paying his legal bills. Coogan’s solicitor, John Kelly of Schillings, described Toulson’s decision to refuse Mulcaire leave to appeal as “a very significant development”. He said: “He will now have to identify exactly who at the News of the World asked him to access the mobile phones of the named individuals and who he provided the information to at the News of the World. Mr Mulcaire is due to provide these answers by the end of the month and we await his answers with interest.” Last month Coogan joined Hugh Grant at the vanguard of the campaign to force the News of the World’s publisher to come clean about the tactics employed by its journalists to get stories. Coogan, who has had his private life picked over by the tabloids, went on Newsnight to express how thrilled he was that the News of the World had been closed down. •
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• Hit F5 to refresh or turn on the automatic widget below • Email scott.murray@guardian.co.uk with your thoughts • The best matches and bets in the Football League 11.55am: Max Boyce is to sing a rendition of Hymns and Arias at the Liberty Stadium ahead of Swansea City’s first ever Premier League fixture , against Wigan tomorrow. Here he is wheeling out his act at the Millennium Stadium: Mike Harding wants to get on the phone to Rochdale ahead of next week’s Hartlepool game, there’s clearly a few quid to be made in this racket. 11.45am: Paul Wilson is at Carrington for Sir Alex Ferguson’s press conference. Fun and games at Carrington this morning. Fergie started his press conference a few minutes early, catching out a few reporters who were actually on time but still had to creep in quietly while he was speaking. The United manager broke off at one point to berate one hack in particular, who was just returning from a ban. “What’s the matter, did you oversleep or something?” Cool as you like, the journalist had a riposte ready. “No,” he said. “I’d forgotten how to get here, that’s all. I went to the Cliff first but there was nobody there.” Fergie had no comeback to that, except to laugh along with everyone else. 11.40am: A dispatch from our man at London Colney. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Dominic Fifield! En route to Arsenal’s press conference today with the same old issues nagging away: possible incoming transfers; Samir Nasri’s departure for Manchester City; team selection for an awkward game against Liverpool given the injuries and suspensions that appear to have eaten into Arsene Wenger’s options; maybe even some thoughts on his new captain, Robin van Persie. Liverpool’s visit to the Emirates last season, when Arsenal led in stoppage time but shipped an equaliser to an 111th minute penalty, rather summed up the fragility that has undermined this squad too often in recent times. Will be intriguing to see how this patched up side copes with the fixture this time around, particularly given the money Kenny Dalglish has spent on his own squad over the summer and the likelihood that these clubs are competing directly for a place in the top four. And you can clearly add frustration at Uefa’s disciplinary proceedings to that list now. 11.35am: Uefa are to start disciplinary proceedings against Arsene Wenger, for using the phone. Wenger is in hot water for circumventing – i.e. brazenly flouting – his touchline ban against Udinese. There’s a moral compare and contrast to be made with Jose Mourinho getting away with that eye-popping brouhaha at the end of Thursday morning’s el travesto , no doubt, but not by this Football Live Blog hack. Jose’s clearly been awarded points for artistic merit, and deservedly so. He’s a very entertaining man. 11.25am: A reminder that Lincoln City’s Keith Alexander Memorial Tournament takes place this weekend at at Cherry Willingham Community School, Lincoln, tomorrow . Other events: Premier League Saturday Sunderland v Newcastle United (12pm) Arsenal v Liverpool (12.45pm) Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers (3pm) Everton v QPR (3pm) Swansea v Wigan (3pm) Chelsea v West Brom (3pm) Sunday Nowrwich City v Stoke (1.30pm) Wolves v Fulham (2pm) Bolton v Man City (4pm) Monday Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur (8pm) The Championship Brighton v Blackpool (3pm) Bristol City v Portsmouth (3pm) Burnley v Cardiff City (3pm) Coventry v Watford (3pm) Derby County v Doncaster Rovers (3pm) Hull City v Crystal Palace (3pm) Nottingham Forest v Leicester (3pm) Reading v Barnsley (3pm) Southampton v Millwall (3pm) Peterborough v Ipswich Town (5.20pm) 11.15am: It’s the Tyne-Wear / Wear-Tyne derby tomorrow, and Shola Ameobi is set to start . Also from the official Newcastle website (www.sportsdirect.com/firesale) is this Peter Lovenkrands goal celebration wallpaper . It’s computer wallpaper, not the real stuff you hang on your walls. Although if you are desirous of PC-generated interior decoration, this report is the literary equivalent of beige, and would probably do for the downstairs lav at least, the hallway at a push. 11.05am: HOT TRANSFER CHAT. You’ve heard this one before, of course: Samir Nasri is heading for Manchester City. But Roberto Mancini is upping the ante this morning: he’s confirmed a deal is “very close”. Having said that , he also keeps saying “I don’t know, I don’t know” a lot on Sky Sports, so make of that what you will. 11am: Some reading matter for your morning tea break. Do people still have tea breaks? Maybe you’ve just woken up. Anyway, James Dart’s Football League Weekender , the nearest we’ll get to a Flowered Up reference all morning, mentions all the upcoming key matches, players to watch, goals of the week, best bets, and stuff you may have missed from off of the internet. It’s on! [flute solo] 10.55am: Fergie’s all upset about the state of Scottish football, it seems. (And no wonder; Hearts were abysmal last night, as good as Spurs were. From our people on the ground: Manchester United are playing Tottenham Hotspur on Monday and proud Scot Sir Alex Ferguson has just admitted he was surprised at the ease with which Spurs demolished Hearts in the Europa League first leg in Edinburgh. “I didn’t think they would win by that sort of score, the margin of victory was a surprise,” the United manager said of Spurs’ 5-0 away win. “They just had too much class for Hearts, even without Luka Modric. Class always tells in these situations, and Tottenham had so much more of it than Hearts.” 10.45am: OK, here’s the first job of the day for anyone who loves either football or social justice, and we all tick both boxes, no? The eejits at the Cabinet Office are opposing the full disclosure of documents relating to the Hillsborough disaster. Please, in the name of all that’s good and proper, put your name to this e-petition so its motion will automatically have to be heard by parliament. Here’s the obligatory celebrity angle: social networking’s Joey Barton is leading a Twitter campaign in support of the petition . 10.30am, and the first bit of breaking news on what promises to be a rollercoaster day (if your idea of freewheelin’ fun is staring at the Sky Sports News ticker until your eyes start spinning round in their sockets like the ball bearings in a washing machine drum): Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has been ruled out for four to five weeks with a calf injury, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed. The back four against Spurs on Monday could be an inexperienced Smalling-Jones-Evans-Evra. But then again, it is against Spurs, who haven’t won against United at home since 1872. Good morning, everyone. And welcome to our new weekly live football blog. We’ll keep you up to date with all the latest fixture news ahead of this weekend’s action, as well as breaking news and updates from the Premier League teams ahead of what is supposed to be the opening weekend of their season the second weekend of the season. Barry Glendenning Scott Murray guardian.co.uk
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Short meeting is first between two, as relations show signs of thaw under new government Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi met President Thein Sein on Friday, a government source said, the first meeting between the two and the latest olive branch from the army-backed regime that came to power this year after five decades of direct military rule. Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace prize-winner who spent 15 years in detention under the former military rulers for campaigning for democracy, flew to the capital, Naypyitaw, to meet Thein Sein, formerly a top general in the military regime. They met at the presidential palace, a senior official said, giving no details of the nature of the discussion but adding it was only a short meeting. It was the first visit by Aung San Suu Kyi to Naypyitaw, a city built five years ago on a mountain plateau about 205 miles (330km) north of Burma’s old capital and biggest city, Rangoon. Aung San Suu Kyi, 66, was released when her latest stint of house arrest expired last November, just after elections that were widely criticised as a sham. Thein Sein, who took office on 30 March, is regarded as one of the more moderate members of a new government that contains hardliners opposed to engagement with Aung San Suu Kyi. The military’s unbroken, 49-year grip on power officially ended in March, when the ruling State Peace and Development Council made way for a nominally civilian government led mostly by retired generals. The relationship between Aung San Suu Kyi and the military has long been frosty but the new government has in the past few weeks taken steps towards engagement by arranging two meetings with labour minister Aung Kyi. There have been other signs of change in recent weeks. Thein Sein called on Thursday for several armed ethnic rebel groups to hold peace talks with the government to end decades of hostilities. The government has also invited the International Monetary Fund to look at possible reforms to its currency system and a series of meetings have taken place between senior government officials and western delegations. Most analysts believe the openness being shown by Burma’s leaders is aimed in part at improving their image abroad with a view to ending decades of western sanctions and consolidating power at home. However, western countries insist embargoes will remain in place until an estimated 2,100 political prisoners are released. Aung San Suu Kyi Burma guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Short meeting is first between two, as relations show signs of thaw under new government Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi met President Thein Sein on Friday, a government source said, the first meeting between the two and the latest olive branch from the army-backed regime that came to power this year after five decades of direct military rule. Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace prize-winner who spent 15 years in detention under the former military rulers for campaigning for democracy, flew to the capital, Naypyitaw, to meet Thein Sein, formerly a top general in the military regime. They met at the presidential palace, a senior official said, giving no details of the nature of the discussion but adding it was only a short meeting. It was the first visit by Aung San Suu Kyi to Naypyitaw, a city built five years ago on a mountain plateau about 205 miles (330km) north of Burma’s old capital and biggest city, Rangoon. Aung San Suu Kyi, 66, was released when her latest stint of house arrest expired last November, just after elections that were widely criticised as a sham. Thein Sein, who took office on 30 March, is regarded as one of the more moderate members of a new government that contains hardliners opposed to engagement with Aung San Suu Kyi. The military’s unbroken, 49-year grip on power officially ended in March, when the ruling State Peace and Development Council made way for a nominally civilian government led mostly by retired generals. The relationship between Aung San Suu Kyi and the military has long been frosty but the new government has in the past few weeks taken steps towards engagement by arranging two meetings with labour minister Aung Kyi. There have been other signs of change in recent weeks. Thein Sein called on Thursday for several armed ethnic rebel groups to hold peace talks with the government to end decades of hostilities. The government has also invited the International Monetary Fund to look at possible reforms to its currency system and a series of meetings have taken place between senior government officials and western delegations. Most analysts believe the openness being shown by Burma’s leaders is aimed in part at improving their image abroad with a view to ending decades of western sanctions and consolidating power at home. However, western countries insist embargoes will remain in place until an estimated 2,100 political prisoners are released. Aung San Suu Kyi Burma guardian.co.uk
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Bomb explodes during Friday prayers at Sunni mosque in Khyber region At least eight people have been killed in a bomb explosion at a Pakistani mosque during the week’s most important prayer session. Iqbal Khan, a local administrator, said the explosion at the Sunni mosque in the Khyber tribal region on Friday also wounded at least 25 people. Local television reports said that at least 20 had been killed and 50 wounded, according to Reuters. About 300 people were in the mosque, and many were leaving when the blast occurred in Ghundi village. No group claimed responsibility for the bombing. The Taliban and other insurgents have attacked scores of targets in the area, which lies along the Afghan border. Pakistan Global terrorism guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Bomb explodes during Friday prayers at Sunni mosque in Khyber region At least eight people have been killed in a bomb explosion at a Pakistani mosque during the week’s most important prayer session. Iqbal Khan, a local administrator, said the explosion at the Sunni mosque in the Khyber tribal region on Friday also wounded at least 25 people. Local television reports said that at least 20 had been killed and 50 wounded, according to Reuters. About 300 people were in the mosque, and many were leaving when the blast occurred in Ghundi village. No group claimed responsibility for the bombing. The Taliban and other insurgents have attacked scores of targets in the area, which lies along the Afghan border. Pakistan Global terrorism guardian.co.uk
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Indian anti-corruption campaigner cheered by crowd gathered outside New Delhi prison India’s most prominent anti-corruption crusader has emerged from a New Delhi jail to cheers of “Long live Mother India” and a shower of rose petals as he prepares to begin a 15-day public hunger strike. Anna Hazare’s standoff with authorities has stoked anger at official corruption and put the prime minister, Manmohan Singh, on the defensive even as the government fights off a raft of scandals. Nearly 2,000 men, women and schoolchildren gathered outside Tihar jail on Friday morning to catch a glimpse of the white-clad activist who has used the tactics of Mahatma Gandhi in his fight to force the government to adopt his proposals for an anti-corruption law. The crowd, some standing on top of parked cars, erupted in applause as the 73-year-old activist walked out of the jail’s gate. “Long live the revolution,” Hazare said before climbing into the back of a truck that led a slow-moving procession to the parade ground in the centre of Delhi where he plans to fast. Hundreds followed on foot. “The government will have to bend in front of this movement,” said one of Hazare’s supporters, Prakash Khattar, a bank employee. “This is just the trailer, the film is yet to start.” Police briefly arrested Hazare on Tuesday after he declared his intention to hold a public hunger strike in defiance of restrictions placed on the demonstration. He began his fast in jail and refused to leave when a release warrant was granted, demanding the right to hold a long public hunger strike. A compromise was reached on Thursday, but Hazare opted to stay in jail for another day while the protest venue was prepared. Hazare wants the government to pass his version of a proposed bill and create a powerful ombudsman to police top officials. Activists have criticised the version of the bill tabled in parliament as too weak. Government officials have accused Hazare of twisting time-honoured protest tactics to subvert the legislative process and force elected officials to bow to his own agenda. One poster held aloft outside the jail showed cartoons of government ministers looking like donkeys with fangs and with dollar signs emblazoned on them. “I am Anna, you are Anna. Now the whole country is Anna,” read another poster. One of the crowd, Asha Bansal, said Hazare had “come like a god to save this country. Everyone is so sick of these politicians who are only out to make money.” Hazare, a retired army driver, has transformed himself into the most prominent social activist in his home state of Maharashtra in recent decades. He has held a series of hunger strikes to force the state government to enact reforms and on at least one occasion forced it to capitulate by taking a vow of silence. He came to national prominence in April when he held a four-day hunger strike to demand that the government draft legislation for an anti-corruption watchdog. This week, despite being inside a jail and seen only in a brief YouTube video, he has become a symbol of national anger about corruption. After his arrest on Tuesday, thousands of mainly middle-class people marched in cities across India in support of him. As hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the jail, authorities capitulated to many of his demands and granted him permission for a 15-day public protest. “I have full trust in his ability to bring change,” said Khattar. Others were less optimistic. The business daily Mint said in a front-page commentary on Friday that the protests were unlikely to spark major change in Indian governance. “Business as usual is right around the corner,” it said. Anna Hazare India Protest guardian.co.uk
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