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Jihadi Video Brit's Father: 'Give Up Your Guns'

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 21 Juni 2014 | 18.25

The father of a British student seen in an apparent ISIS recruitment video has pleaded with him to come home.

Ahmed Muthana told Sky News he believes his son Nasser was radicalised in a mosque in the United Kingdom, but did not know which one.

He said: "The way he talks is not Nasser talking, it's someone else … He was a very soft person, he was very nice, but why he left his family I don't know. Who drove him? I don't know.

"The way he talks, the radicalism he is talking about, recruiting, asking British-born Muslims to come Syria is not Nasser's way.

"Nasser has never persuaded anybody like this before. It's the first time for me and devastating for me and my family."

The 20-year-old is seen in the video - released on social media - wearing a white turban and using the name Abu Muthanna al Yemeni.

In the film, entitled "There is no life without Jihad", he claims the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), has fighters from as far afield as Cambodia, Australia and the UK.

His family, from the Cardiff area, said that he travelled to join the conflict with younger brother Aseel Muthana, 17.

Muthana is one of three apparent Britons to feature in the video, which calls for their countrymen to "answer the call and fight for Allah".

When asked if he had a message for his son, Mr Muthana said: "My message to Nasser and Asil is please come back home.

"Your home is the United Kingdom, not the Middle East."

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18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Iraq Militants Take Border Post In Bloody Battle

Faith Lost In Iraq PM Amid Political Limbo

Updated: 5:46pm UK, Friday 20 June 2014

By Sam Kiley, Foreign Affairs Editor, in Baghdad

The US President, Shia politicians, Sunni chieftans and none other than the Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani has joined the clamour for Iraq's Prime Minister to move fast and form a government.

The nation has languished since elections on April 30 in a political limbo that arguably undermined faith in the central government, even among the Shia-dominated armed forces.

That might, partly, explain their rapid collapse in the face of far fewer forces from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) plus their allies.

But now that Iraq's supreme court has ratified the results of the elections what possible reason could Nouri al Maliki have for delay?

One explanation may simply be political.

His stewardship over previous years has entrenched sectarian divisions and seen an explosion in corruption.

His party bloc won 92 of the 328 seats in Iraq's parliament and he'll need 165 to form a coalition administration.

He, therefore, has to get involved in some serious horse trading with other Shia parties to build his coalition.

But they are now losing faith in him. Particularly in his apparent refusal to reach out to Sunni parties and offer them stakes in the central government - such as a security portfolio and a ministry which would give them access to patronage systems such as an education or public works - so that they feel both secure and that they have an investment in the future political structures.

A more conspiratorial thesis, fuelled by the conspiratorial utterances of lame duck ministers left over from the previous administration, is that Iraq's latest travails are the fault of external forces.

Jordan, Saudi Arabia (both Sunni countries), the US and others are being blamed for manipulating the Middle East and somehow creating ISIS.

There is evidence of Saudi individual, and possible state funding, for extremist militant groups in Syria, which may include ISIS.

And Jordan has played a significant role in trying to boost the fortunes of the non-extremist Free Syrian Army.

But Mr al Maliki may have calculated that he can either weather the latest storm - or let ISIS form an impoverished caliphate in the desert north of his country which would leave the Shia with Baghdad and the south.

It's the south, after all, that holds the lion's share of the world's second largest oil reserves.

It can ship its oil out through the Gulf, via Kuwait, or via Iran.

A Shia state or semi-state would not only be self-sufficient - it would be spared the burden of sharing Iraq's spoils with other sectarian groups like the Sunni and the Kurds (who already have their own autonomy and oil industry).

Such a move, or allowing events to drift to this reality, would place the south of Iraq firmly inside Iran's imperial embrace.

That is not something that Saudi Arabia would be able to tolerate in the long term as it vies with Iran for influence in the Middle East.

Nor is it anything that a rump Sunni 'caliphate' would be able to live with - the extremists within it would forever plot how to steal it back by force.


18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Guildford Four's Gerry Conlon Dies, Aged 60

Gerry Conlon, one of the so-called Guildford Four who were wrongly convicted over an IRA pub bombing in 1974, has died aged 60.

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18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Colchester Police Hunt 'Brutal' Murderer

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 20 Juni 2014 | 18.25

Police have promised to "unrelentingly" pursue all lines of inquiry as they continue to investigate the brutal murder of a Saudi Arabian student who was stabbed 16 times.

Nahid Almanea was walking along a path in Colchester, Essex, on Tuesday morning when she was attacked.

Police are investigating whether the 31-year-old's clothing - an abaya robe and hijab headscarf - was a factor in the stabbing, but stressed they do not yet know for sure.

There are other possible motives, officers say, but they are calling for calm, and have confirmed they are investigating threats of revenge attacks made on social media.

Police and forensics Salary Brook Trail, where Ms Almanea was attacked

Police have warned people not to go out alone and to be vigilant.

The fact that she was stabbed multiple times bore "obvious similarities" to the murder of James Attfield, a vulnerable man with brain damage, the force said.

He was stabbed more than 100 times in a park in Colchester in March, but Essex Police stressed the cases remain separate investigations.

Sky's Emma Birchley, who is at the scene, said: "The police presence is enormous, there are police cars patrolling everywhere, not just here close to the scene."

Nahid Almanea's bag The bag Ms Almanea was carrying when she was murdered

Chief Inspector Richard Phillibrown said: "I see this murder as an attack on the entire community of Colchester and I believe we will all pull together to respond to it.

"I am confident that the vast majority of people in this town will pay no attention to those trying to stir up trouble."

He added: "What we would also ask is for people to look out for each other, for neighbours to keep an eye on the vulnerable and for everyone to remain vigilant."

In a joint statement, Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh and Essex Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston said: "We would urge everyone to work with Essex Police, who will, supported by local communities, do everything possible to find the person or people responsible for both these awful crimes.

A map showing the locations of two murders in Colchester. The locations of the two murders

"I know that everyone in Colchester will come together, and remain strong and united in ensuring that the town and the district continues to be safe and welcoming to all."

Ms Almanea, who has been described as a "very intelligent" student, had been studying an English language course at the University of Essex as part of her studies for a life sciences PhD.

A 52-year-old man arrested in connection with the incident has been released after police said he had been positively eliminated from their enquiries.

CCTV footage taken from a newsagent, which shows Ms Almanea's last movements as she headed towards the footpath, has been released.

James Attfield The killing of James Attfield remains unsolved

Police have also released a map of her likely route from nearby Woodrow Way to the Salary Brook trail where she was stabbed, as well as a photograph of the bag she was carrying.

Officers said Ms Almanea would usually walk to the university with her brother, who she also lived with.

But because he had earlier lectures that day she was walking alone.


18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Iraq Militants Launch Social Media Campaign

Militants who have taken control of large swathes of Iraq have launched a global online campaign urging Muslims to post messages of support for an Islamist state.

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) aims to get one billion Muslims posting on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram "to support the Islamic State".

Thousands of tweets have been posted using two hashtags.

"Today after Friday prayers we will be launching with the help of God the largest media campaign in support of an Islamic state," tweeted @AL_Bttaar, one of the apparent orchestrators.

"Accordingly, we urge everyone to participate effectively, the turnout of Muslims to learn more about the Islamic state requires us to do more to support it."

An image outlining "duties" of those supporting the campaign is also in circulation.

Isis video showing captured Iraqi military personnel Militants have posted images purportedly showing the massacre of soldiers

The duties include talking "about the lies that enemies try to pin on ISIS" and to "tweet the talks of Sheikh Al Baghdadi", an ISIS chief. The image also urges supporters to post translations in English.

Sky's Foreign Affairs Correspondent Lisa Holland said ISIS is proving as capable on the web as on the battlefield.

"ISIS are using every tool available to them, from slick videos to Facebook and Twitter - and it has generated thousands of followers," she said. 

"They are calling on Sunni Muslims to join their jihad in a direct way not seen before.

"We've seen fairly unsophisticated videos released by Al Qaeda but this is quite different. ISIS knows how to use the media both in terms of publicising their gains but also promoting their propaganda.

"They even seem to have a media hub and clearly recognise the power of the internet to aid their cause."

ISIS insurgents killing Iraqi soldiers Isis released a video showing captured Iraq military personnel

ISIS has used social media to release videos of its fighters parading around towns they have claimed in northern Iraq.

Last week a series of horrific images of Iraqi soldiers being murdered were posted online.

Meanwhile, a Twitter user - Abu Rashash Britani - who claimed to be a British ISIS fighter and published a stream of vile tweets - has had his account suspended.

The ISIS campaign came as the US announced it was deploying 300 military advisers to help the Iraqi government combat the militants.

They will be special forces and will staff joint operations centres for intelligence sharing and planning, officials said.

ISIS militants have seized one of Saddam Hussein's chemical weapons factories - the Al Muthanna complex - as their push to Baghdad continues.

The group would not be able to produce chemical weapons with the material that remains there, officials said.

Elsewhere, the Baiji oil refinery, 130 miles (200km) north of the capital near Tikrit, has been transformed into a battlefield.

Troops loyal to the Shia-led government held off the ISIS insurgents and their allies who had stormed the perimeter a day earlier, threatening national energy supplies.


18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Garden Murders Pair Guilty Of Killing Parents

Susan and Christopher Edwards have been found guilty of murdering her parents and burying them in their own back garden.

Susan Edwards shot Patricia and William Wycherley twice at close range before she and her husband hid their bodies in the back garden of their home in Blenheim Close, Mansfield.

The Edwards then carried out a 15-year-long deception, pretending to neighbours and the authorities that they were still alive.

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18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

British ISIS Militants 'Will Target UK'

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 19 Juni 2014 | 18.25

Timeline: How The Iraq Crisis Unfolded

Updated: 2:12pm UK, Tuesday 17 June 2014

A look back at the main events in the Iraq crisis, which has seen Sunni insurgents from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror group move to within 50 miles of the capital Baghdad.

December 2011: US troops complete their withdrawal after the 2003 invasion which led to the removal of Saddam Hussein.

August 2013: More than 70 people are killed in attacks at the end of Ramadan. ISIS claim responsibility.

January 2-4, 2014: ISIS declares itself in control of the western city of Fallujah and parts of Ramadi following clashes sparked by the clearing of a Sunni-Arab protest camp.

February: al Qaeda formally disowns ISIS, which was at one time an affiliate, because of its extreme methods.

April: Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki wins the most seats in a general election.

June 10: ISIS seizes all of Nineveh province in the north, including the capital Mosul - Iraq's second city. Mr Maliki asks parliament to declare a state of emergency.

June 11: The militants launch a wave of attacks further south, taking Tikrit and freeing hundreds of prisoners in Baiji. An assault on Samarra, 70 miles (110km) north of Baghdad, is repelled by security forces.

June 12: Iraq's air force strikes fighters' positions near Mosul and Tikrit.

US President Barack Obama says he is looking at "all the options" to help the government, which fails to secure authorisation for a state of emergency.

The army abandons its bases in Kirkuk, leaving Kurdish Peshmerga troops to take control.

June 13: A top Shia cleric issues a call to arms, telling the population to take up arms and defend their country.

Mr Maliki claims government forces have started to clear cities of "terrorists" and implements an emergency plan to protect Baghdad.

President Obama rules out sending back troops to fight ISIS.

The rebels move into the towns of Saadiyah and Jalawla in eastern province of Diyala.

June 14: Iran offers to work with the US to tackle the crisis, as Britain pledges an initial £3m in emergency aid to help refugees fleeing the violence.

The Iraqi army's fightback continues, with forces retaking the towns of Ishaqi, al-Mutasim and Duluiyah in Salaheddin province.

Troops also regain much of Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's home town.

US aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush is ordered to the Persian Gulf.

June 15: Photos emerge appearing to show an ISIS massacre of 1,700 captured government soldiers. Baghdad says number is exaggerated.

Reports say militants have overrun Tal Afar, the largest town in Nineveh province.

A bombing in central Baghdad leaves 15 people dead and dozens injured.

Former PM Tony Blair tells Sky News that critics who believe the violence is the result of the 2003 invasion are "profoundly mistaken".

June 16: Video footage purporting to show an ISIS fighter questioning and killing unarmed Iraqi soldiers draws condemnation.

ISIS takes control of Tal Afar and the al Adhim area of Diyala province.

US Secretary of State John Kerry says Washington is "open to discussions with Iran".


18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ian Wright's Family Burgled At Knifepoint

Former England international Ian Wright is flying home from the World Cup after his wife and children were burgled at knifepoint by four armed men.

A blade was held at his wife Nancy's throat, while his children were threatened with having their fingers cut off, during the robbery on Wednesday night at the family's home in St John's Wood, north-west London, The Sun reported.

Both mother and children are thought to have been separated in different rooms during the burglary.

The gang are understood to have made off with cash and jewellery.

Steve Kutner, Wright's manager, told the newspaper: "It was a terrifying ordeal. They marched Ian's wife from room to room."

Wright, who has been working for ITV in Brazil, was said to have returned as soon as he heard the news.

Ian Wright;s home in London The family home in London

The 50-year-old former Arsenal striker tweeted last night: "You won't get away with it!"

He is currently on a flight home from South America which is expected to land in the UK at 1pm.

A spokeswoman for Wright said he was "really angry and upset" and just wanted to be back with his family.

"Nancy is really shaken up. Their kids are so young that hopefully they aren't going to read into it too much. They are all physically OK - Nancy and the kids."

She added: : "Hopefully, with enough media coverage, this won't happen to any other players or people who are over in the World Cup. Ian is trying to get the message out."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We are investigating an aggravated burglary at an address in north-west London after we were called at 9.20 last night.

"Personal possessions were stolen. The suspects are described as four black men aged between 18 and 25, with London accents, wearing dark clothing and hoodies obscuring their faces.


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Video Shows Cop Fatally Shooting Prisoner

Newly released video shows a Texas police officer fatally shooting a handcuffed prisoner in El Paso city jail.

The footage shows a struggle between the inmate - bodybuilder Daniel Saenz - police officer Jose Flores and an unidentified prison guard.

The release of the video was ordered by the Texas Attorney General's Office after a request by the newspaper El Paso.

The video dates to March 8, 2013.

Saenz, 37, had been arrested that day after he had allegedly attacked an off-duty police officer.

Saenz was then being transported from jail to a hospital because he had smashed his head against the doorway and injured himself.

The video shows Saenz, his hands in cuffs behind his back, being dragged by Mr Flores and the guard.

According to a statement by the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT), the inmate had been tasered five times throughout the course of the day but continued to resist.

Mr Flores pulled out his gun, firing a shot that went through Saenz's shoulder and into his heart, local reports said.

Saenz died shortly thereafter in hospital.

CLEAT claimed the guard inadvertently hit the officer's hand, causing the gun to fire.

Mr Flores has not been charged but is believed to be on leave.


18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nokia 'Blackmailed For Millions Of Euros'

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 18 Juni 2014 | 18.25

Nokia paid several million euros to criminals who threatened to sabotage its smartphone operating system, it has been reported.

It was claimed in a local TV report that the Finnish phone giant left the cash in a car park for the blackmailers to collect – as police looked on.

But the crooks managed to slip the police tail after picking up the money, and are still at large.

Detective Chief Inspector Tero Haapala, from Finland's police service, confirmed the force was investigating a case of alleged blackmail.

He said: "We are investigating felony blackmail, with Nokia the injured party."

The TV report claimed that hackers managed to get hold of the security encryption key for a key part of Nokia's Symbian software, and threatened to make it public.

If the hackers had done so, anyone could have written additional code for Symbian, including possible malware.

Nokia contacted police before agreeing to deliver the cash to a car park in Tampere, central Finland.

After the money was picked up, police lost track of the culprits.

The blackmail attempt happened in 2008, but has only just been revealed.

Nokia later moved to Microsoft's Windows software in its smartphones, and its phone arm has since been sold to the software giant.


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Kurds Lead Fightback Against ISIS Militants

Timeline: How The Iraq Crisis Unfolded

Updated: 2:12pm UK, Tuesday 17 June 2014

A look back at the main events in the Iraq crisis, which has seen Sunni insurgents from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror group move to within 50 miles of the capital Baghdad.

December 2011: US troops complete their withdrawal after the 2003 invasion which led to the removal of Saddam Hussein.

August 2013: More than 70 people are killed in attacks at the end of Ramadan. ISIS claim responsibility.

January 2-4, 2014: ISIS declares itself in control of the western city of Fallujah and parts of Ramadi following clashes sparked by the clearing of a Sunni-Arab protest camp.

February: al Qaeda formally disowns ISIS, which was at one time an affiliate, because of its extreme methods.

April: Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki wins the most seats in a general election.

June 10: ISIS seizes all of Nineveh province in the north, including the capital Mosul - Iraq's second city. Mr Maliki asks parliament to declare a state of emergency.

June 11: The militants launch a wave of attacks further south, taking Tikrit and freeing hundreds of prisoners in Baiji. An assault on Samarra, 70 miles (110km) north of Baghdad, is repelled by security forces.

June 12: Iraq's air force strikes fighters' positions near Mosul and Tikrit.

US President Barack Obama says he is looking at "all the options" to help the government, which fails to secure authorisation for a state of emergency.

The army abandons its bases in Kirkuk, leaving Kurdish Peshmerga troops to take control.

June 13: A top Shia cleric issues a call to arms, telling the population to take up arms and defend their country.

Mr Maliki claims government forces have started to clear cities of "terrorists" and implements an emergency plan to protect Baghdad.

President Obama rules out sending back troops to fight ISIS.

The rebels move into the towns of Saadiyah and Jalawla in eastern province of Diyala.

June 14: Iran offers to work with the US to tackle the crisis, as Britain pledges an initial £3m in emergency aid to help refugees fleeing the violence.

The Iraqi army's fightback continues, with forces retaking the towns of Ishaqi, al-Mutasim and Duluiyah in Salaheddin province.

Troops also regain much of Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's home town.

US aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush is ordered to the Persian Gulf.

June 15: Photos emerge appearing to show an ISIS massacre of 1,700 captured government soldiers. Baghdad says number is exaggerated.

Reports say militants have overrun Tal Afar, the largest town in Nineveh province.

A bombing in central Baghdad leaves 15 people dead and dozens injured.

Former PM Tony Blair tells Sky News that critics who believe the violence is the result of the 2003 invasion are "profoundly mistaken".

June 16: Video footage purporting to show an ISIS fighter questioning and killing unarmed Iraqi soldiers draws condemnation.

ISIS takes control of Tal Afar and the al Adhim area of Diyala province.

US Secretary of State John Kerry says Washington is "open to discussions with Iran".


18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mortar Attack On Iraq's Biggest Oil Refinery

Insurgents are said to have taken over three-quarters of Iraq's biggest oil refinery after launching a mortar and machine-gun assault.

Smoke was seen billowing from the Baiji complex as officials confirmed it had been infiltrated by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants - potentially giving them control of the energy supply in northern Iraq.

Production had already ceased at the refinery, north of Baghdad, after clashes nearby.

IRAQ-UNREST-BLAST A car bomb in a mainly Shi'ite district of Baghdad killed at least seven

The attack comes as it emerged that ISIS charts its brutality and tactics in annual reports called al-Naba - The Report.

The 2013 version cites 10,000 operations in Iraq, including 1,000 assassinations and 4,000 improvised explosive devices planted.

The US-based Institute for the Study of War has analysed the 2012 and 2013 reports and corroborates much of the information they contain.

ISIS annual report Claims made by ISIS in its 2013 annual report

Other claims in the 2013 report include the freeing of hundreds of radical prisoners - and hundreds of "apostates" being turned.

Meanwhile, as ISIS continues its move towards Baghdad, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has warned that "the great Iranian people will do everything to protect" revered Shi'ite shrines in Iraq from the Sunni militants - the clearest indication yet that Tehran is preapred to mobilise.

This comes as Kurdish forces in the northern Iraqi towns of Saadiya and Jalula began a counter offensive against ISIS.

#AskMarshall Sky News' Diplomatic Editor Tim Marshall will answer questions about Iraq

Mosul, the country's second biggest city, is one of a number in the north to have fallen.

Some 44 prisoners were killed when insurgents attempted to storm a jail in Baquba - less than 40 miles from Baghdad.

The bodies of 18 Iraqi security personnel were also discovered outside the city of Samarra, which is home to one of the most important Shi'ite shrines.

IRAQ-UNREST-VOLUNTEERS Volunteers to fight the insurgency take a training session in Kerbala

Elsewhere, Turkey's embassy in Baghdad is looking into reports that ISIS has abducted 60 foreign construction workers, including 15 Turks, near the city of Kirkuk.

Amid the troubles photographs have emerged of heavily armed children alongside both the Jihadists and fighters loyal to the government.

In Baghdad, residents are stocking up on food and water in preparation for an ISIS assault on the capital.

IRAQ-UNREST-VOLUNTEERS An Iraqi boy joins a Shi'ite tribe preparing to fight the militants

As the West ponders its response to the crisis, David Cameron will today chair a meeting of the National Security Council after declaring that ISIS terrorists pose a "real threat" to Britain.

The US has urged Iraq's Shi'ite Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, to reach out to Sunnis in an attempt to calm hostilities.

:: Sky News' Diplomatic Editor Tim Marshall will answer questions about Iraq on Twitter @skytwitius between 12.30 and 1.30pm UK time.


18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hillsborough Wiki Entry Civil Servant Sacked

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 17 Juni 2014 | 18.26

A civil servant who made changes to a Wikipedia page about the Hillsborough disaster from a government computer has been sacked.

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude told Parliament that a junior administrator identified as being behind posts made in 2012 has been fired for gross misconduct.

A 24-year-old thought to have been born in London, but based in Liverpool, is understood to have changed the phrase "You'll never walk alone", the anthem of Liverpool FC, to read: "You'll never walk again."

An investigation into who made other changes, including some that are thought to have been made from computers used by Whitehall departments, is being dropped, Mr Maude said.

It is understood that those responsible for the changes made using a secure intranet cannot be traced because of "technical obstacles" and a lack of leads.

In one instance, the phrase "Blame Liverpool fans" was added anonymously to the Hillsborough section of the online encyclopaedia.

Ninety-six died and more than 700 were injured on April 15, 1989, when fans were crushed at an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest.

At the time the Cabinet Office became aware the changes had been made from government computers, a spokesman said: "The amendments made to Wikipedia are sickening.

"When the issue was brought to our attention by the Liverpool Echo we launched immediate enquiries.

Wikipedia's Hillsborough page Wikipedia's Hillsborough page was changed from government computers

"Once we have the facts, we will update Parliament with the findings and consider further appropriate action.

"At this time, we have no reason to suspect that the Hillsborough edits involve any particular department, nor more than one or two individuals in 2009 and 2012."

The civil servant who made the change in 2012 was identified by an investigation carried out by an online forum about Wikipedia called Wikipediocracy and the Daily Telegraph.

The Telegraph said he was pinpointed by cross-referencing his social media and work history.

The Hillsborough Family Support Group said it had been in discussion about whether to name him and had decided not to.

Chair Margaret Aspinall said: "All the families agreed that his name should be withheld.

"He has been sacked, and we all took the decision not to name him because social media can be very unpleasant.

"The most important thing is that this has been dealt with and it has not been covered up. He has been punished."

Mr Maude said it was "long-standing established practice that in such cases an individual's name will not be made public".


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Doctors Wrong On 'Do Not Resuscitate' Notice

Doctors should not have put a "do not resuscitate" notice on a woman patient without her consent, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

Janet Tracey, who had terminal lung cancer, had a "do not resuscitate" notice put on her records but neither she nor her family had been notified about the decision by medics.

Judges said doctors at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where Mrs Tracey died, should have discussed the notice with the 63-year-old or her family and that they had not been notified was a violation of her human rights.

Mrs Tracey's husband David, who brought the case, said it had been a "good result" and he hoped it would help other families in similar situations.

He said: "Patient care has got to come first and this will bring more care to people."

The ruling is seen as a key decision because it gives clarity on when - and in what circumstances - doctors should issue "do not resuscitate" notices.

The notices are widely used and the court heard that 68% of people die in hospital and of those 80% have "do not resuscitate" notices in their medical notes.

Addenbrookes hospital in canbridgeshire Mrs Tracey was taken to hospital after a car crash

They are designed to ensure patients die a dignified death, however, their use has become controversial and the rules surrounding them have been criticised for being confusing.

The notice was put in Mrs Tracey's medical notes when she was taken to hospital after breaking her neck in a serious car crash two weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.

Her family was not informed and when they discovered the existence of the notice they complained and it was cancelled.

However, after discussions with doctors a second notice was put in place with the family's agreement and Mrs Tracey died two days later on March 7, 2011.

Merry Varney from law firm Leigh Day, who acted for the Tracey family, said: "Janet, a care home manager, would have been horrified if one of her residents had been treated in this way and she would have fought, as her husband has, to ensure that patients have a legal right to be informed and consulted in relation to decisions to withhold resuscitation."

A spokesman for the Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said it was considering the implications of the judgement and stressed there had been no criticism of the clinical care provided.

The trust's chief executive, Dr Keith McNeil said: "End-of-life situations involve doctors and nurses having emotionally challenging but necessary conversations with patients and their families about what happens in the final stages of their care.

"Medical staff use a combination of their compassion, experience and judgment at these difficult times to try and find the right pathway for each individual patient, and provide the support needed for everybody involved."


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Iraq: Footage Of Militant-Held Mosul Emerges

Footage from inside one of the first cities to be seized by Islamist militants in Iraq appears to show men queuing to join the fighters' offensive.

Shot by the French news channel BFMTV, the video shows burnt-out vehicles littering the streets of Mosul, which fell to insurgents led by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The black flag of the terrorist group is seen, as are militants wielding guns.

Mosul Iraq after ISIS takeover One of the burnt-out vehicles in Mosul. Pic: BFMTV

Chanting residents in the central square appear to be welcoming the fighters.

ISIS has seized large parts of northern Iraq in the past week, and their latest target overnight was Baquba, less than 40 miles from the capital, Baghdad.

Fighters took control of parts of the city before being repelled by security forces, police said.

Potential recruits for ISIS in Mosul Iraq The packed central square in Mosul. Pic: BFMTV

Officials say 44 people died in the fighting.

In response to the crisis, President Barack Obama announced on Monday that up to 275 troops could be sent to Iraq to provide security for US personnel and the US Embassy in Baghdad.

Some 170 of the soldiers have already arrived in the Iraqi capital, with the remainder on standby in case they are needed, a US official said.

A comparison between the Iraqi army and ISIS.

President Obama wrote in a letter to Congress that the force has been sent "for the purpose of protecting US citizens and property, if necessary, and is equipped for combat".

He added: "This force will remain in Iraq until the security situation becomes such that it is no longer needed."

The White House is also considering sending special forces to train and advise Iraqi troops.

A member of the Iraqi security forces stands guard at a checkpoint during an intensive security deployment in Baghdad Security in Baghdad has been stepped up

One official said up to 100 special forces soldiers could be sent.

As the US and arch-enemy Iran discussed the crisis on the sidelines of nuclear talks, it was reported that the commander of Tehran's elite Quds Force, General Ghasem Soleimani, was in Iraq on Monday to discuss how to halt the insurgents' gains.

While the US and Iran have ruled out military co-operation, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the two nations have a shared interest in ensuring militants do not have a "foothold any more in Iraq".

Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki has vowed to recapture territory lost to ISIS, and government forces have retaken a number of towns and cities during its fightback.

Members of the Iraqi security forces patrol an area near the borders between Karbala Province and Anbar Province Security forces patrol near the borders between Karbala and Anbar provinces

The army has stalled ISIS's advance in Samarra, which has been the subject of numerous assaults by fighters.

However, insurgents have captured Tal Afar after a dawn raid, along with the al Adhim area in Diyala province, north of Baghdad.

An Iraqi army helicopter was also shot down near the city of Fallujah.

Footage has emerged which purports to show ISIS insurgents questioning and killing unarmed Iraqi soldiers.


18.26 | 0 komentar | Read More

Captured Iraqi Troops Made To Chant ISIS Slogan

Written By Unknown on Senin, 16 Juni 2014 | 18.25

Footage has emerged which appears to show an Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighter questioning and killing Iraqi soldiers.

It comes after the insurgents, who have seized large swathes of territory in the past week, released graphic pictures claiming to show some of the 1,700 Shia soldiers they had shot dead near Tikrit.

According to a translation of the first clip, militants order their prisoners to chant the ISIS slogan "Baqiya", which is thought to mean "(ISIS) will remain in existence" or "Islamic state will stay".

When asked where the government forces are, a soldiers replies they have left.

Isis video showing captured Iraqi military personnel The soldiers appear to be taunted before being killed

The fighters then threaten to chop off one of the soldiers' heads.

The earlier images posted online showed the Sunni insurgents loading captives on to flatbed trucks, forcing them to lie face-down in a ditch with their arms tied behind their backs before they were shot dead.

Chief Iraqi military spokesman, Lieutenant General Qassim al Moussawi, confirmed the authenticity of the pictures and said he was aware of cases of mass murder of captured soldiers in areas held by ISIS.

Jen Psaki, spokeswoman for the US State Department, said: "The claim by ISIS that it has massacred 1,700 Iraqi Shia air force recruits in Tikrit is horrifying and a true depiction of the bloodlust that these terrorists represent.

Isis video showing captured Iraqi military personnel Two of the soldiers ISIS apparently captured

"While we cannot confirm these reports, one of the primary goals of ISIL is to set fear into the hearts of all Iraqis and drive sectarian division among its people."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the reports were "deeply disturbing" and added those responsible must be brought to justice.

Sky's Diplomatic Editor Tim Marshall said the release of the images means the militants have now "got the attention of the world".

"It will encourage public opinion (in the US) that something has to be done," he said.

ISIS insurgents killing Iraqi soldiers Militants have posted images purportedly showing the massacre of soldiers

Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki has vowed to recapture territory seized by the insurgents last week. 

But in the latest fighting, residents of the northern town of Tal Afar, near the Syrian border, said ISIS had taken control after a dawn raid.

Iraqi security forces have claimed to have killed 279 "terrorists" in the last 24 hours.

Mr Maliki said: "We will march and liberate every inch they defaced, from the country's northernmost point to the southernmost point."

A map showing the sectarian and ethnic split in Iraq

Security in Baghdad has been tightened after the militants said they would march south to the capital.

However, Ms Psaki said the US would evacuate some of its staff and boost security at its embassy - located in Baghdad's Green Zone - due to the "ongoing instability".

Three explosions in the capital have left at least 15 people dead and dozens injured.

The US is reportedly preparing to stage direct talks with Iran, set to begin next week, over the situation in Iraq, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Volunteers join to fight ISIS insurgents in Iraq Peshmerga soldiers on patrol in northern Iraq

The White House, while declining to comment on the report, did not deny it.

Aircraft carrier the USS George HW Bush has arrived in the Persian Gulf as President Barack Obama considers possible military action against ISIS.

The US has "airlift assets" ready to evacuate people if they are requested, the Pentagon confirmed.

ISIS insurgents have been attacking the city of Tal Afar in northern Iraq, using rockets seized from military arms depots.


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Schumacher Out Of Coma And Leaves Hospital

Former Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher is no longer in a coma and has left hospital after a ski accident last December.

The 45-year-old has been in an induced coma since suffering a serious head injury in a skiing accident in the French Alps resort of Meribel in December.

He has now left CHU Grenoble in France and been moved to University Hospital of Lausanne in Switzerland.

His management company said in a statement: "Michael has left the CHU Grenoble to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not in a coma anymore.

Michael Schumacher skiing Schumacher was skiing at speeds of up to 60mph when he crashed

"His family would like to explicitly thank all his treating doctors, nurses and therapists in Grenoble as well as the first aiders at the place of the accident, who did an excellent job in those first months.

"The family also wishes to thank all the people who have sent Michael all the many good wishes to Michael. We are sure it helped him."

"For the future we ask for understanding that his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye."

Schumacher, a seven-time F1 champion, was reportedly travelling at speeds of up to 60mph when the accident happened, and is thought to have been saved by his skiing helmet, which split on impact.

However, the racing legend's chief doctor said in March that it was unlikely he would ever fully recover from the accident.

Doctor Gary Hartstein wrote on his blog: "As time goes on, it becomes less and less likely that Michael will emerge to any significant extent."


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McCanns Angry As Libel Trial Is Delayed Again

The McCanns have described a delay to a libel trial against a Portuguese policeman which had been due to end as "cynical".

Kate and Gerry, the parents of Madeleine McCann, had been due to speak at the trial of former police chief Goncalo Amaral, who was accused of lying in a book he wrote.

At the last minute, Mr Goncalo's lawyers submitted a letter to the court asking for a postponement.

The couple had been expected to deliver emotional statements in the trial of Goncalo Amaral, which they had been unable to do until the trial's end.

The McCanns claim Mr Amaral's 2008 book The Truth Of The Lie included allegations they had hidden Madeleine's body after she died in an accident and faked an abduction which damaged the search for the missing girl and added to their anguish.

Madeleine went missing in May 2007 from the couple's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on the Algarve and despite a worldwide hunt, she has never been found.

British and Portuguese police have been examining patches of ground in Praia da Luz in the last few weeks but have had no success.

Gerry McCann said: "Today is a blatant and cynical attempt to wear us down."

More follows...


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PM Urges UK To Stand Up For 'British Values'

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 15 Juni 2014 | 18.26

David Cameron has said a "worrying" failure to support British values has led to increasing division and extremism in the UK.

He said Britain should become "more muscular" in promoting national values and urged people to stop being "squeamish" about doing so.

His comments come as the head of Ofsted has agreed to meet a group of parents caught up in the so-called "Trojan Horse" inquiry into Muslim schools in Birmingham.  

In the wake of the controversy over Islamist influence on some schools, teachers were told by Education Secretary Michael Gove that they must in future "actively promote British values".

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Mr Cameron said the British values were "as British as the Union Flag, as football, as fish and chips" and it was "not an option" for anyone living in this country not to live by them.

School Twenty-one schools are being investigated by the education watchdog

He also suggested that any move away from the "Western model" of democracy and free enterprise would threaten Britain's economic success.

With concerns high over more young Britons joining radical jihadists fighting in Syria and Iraq, he accepted that too much latitude had been allowed to opponents of democracy, equality and tolerance.

"In recent years we have been in danger of sending out a worrying message: that if you don't want to believe in democracy, that's fine; that if equality isn't your bag, don't worry about it; that if you're completely intolerant of others, we will still tolerate you.

"This has not just led to division, it has also allowed extremism - of both the violent and non-violent kind - to flourish," he said in the article.

"We need to be far more muscular in promoting British values and the institutions that uphold them.

"A genuinely liberal country believes in certain values, actively promotes them and says to its citizens: this is what defines us as a society."

Salisbury Cathedral's Magna Carta Mr Cameron wants school pupils to learn about the Magna Carta

Celebrations are planned next year to mark 800 years since King John signed the Magna Carta at Runnymede which established for the first time that the king was subject to the law.

Mr Cameron said schools will now include lessons for all pupils.

A poll by Opinium for the Observer showed that 58% of voters believe faith schools should not receive taxpayer funding, or be closed altogether.

It found three quarters are concerned there is a serious risk pupils could be encouraged to adopt extremist views in predominantly Muslim schools.

Most, 56%, also thought all faith schools should not be allowed to teach only their own religion.

None of those which faced inspections over the "Trojan Horse" allegations were faith schools but shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt has said he would like cross-party talks on the issue.


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World Cup: England Defeated By Italy In Brazil

England have suffered a narrow defeat in their opening match of the 2014 World Cup, losing 2-1 to Italy in Manaus.

Italy opened the scoring with a Claudio Marchisio goal in the 35th minute, only for England to strike back when Daniel Sturridge scored from a Wayne Rooney cross.

The winning goal came for Italy in the 51st minute when Mario Balotelli scored with a header shortly after the half-time break.

Roy Hodgson's side had several unsuccessful attacking efforts as they tried to get back into the game, but Italy's Salvatore Sirigu put in a strong performance in goal.

Claudio Marchisio celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game Claudio Marchisio opens the scoring for Italy in the 35th minute

There was an unusual injury for the England squad when the team's physio, Gary Lewin, dislocated his ankle while celebrating Sturridge's goal.

Lewin was carried off the sidelines after suffering the injury in the 37th minute.

The win sees Italy join Costa Rica on three points at the top of Group D.

England v Italy: Group D - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil England physio Gary Lewin receives treatment on the sidelines

A disappointed Steven Gerrard said after the match: "Italy are a good team and we knew how they were going to play it.

"It's disappointing because we put so much into it."

Hodgson selected an attacking line-up for his team's opening clash of the tournament.

Soccer - FIFA World Cup 2014 - Group D - England v Italy - Arena da Amazonia The England team prepare to take on Italy at the Arena Amazonia

Liverpool's Raheem Sterling was named alongside Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney in the midfield.

Italy confirmed before the match that their captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon would miss the fixture because of an injury.

Hodgson had expressed his confidence in the team's pre-tournament preparations.

England's players pose for a team photo Some 5,000 England fans have travelled up the Amazon to back the team

"I think we are well prepared. I don't think we are concerned about the heat and humidity because we have been training in heat and humidity," he said.

The game at the Arena Amazonia was the first competitive encounter between the teams since Italy beat England in the 2012 European Championship quarter-finals.

Some 5,000 England fans travelled up the Amazon to support the side.

Soccer - FIFA World Cup 2014 - Group D - England v Italy - Arena da Amazonia Raheem Sterling takes a shot at goal in the opening minutes

Supporters at home filled the pubs, which were allowed to stay open late for the match after the Home Office announced that licensing laws would be relaxed.

Extra buses were laid on in London to get fans home, however the Tube did not run later than normal.

Police had issued a warning urging people not to drink too much and "wake up in a police cell".

Daniel Sturridge scores goal Daniel Sturridge celebrates his goal in the 37th minute

Chief Superintendent Andy Prophet from Essex Police said: "The tournament is a celebration of football and a chance to feel national pride.

"It is however just a game and can never be an excuse for violence or disorder.

"I hope everyone enjoys the World Cup, but experience tells us we need to plan for the minority who spoil things.

Soccer - FIFA World Cup 2014 - Group D - England v Italy - Arena da Amazonia Roy Hodgson said his team prepared for the match as well as possible

"My message to anyone planning to go out tonight is have a great time, enjoy the game but please be sensible."

Prime Minister David Cameron sent a good luck message ahead of the match, saying the country is behind the England team "every step of the way".

"On behalf of the whole country I want to wish the England team the very best of luck for the World Cup," Mr Cameron said.

"There is nothing like a World Cup to bring our country together."


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Blair Denies Iraq Violence Result Of 2003 War

Tony Blair has said critics who believe the violence in Iraq today is a result of the 2003 invasion are "profoundly mistaken".

Speaking to Sky News' Dermot Murnaghan, he said the West's inability to get tough with Syria's Bashar al Assad and failure in Libya had allowed terrorism and chaos to spread across the Middle East.

And he said had he still been an MP he would have voted for military action against Mr Assad in Syria last year, when Labour leader Ed Miliband made the case against intervention.

The former Prime Minister said that had the UK not acted to get rid of Saddam Hussein 11 years ago the country would have been in a worst state than Syria now.

Murnaghan promo: Tony Blair

He said Britain had to "get involved" to end the crisis in the Middle East but he was not suggesting a "full-scale intervention" with troops on the ground like in 2003.

Mr Blair, who is now Middle East peace envoy, argued there was no way Britain could stay out of Syria because "ultimately, extremist groups also intend to target us".

He said security services in the UK, Germany and France now all say the greatest risk to those countries is jihadist fighters returning from Syria.

Debris and damage are pictured at a site hit by what activists said was an air strike by forces loyal to Syria's President Assad in al-Shaar neighbourhood of Aleppo "Inaction over Syria" is also to blame, says Mr Blair

Mr Blair also took responsibility for the decision to go into Iraq in 2003 and said the situation in the country would have been the same had Saddam Hussein not been removed because the whole region had been hit by uprisings.

He said: "Some people will say 'well if we hadn't removed Saddam in 2003 we wouldn't have the problem today in Iraq and the reason I think that is profoundly mistaken is this: since 2011 there have been these Arab revolutions sweeping across the whole of the region - Tunisa, Libya, Yemen, Egypt, Bahrain, nextdoor to Iraq in Syria - and we can see what would have happened if we left Saddam there in 2003.

"We have left Bashar Assad in Syria. The result is that there have now in the last three years in Syria been virtually the same number of people killed in Syria as in the whole of Iraq. You have had nine million people displace from Syria, you have chaos and instability being pushed across the region."

Hassan Rouhani Iran's president Rouhani has said he would consider working with the US

Mr Blair said the Syrian situation had allowed Islamist militants to gain a stranglehold and the West would have to act because otherwise the terrorists would target the West.

He suggested that the West may have to accept that  Mr Assad would have to stay but that an agreement would have to be reached and a new constitution and "inclusive government" formed.

He also cautioned working with Iran after the president Hassan Rouhani offered to co-operate with the US to tackle the Iraq insurgency. 

Former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott said he disagreed with Mr Blair and accused him of wanting to wage some kind of Medieval crusade in the Middle East.

He said in 2003 Mr Blair had insisted the invasion was not about regime change but pointed out that in his interview on Sky News, Mr Blair admitted it had been. 

He also cautioned against the use of drones as an alternative way of intervening because the public would not accept the case for troops on the ground.

Former Labour International Development Secretary Clare Short said Mr Blair was "wrong, wrong, wrong" on the issue and accused him of being a "complete American neocon".

She said further intervention was not the answer telling the Murnaghan programme: "Who are you going to bomb? Remember Northern Ireland. When there is an uprising backed by some of the people, if you bomb you kill some of the people and make the people more angry and strengthen the forces of opposition."

In Iraq, the defence ministry said its forces are having some air strike successes against fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) who have made dramatic gains in the Sunni heartlands north of Baghdad after overrunning Iraq's second-largest city, Mosul.


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