CONCERNS about the readiness of Australian troops involved in a bungled raid in which six people died were expressed before they were deployed to Afghanistan.
Australian Defence Force sources have told the Herald that the reservist commandos, some of whom serve as special operations police in NSW and Victoria, were still in Australia when senior officers were warned that they were insufficiently trained.
It is also believed that members of the commando company were disciplined for at least two separate offences during their tour of Afghanistan.
The family of the six victims, which included four children, an adolescent and an adult, told SBS's Dateline that the troops burst into their compound in the small hours of the morning in February last year and attacked with machine-guns and grenades.
It is understood that Defence investigators have raised serious concerns about whether the soldiers followed the rules of engagement relating to night-time raids and the use of grenades.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
50 SHIPS ARE STUCK IN ICE IN THE BALTIC SEA
About 50 ships, including large ferries carrying thousands of people, are stuck in ice in the Baltic Sea, Swedish maritime authorities said.
"Around 50 commercial vessels are waiting for help from ice breakers (and) we have had as many as six large passenger ferries stuck, but have managed to free two of them," Johny Lindvall of the Swedish Maritime Administration's ice breaker unit said.
Mr Lindvall said he had not seen a situation with so many ships stuck at once since the mid-1980s.
Five of the six ferries stuck were shuttling passengers between Sweden and Finland, while the Regal Star ferry, which had been stuck since midnight local time on Wednesday (10am AEST Thursday), had been on its way to Estonia, he said.
Sweden's TT news agency first reported that the two largest ferries, the Isabella and the Amorella, were in total carrying 2630 passengers, but later revised the number to 1841.
The Isabella has been freed, while the Amorella and the Regal Star were among the ferries that are still stuck, Mr Lindvall said.
Viking Line head Jan Kaarstroem told TT that his company's ferries were well equipped to handle ice and that all the passengers were safe.
Two ice breakers are in the area where the ferries are stuck, while a third is on its way after helping commercial vessels further north in the Bay of Bothnia, Mr Lindvall said.
"Around 50 commercial vessels are waiting for help from ice breakers (and) we have had as many as six large passenger ferries stuck, but have managed to free two of them," Johny Lindvall of the Swedish Maritime Administration's ice breaker unit said.
Mr Lindvall said he had not seen a situation with so many ships stuck at once since the mid-1980s.
Five of the six ferries stuck were shuttling passengers between Sweden and Finland, while the Regal Star ferry, which had been stuck since midnight local time on Wednesday (10am AEST Thursday), had been on its way to Estonia, he said.
Sweden's TT news agency first reported that the two largest ferries, the Isabella and the Amorella, were in total carrying 2630 passengers, but later revised the number to 1841.
The Isabella has been freed, while the Amorella and the Regal Star were among the ferries that are still stuck, Mr Lindvall said.
Viking Line head Jan Kaarstroem told TT that his company's ferries were well equipped to handle ice and that all the passengers were safe.
Two ice breakers are in the area where the ferries are stuck, while a third is on its way after helping commercial vessels further north in the Bay of Bothnia, Mr Lindvall said.
THE 2006 DEMOCRATIC PROMISE ON ETHICS
Democrats made a promise in 2006 that they would run the most ethical congress in history. At this time, there are 6 Democrats facing ethics investigations.
US TO CHARGE ENTRY FEE FOR TRAVELERS ENTERING COUNTRY
Travelers to the US will be asked to pay a $11 dollar fee to fund a program to boost tourism. And to help the economy.
This fee will apply to the US "visa waiver" program that is mostly used by tourists and short-stay business travellers from 34 countries.
Details of this fee appeared in the Travel Promotion Act, which Barak Obama signed into law last week.This plan is expected to raise about half the funds for a $220 million global "Come to America" campaign.Travellers requiring a visa waiver will still be expected to apply before their travel dates to avoid being stopped from entering the US.
The US has had fewer overseas travellers every year since 9/11. A bank has not yet been found to handle processing the fees. The campaign will be administered by a private sector committee which will be overseen by the Department of Commerce in accord with the departments of State and Homeland Security.
This fee will apply to the US "visa waiver" program that is mostly used by tourists and short-stay business travellers from 34 countries.
Details of this fee appeared in the Travel Promotion Act, which Barak Obama signed into law last week.This plan is expected to raise about half the funds for a $220 million global "Come to America" campaign.Travellers requiring a visa waiver will still be expected to apply before their travel dates to avoid being stopped from entering the US.
The US has had fewer overseas travellers every year since 9/11. A bank has not yet been found to handle processing the fees. The campaign will be administered by a private sector committee which will be overseen by the Department of Commerce in accord with the departments of State and Homeland Security.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
23 PEOPLE IN CHINA ARE ON TRIAL ACCUSED OF BABY TRAFFICKING
China has put 23 people on trial on suspicion of involvement in the sale of nearly 50 babies.
State media on Friday described it as one of the country's biggest-ever child trafficking cases.
Prosecutors accused ring members of buying baby boys for up to $3300. dollars in the southwest province of Yunnan and selling them for double that amount in the north of the country, the China Daily reported.
They allegedly also bought baby girls for less that that and sold them for about $ 3,000dollars. There was a two day trial in the city of Wuhan which concluded with no verdict delivered.
Most of them didn't realize they were breaking the law, said a court official.Under Chinese law, child traffickers face punishment ranging from five years in jail to the death penalty.
Prosecutors said the two ringleaders - a brother and sister pair - had trafficked 49 babies between March 2005 and July 2009 with the help of friends and relatives. Police shut down the ring in mid - 2009.
Chinese babies, especially boys, born to people in poor and remote areas are sometimes sold to more wealthy families. Many sociologists blame the nations "one child" family planning policy for fuelling the crime.
Under the policy, aimed at controlling the world's largest population of 1.3 billion, people who live in urban areas are generally allowed one child, while rural families can have two if the first is a girl.
This has put a premium on baby boys, while baby girls are often sold as couples try for a male heir.
State media on Friday described it as one of the country's biggest-ever child trafficking cases.
Prosecutors accused ring members of buying baby boys for up to $3300. dollars in the southwest province of Yunnan and selling them for double that amount in the north of the country, the China Daily reported.
They allegedly also bought baby girls for less that that and sold them for about $ 3,000dollars. There was a two day trial in the city of Wuhan which concluded with no verdict delivered.
Most of them didn't realize they were breaking the law, said a court official.Under Chinese law, child traffickers face punishment ranging from five years in jail to the death penalty.
Prosecutors said the two ringleaders - a brother and sister pair - had trafficked 49 babies between March 2005 and July 2009 with the help of friends and relatives. Police shut down the ring in mid - 2009.
Chinese babies, especially boys, born to people in poor and remote areas are sometimes sold to more wealthy families. Many sociologists blame the nations "one child" family planning policy for fuelling the crime.
Under the policy, aimed at controlling the world's largest population of 1.3 billion, people who live in urban areas are generally allowed one child, while rural families can have two if the first is a girl.
This has put a premium on baby boys, while baby girls are often sold as couples try for a male heir.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
COLLEGE CAMPUS PROTESTS KARL ROVE
A group of protesters at UCSB kept vigil on the grounds while Karl Rove spoke inside. The students in America are getting riled. This reminds me of the 60's when colleges across America were torn about the Vietnam War.
Friday, February 26, 2010
DATE - RAPE DRUGS AND ILLEGAL ONLINE PHARMACIES ARE INCREASING
Date-rape drugs -- so called because they render victims unconscious or provoke memory loss, facilitating rape -- were increasingly easy to obtain, the International Narcotics Control Board said in its annual report Wednesday.
"The 'date-rape drug' phenomenon is evolving rapidly, as sexual abusers attempt to circumvent more rigorous drug controls by using substances not restricted by the international drug conventions," it noted.
Rohypnol, the best known date-rape drugs, is subject to strict checks, but others like GHB, ketamine, an anaesthetic, and GBL, a solvent, are becoming more and more common and are easily available through legal channels.
Abuse of prescription drugs -- including morphine, codeine and methadone -- has also spread in recent years to become a "major concern" in many countries, with the number of users even surpassing the combined figure of cocaine, heroin and ecstasy users in places such as the United States, the INCB said.
"The 'date-rape drug' phenomenon is evolving rapidly, as sexual abusers attempt to circumvent more rigorous drug controls by using substances not restricted by the international drug conventions," it noted.
Rohypnol, the best known date-rape drugs, is subject to strict checks, but others like GHB, ketamine, an anaesthetic, and GBL, a solvent, are becoming more and more common and are easily available through legal channels.
Abuse of prescription drugs -- including morphine, codeine and methadone -- has also spread in recent years to become a "major concern" in many countries, with the number of users even surpassing the combined figure of cocaine, heroin and ecstasy users in places such as the United States, the INCB said.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
DRUGSTORE INDUSTRIES SQUASHED PHARMACY LABEL VOTE
A CVS pharmacy official that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed to the Pharmacy Board provided the vote to kill the bill.One other appointee was attorney Tappan Zee. The bill was to require large type on drug labels, and make oral translation of them available for all non-English speakers.The governor appointed Deborah Veale the job the day before the vote was conducted.
The California Retailers Assoc., has contributed $400,000 to the governors committees Other donors were Walgreens, Rite-Aid and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.
The bill has been supported by consumer advocacy groups, and senior citizen and minority groups.Nan Brasmer ,president of the California Alliance of Retired Americans said "some people can't clearly read little tiny type".
State Senator Ellen Corbett wrote the state law that empowered the pharmacy board to create label guidelines.
The California Retailers Assoc., has contributed $400,000 to the governors committees Other donors were Walgreens, Rite-Aid and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.
The bill has been supported by consumer advocacy groups, and senior citizen and minority groups.Nan Brasmer ,president of the California Alliance of Retired Americans said "some people can't clearly read little tiny type".
State Senator Ellen Corbett wrote the state law that empowered the pharmacy board to create label guidelines.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
BRITAIN INVESTIGATING ASSASSINATION OF HAMAS LEADER
There were stolen idenity and forged document papers of the hit squad. Everything was caught on tape in Dubai.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
SCIENTOLOGISTS TO SET UP AN ORPHANAGE IN HAITI
Scientologists flown to Haiti by John Travolta to help in the relief effort plan to set up a permanent base in the stricken country once the aid operation is complete.
The first group of Scientologists arrived in Haiti two weeks ago, and were boosted last week by the arrival of actor John Travolta in his Boeing 707 . The Scientologists, who are carrying out an operation called The Volunteer Ministry Disaster Relief for Haiti, have already begun plans to build an orphanage in the country.
Members of the group have volunteered to work in the hospitals, using healing techniques that reportedly include touching certain parts of the body or telling patients to stare at the wall.
Pat Harney, a spokesperson for the organization, told The Times: "I have no doubt that in some form or other there will be a church of Scientology here."
The first group of Scientologists arrived in Haiti two weeks ago, and were boosted last week by the arrival of actor John Travolta in his Boeing 707 with food, medical equipment, and baby food,doctors and volunteer ministers.
An Oxfam spokeswoman was quoted as saying: "I didn't know touching could cure gangrene", while other people questioned how Travolta was able to gain landing permission while many other aid flights were turned away from the airport.
The first group of Scientologists arrived in Haiti two weeks ago, and were boosted last week by the arrival of actor John Travolta in his Boeing 707 . The Scientologists, who are carrying out an operation called The Volunteer Ministry Disaster Relief for Haiti, have already begun plans to build an orphanage in the country.
Members of the group have volunteered to work in the hospitals, using healing techniques that reportedly include touching certain parts of the body or telling patients to stare at the wall.
Pat Harney, a spokesperson for the organization, told The Times: "I have no doubt that in some form or other there will be a church of Scientology here."
The first group of Scientologists arrived in Haiti two weeks ago, and were boosted last week by the arrival of actor John Travolta in his Boeing 707 with food, medical equipment, and baby food,doctors and volunteer ministers.
An Oxfam spokeswoman was quoted as saying: "I didn't know touching could cure gangrene", while other people questioned how Travolta was able to gain landing permission while many other aid flights were turned away from the airport.
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