SubscribeTerrorist’s case shows Yemen’s flexible justice
March 1, 2008
“Jaber Elbaneh has been one of the FBI’s most-wanted terrorist suspects ever since he escaped from a high-security prison two years ago in Sana, the capital of Yemen.
So when Elbaneh, a 41-year-old American citizen, walked freely into a Yemeni courthouse where his conviction was being appealed Feb. 23 , the judge and the prosecutor were stunned. They asked him to show identification, which he did.” (International Herald Tribune)
Sweden and Norway hold suspects after terror raids
February 28, 2008
“Swedish and Norwegian security services detained six people on Thursday on suspicion of offences related to terrorism.” (Reuters)
Preacher guilty of organising terror training camps
February 26, 2008
“A terrorist instructor who called himself “Osama bin London” has been convicted, along with three of his followers, of organising al-Qaida style training camps across Britain.
Their five-month trial, at Woolwich crown court, was the first to deal with a new offence - introduced under the Terrorism Act 2006 - of attending a place used for terrorist training. (The Guardian)
Pro Al-Qaeda wall drawings appear in large parts of Sudan capital
February 26, 2008
“The walls in the Sudanese capital as well as another major city have been smothered with Graffiti supporting the Al-Qaeda terrorist Islamic militant group, multiple sources told Sudan Tribune.
Residents of Khartoum and Omdurman woke up to paintings showing Islamic symbols such as the crescent with the words “Al-Qaeda Organization in Sudan” on them.” (Sudan Tribune)
Chinese submarine fleet is growing, analysts say
February 25, 2008
“Several recent events, from an eagle-eyed spotting of an image on Google Earth to an overt military delivery from Russia, suggest that China is continuing its rapid expansion of a submarine fleet that would be particularly useful in a conflict with the United States over Taiwan, analysts and military officials said.
American and other Western military analysts estimate that China has more than 30 advanced and increasingly stealthy submarines, and dozens of older, obsolete types. By the end of the decade, they say, China will have more submarines than the United States, although it will still lag behind in overall ability.” (International Herald Tribune)
Turkey launches land offensive into Iraq
February 22, 2008
“Thousands of Turkish troops have crossed into northern Iraq in their hunt for Kurdish PKK guerrillas, a senior military source said on Friday, in an escalation of a conflict that could destabilize the region.
Turkey’s military said the land offensive — the first major incursion in a decade — had fighter aircraft in support. Turkish TV said up to 10,000 troops had entered Iraq.” (Reuters)
China accuses US of double standards over satellite strike
February 21, 2008
“China today accused Washington of double standards after the US navy fired a missile to destroy a failed satellite 150 miles above the Pacific.
Beijing - which was criticised by the US and others when it shot down one of its own satellites last year - turned the tables on the Bush administration after the satellite was shot down today.” (The Guardian)
New U.S. visa requirements divide EU
February 21, 2008
“As the United States prepares to drop visa requirements for Czech citizens starting this fall, the reaction from Brussels has been decidedly negative.” (The Prague Post)
US, N Korea envoys meet in China
February 19, 2008
“The top US nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill has had a meeting in Beijing with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Kye-gwan.
The meeting was the first since North Korea missed a year-end deadline to submit a detailed declaration of its nuclear facilities.” (BBC News)
Britain is a ’soft touch’ for terrorism, defence institute says
February 15, 2008
“The world is living in “remission”, waiting for the next 9/11 terrorist attack, a report by the Royal United Services Institute said yesterday.
The next attack could deliver an “even greater psychological blow”, and Britain was in a poor state to deal with any new threat, the institute said.” (Times UK)