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Ebola Evacuation For Worker After Needle Jab

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 31 Januari 2015 | 20.18

A British military healthcare worker has been evacuated from Sierra Leone after being accidentally jabbed with a needle while treating Ebola patients.

The worker has returned to England for monitoring, according to Public Health England (PHE).

The woman was flown back to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Friday night and then transferred to an isolation ward at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, northwest London.

The worker's next of kin has been informed, according to PHE.

It is understood the person, whose identity has not been released, has probably been exposed to the virus but has not been diagnosed with Ebola and is not displaying symptoms.

The official announcement said the worker suffered a "needle-stick injury", which involves piercing of the skin.

The injuries typically involved needle points but may also be done by other sharp objects, and are considered an occupational health hazard by medical workers.

PHE director for health protection Professor Paul Cosford said: "Our thoughts are with this person, who has been courageous in helping those affected in West Africa, and in preventing the wider spread of Ebola.

"We have strict, well-tested protocols in place for this eventuality and we are confident that all appropriate actions have been taken to support the healthcare worker concerned and to protect the health of other people."

The medical evacuation was done as a precautionary measure after the worker was pricked by a needle at the Kerry Town clinic in the West African nation.

There are currently around 600 British military personnel working in Sierra Leone, with Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Argus stationed in the area.

The clinic was built on the outskirts of the capital Freetown to help treat patients infected by the virus, which has ravaged parts of West Africa.

It includes an 80-bed treatment centre managed by Save The Children charity and a 12-bed operated by British Army medical staff designed to treat international healthcare workers and staff working in the area.

London's Royal Free Hospital also treated British nurses Pauline Cafferkey and Will Pooley - both were diagnosed with the disease after returning from treating patients in Africa.

In a statement the hospital said: "We can confirm that a UK military healthcare worker has been admitted to the Royal Free Hospital today following a needlestick injury while treating a person with Ebola in Sierra Leone.

"The individual has been admitted to the Royal Free Hospital for assessment."

The patient will be monitored throughout the 21-day incubation period of Ebola.

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  1. Gallery: The Desperate Fight To Contain The Ebola Outbreak

    A man rests outside the clinic.

A woman is comforted after medical officials remove her husband, who is suspected of having the disease.

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20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Greece Wants 'Rethink' Of Whole Bailout

Greece's newly elected anti-austerity government has said it will not co-operate with its international "troika" of creditors - the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Greece's finance minister Yanis Varoufakis said that despite warnings his country would shortly run out of money, his government preferred to do without fresh funds and instead renegotiate its entire €240bn (£180bn) bailout package.

Athens has been promised another €7.2bn (£5.4bn) in funds from the troika if it completes reforms required by its lenders by 28 February, when the bailout programme runs out.

"This government was elected on the basis of analytically questioning the very logic of the programme now being applied," Mr Varoufakis said, referring to the reforms and budget cuts demanded by the troika.

"We don't want the €7bn ... We want to sit down and rethink the whole programme."

But the stance has already drawn criticism from top EU officials, and Germany's Angela Merkel.

"There has already been voluntary debt forgiveness by private creditors, banks have already slashed billions from Greece's debt," Mrs Merkel said.

"I do not envisage fresh debt cancellation."

Her comments follow remarks made at a strained news conference between Mr Varoufakis and Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem.

Mr Varoufakis said Athens was willing to negotiate with its lenders but not with the troika, which he described as a "committee built on rotten foundations".

Mr Dijsselbloem said Greece and the Eurogroup had a "mutual interest in the further recovery of the Greek economy inside the eurozone" and warned against Athens acting on its own.

"Taking unilateral steps and ignoring previous arrangements is not the way forward," Mr Dijsselbloem said.

"The problems of the Greek economy have not disappeared or changed overnight with the elections."

Further concern comes from the potential of the anti-austerity political movement spreading to other nations, with a large "march for change" expected today in the Spanish capital Madrid to support new far left party Podemos.

The troika was formed in 2010 to rescue debt-riddled Greece with the bailout on the condition Athens imposed huge spending cuts and fiscal reforms.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was elected last Sunday on a platform of ending austerity and erasing most of the country's national debt.

Mr Varoufakis meets French counterpart Michel Sapin in Paris on Sunday and British Chancellor George Osborne on Monday.

Mr Tsipras will meet Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Tuesday and French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday, but has no plans to visit Germany - Europe's biggest economy and its effective paymaster.


20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

IS Chemical Weapons Expert Killed, Says US

A chemical weapons expert working with Islamic State (IS) in Iraq has been killed in a coalition airstrike, the US military has said.

Abu Malik was killed near Mosul during an air raid on 24 January, US Central Command announced on Friday.

Malik had worked at a chemical weapons production plant under Saddam Hussein's regime before the dictator was toppled in 2003.

He later forged an affiliation with al Qaeda in Iraq in 2005, before joining IS, according to Central Command.

Malik's training "provided the terrorist group with expertise to pursue a chemical weapons capability", the military said in a statement.

"His death is expected to temporarily degrade and disrupt the terrorist network and diminish ISIL's ability to potentially produce and use chemical weapons against innocent people."

Previously US officials had not publicly referred to Malik as a key IS figure.

There has been no evidence to suggest IS possesses a major chemical weapons arsenal, but there have been claims the jihadist organisation has employed chlorine gas, which is classified as a "choking agent".

A US defence official, speaking anonymously, said Malik had been "involved in operations to produce chemical weapons in 2005, and planned attacks in Mosul with AQI (al Qaeda in Iraq)".

"Based on his training and experience, he was judged to be capable of creating harmful and deadly chemical agents," added the official.

"We know ISIL is attempting to pursue a chemical weapons capability, but we have no definitive confirmation that ISIL currently possess chemical weapons."

The US-led coalition has carried out more than 2,000 air raids against IS in Iraq and Syria since 8 August.

Airstrikes have been pounding the Mosul area in the north over the past week, the military said.


20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

IS Hostages Talks In 'State Of Deadlock'

There is a "state of deadlock" in negotiations to release a journalist held by Islamic State (IS) militants, according to a top Japanese diplomat.

Japan's deputy foreign minister Yasuhide Nakayama made the comments in the Jordanian capital Amman, where he is leading Tokyo's team attempting to secure the freedom of veteran war reporter Kenji Goto.

Mr Goto, 47, has appeared in videos released by IS in which his fate has been linked to another hostage, Jordanian fighter pilot Lt Muath al Kasaesbeh.

Speaking late on Friday night, Yasuhide Nakayama said: "Staying vigilant, we will continue analysing and examining information as the government is making concerted efforts together."

Japan's chief cabinet secretary also described attempts to free Mr Goto as an "extremely tough situation."

Jordan and Japan have held indirect negotiations with the militants, who control around a third of Iraq and Syria, for release of the men in exchange for a jailed jihadist.

But Jordan has demanded evidence that the airman who crashed in Syria on 24 December is still alive before freeing the would-be suicide bomber, who is on death row.

IS had said it would kill Jordan's captured pilot by sunset on Thursday unless Iraqi jihadist Sajida al Rishawi was released.

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  1. Gallery: Living Under Sniper Fire In Syria

    Children play near a bus barricading a street, which serves as protection from snipers loyal to Syrian President Bashar al Assad, in Aleppo's rebel-controlled Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood

Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters peek through gaps at a concrete barrier as they watch their fellow fighters who where caught under sniper fire on the front line in Aleppo's Sheikh Saeed neighbourhood

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20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

IS Sets Sunset Deadline To Save Hostage

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 29 Januari 2015 | 20.18

An audio recording purportedly from a man being held by IS militants says a fellow hostage has just hours to live unless an Iraqi prisoner is released.

The message, which is unverified, is believed to have been read out by Kenji Goto - a Japanese journalist taken by Islamic State militants last year.

In it the voice demands the release of Sajida al Rishawi, who was sentenced to death in Jordan for her involvement in a 2005 terrorist attack that killed 60 people.

The man states that a fellow hostage - Jordanian pilot Lieutenant Muath al Kasaesbeh - would be killed if the prisoner was not ready to be exchanged at the Turkish border with Syria by "sunset".

That would make the deadline around mid-afternoon UK time.

The brief message did not make it clear what the fate of either hostage would be even if the group's demands were met.

Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said: "We are still in the process of verification but with all of the information gathered we think that there is a high probability that the voice was indeed that of Mr Goto."

Although the Jordanian government is willing to hand over the would-be suicide bomber, nations around the world - including the US - believe the deal with IS should not go ahead.

Such an exchange could set a dangerous precedent, encouraging terrorists to take more people hostage.

However, if both hostages were to survive, it could provide crucial intelligence about their captors, as the whereabouts of a man dubbed "Jihadi John" remains unknown.

The family of Lt al Kaseasbeh have met Jordan's King Abdullah, where they were assured that "things were still positive".

Despite this, the country's foreign minister has not received any evidence that the pilot is alive and well.

The Japanese government is investigating the latest footage, which was originally uploaded to YouTube.

The mother of Kenji Goto has made a tearful appeal to Japan's Prime Minister to help save her son.

Junko Ishido said she had begged Shinzo Abe to "please save Kenji" and to work with the Jordanian government to secure his release.


20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Killed Sydney Hostages' Final Moments Revealed

A hostage killed during a siege at a Sydney cafe was made to kneel before being shot in the back of the head with a sawn-off pump action shotgun, an inquest has heard.

Cafe manager Tori Johnson was killed by Iranian-born gunman Man Haron Monis, moments after several people managed to flee the coffee shop safely.

Jeremy Gormly, one of the lawyers assisting the coroner, said: "Mr Johnson was made by Monis to kneel on the floor of the cafe. After a short lapse of time, Monis simply shot him without further notice or warning in the back of the head.

"The end of the barrel was about 75cm from his head at the moment of discharge. Mr Johnson is believed to have died immediately."

It was the 34-year-old's death which led tactical operatives to force their way into the Lindt cafe in the early hours of 16 December.

The inquest also heard that another hostage who died, 38-year-old barrister Katrina Dawson, was struck by six fragments of a police bullet which ricocheted off the walls when officers stormed the building to end the 16-hour siege.

"One fragment struck a major blood vessel," said Mr Gormly.

"She lost consciousness quickly and died shortly afterwards."

He said three other hostages were also injured by a ricochet off a police bullet.

The inquest also heard of the gunman's movements early on in the day's events - how he first ordered and ate a piece of chocolate cake and drank tea after entering the cafe on the morning 15 December.

Around half an hour later, he asked to move tables and to speak to manager Johnson, who then asked an employee to lock the doors.

Monis then stood up, putting on a vest and bandana, and told staff: "This is an attack. I have a bomb."

Trained officers ended the siege when they threw 11 flash bangs into the building before firing 22 shots at Monis.

Mr Gormly told Glebe Coroner's Court: "At least two bullets, police bullets or bullet fragments hit Monis in the head and 11 other bullets, police bullets or fragments hit him in the body. It seems he was killed instantly."

The inquest aims to determine what happened during the siege, and investigate whether emergency services' response to the hostage situation was sufficient.

It will also examine the motivations of Man Haron Monis.

Although the gunman claimed his attack was in affiliation with Islamic State, it has emerged that he had no contact with the terror organisation before the siege.

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  1. Gallery: Latest Images From Australia

    A bomb disposal robot moves towards Sydney's Lindt Cafe after armed police moved in to end the seige in a barrage of gunfire.

A woman is carried out of the cafe after armed police stormed the building where a gunman was holding up to 20 hostages

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20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

MH370 Loss An 'Accident' - All On Board 'Dead'

MH370 Loss An 'Accident' - All On Board 'Dead'

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Malaysia has officially declared the loss of flight MH370 was an accident and all on board are dead.

The announcement was in accordance with civil aviation rules, said Malaysia's aviation director-general Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, adding that the announcement ends the search for the aircraft and would help families of those on board to apply for compensation.

"It is with the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow that we officially declare Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 an accident," said Mr Azharuddin in a broadcast on Malaysian television.

"We officially declare Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 an accident and that all 239 of the passengers and crew onboard are presumed to have lost their lives," he added.

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  1. Gallery: MH370: Timeline Of False Hopes

    March 8: At 9am, an hour after flight MH370 is reported missing, rumours spread online that it has landed safely in China

March 8: Search planes spot two oil slicks in the South China Sea but tests show the fuel is not from an aircraft

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March 9: Vietnam search plane spots mystery objects in the South China Sea but they turn out to be unrelated to MH370

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March 10: A moss-covered piece of floating sea debris is mistaken for a yellow life raft

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March 11: Two MH370 passengers travelling with stolen passports are identified as illegal immigrants from Iran and are no longer suspected of terrorist activity

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MH370 Loss An 'Accident' - All On Board 'Dead'

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

Malaysia has officially declared the loss of flight MH370 was an accident and all on board are dead.

The announcement was in accordance with civil aviation rules, said Malaysia's aviation director-general Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, adding that the announcement ends the search for the aircraft and would help families of those on board to apply for compensation.

"It is with the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow that we officially declare Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 an accident," said Mr Azharuddin in a broadcast on Malaysian television.

"We officially declare Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 an accident and that all 239 of the passengers and crew onboard are presumed to have lost their lives," he added.

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  1. Gallery: MH370: Timeline Of False Hopes

    March 8: At 9am, an hour after flight MH370 is reported missing, rumours spread online that it has landed safely in China

March 8: Search planes spot two oil slicks in the South China Sea but tests show the fuel is not from an aircraft

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March 9: Vietnam search plane spots mystery objects in the South China Sea but they turn out to be unrelated to MH370

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March 10: A moss-covered piece of floating sea debris is mistaken for a yellow life raft

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March 11: Two MH370 passengers travelling with stolen passports are identified as illegal immigrants from Iran and are no longer suspected of terrorist activity

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20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gorbachev: 'Cold War' Could Turn Violent

Mikhael Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, has accused the US of drawing Russia into a new Cold War.

Such a move might even lead to armed conflict unless tensions are eased, Mr Gorbachev warned.

The US "has already drawn us into a new Cold War, trying openly to achieve its main idea of triumphalism," the revered elder statesman said in an interview with Russia's Interfax news agency.

"Where will that lead all of us? A Cold War is already being waged openly. What's next?

"Unfortunately I cannot say for sure that a Cold War won't lead to a 'hot' one. I fear they (the US) could take the risk."

He criticised the West for imposing sanctions on Russia.

"All you hear is about sanctions towards Russia from America and the European Union. Have they totally lost their heads?"

The 83-year-old former Soviet president is much admired internationally because of the way he improved relations with the West during his time in office.

But he is vilified in Russia for much the same reason, and for allowing the break-up of the Soviet Union.

Last year he warned that the world was "on the brink of a new Cold War" and urged the US and the EU to "defrost relations" with Russia.

Mr Gorbachev has been harshly critical of President Vladimir Putin in the past for an "imitation" of democracy.

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  1. Gallery: Profile Of Mikhail Gorbachev

    Mikhail Gorbachev was widely tipped as the next leader of the Soviet Union, when he held talks with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at Chequers in 1984

Mr Gorbachev was appointed General Secretary of the Soviet Union, at the age of 54, in 1985 - effectively the leader of the USSR

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20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Risk V Reward In Islamic State Hostage Deal

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 28 Januari 2015 | 20.18

Time is running out and pressure is mounting for the Jordanian and Japanese authorities.

The demand from Islamic State militants is the release, within 24 hours, of an Iraqi would-be suicide bomber in exchange for the lives of a Japanese journalist and a Jordanian fighter pilot.

Bluntly, the Jordanian authorities will now be weighing up the risks of releasing Sajida al Rishawi into the hands of a terrorist group against the reward for doing so.

:: The risks

1. Releasing a self-confessed terrorist into the hands of a terror group. Sajida al Rishawi confessed to trying to blow up the Radisson SAS hotel in Amman in 2005.

In her televised confession (which she later retracted) she said she hoped to kill as many men, women and children as possible.

Her husband's suicide belt went off. He died along with 36 other victims. Al Rishawi's belt did not go off and she was later arrested.

If she is handed over to IS militants, could she go on to carry out a successful suicide mission?

2. Bowing to terrorists' demands: No government wants to be seen to be bowing to the demands of the Islamic State.

Deals with terrorists embolden them and encourage them to take more people hostage.

The covert payment of ransoms by some governments has only added to Islamic State's wealth, which is already huge thanks to their control of oil assets in Syria and Iraq.

The Jordanian government will be under huge pressure by the Americans and others not to do any deal with Islamic State.

:: The rewards

1. The hostages survive: If Al Rishawi is released and Islamic State militants stick to the deal (there is no guarantee that they will) then clearly the lives of Kenji Goto and Lt Mu'ath al Kaseasbeh will be saved.

Emotionally, this is an overriding objective.

2. Intelligence: Agencies around the world would be extremely keen to "debrief" the two hostages and learn as much as possible about their captors.

It is thought that they were being held by a man dubbed 'Jihadi John', a Briton who was behind the beheading of a number of other hostages, including Britons David Haines and Allan Henning and Americans Steven Sotloff, James Foley and Peter Kassig.

Despite sustained efforts, he has not been located. Intelligence agencies could glean vital information from the two men.

:: Other options

There are other plausible scenarios which could secure the release of the two men.

Through backchannels in Jordan, a deal could perhaps be struck which would see the release of a number of other alleged Islamist militants who are in Jordanian jails, prisoners who are seen as less of a security risk.

If any deal is done though, the Jordanian and Japanese authorities will need a "proof of life", showing that Mr Goto and Lt al Kaseasbeh are still alive.

In Tuesday's demand, both men were seen only in photographs. Some in Jordan believe that Lt al Kaseasbeh is already dead. 


20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jordan 'Ready' To Exchange Militant For Pilot

Jordan's information minister has said his country is willing to hand over an Iraqi would-be-suicide bomber if a Jordanian pilot captured by Islamic State is released.

In an announcement on state television, Mohammad al Momani said: "Jordan is ready to release prisoner Sajida al Rishawi if the Jordanian pilot Lieutenant Muath al Kasaesbeh was released and his life spared." 

The pilot's father, Safi al Kaseasbeh, had earlier implored the Jordanian government "to meet the demands" of Islamic State.

"All people must know, from the head of the regime to everybody else, that the safety of Muath means the stability of Jordan, and the death of Muath means chaos in Jordan," he said.

Bassam al Manasseer, chairman of Jordan's foreign affairs committee, announced earlier that negotiations with Islamic State were taking place through religious and tribal leaders in Iraq.

The news comes as the mother of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto also being held by Islamic State made a tearful appeal to Japan's Prime Minister to help save her son.

Junko Ishido said she had begged Shinzo Abe to "Please save Kenji" and to work with the Jordanian government to secure his release.

IS warned in a video that journalist Mr Goto and Mr al Kaseasbeh would be killed within 24 hours if its demands were not met.

The video shows Mr Goto in an orange jumpsuit holding a picture of Mr al Kaseasbeh, along with an audio message of him pleading for his life.

The group said the hostages' lives would be spared if Jordan releases Sajida al Rishawi, an Iraqi woman sentenced to death for her involvement in a 2005 terrorist attack that killed 60 people.

It comes after IS apparently murdered another Japanese prisoner, Haruna Yukawa - an act condemned by Japan's government.

Mr Goto was captured in Syria in October, apparently while trying to rescue Yukawa, 42, who was taken hostage last summer.

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  1. Gallery: The Hostages Released After Deals Were Made With Terrorists

    March 2007: Italian-Swiss journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo was released by the Taliban in exchange for the release of five prisoners

April 2008: A ransom of $1.2m was allegedly paid to Somali pirates by the Spanish government to secure the release of 26 trawlermen

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20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More
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