Egypt Could Free Al Jazeera Journalist Today

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 03 Februari 2015 | 20.18

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A second Al Jazeera journalist could be freed from his Egyptian jail cell within hours, his Qatar-based news channel has reported.

Mohamed Fahmy, an Egyptian and Canadian national, has revoked his Egyptian citizenship and this would pave the way for his release and deportation under a presidential decree, his family have said.

Fahmy was arrested in December 2013 along with Al Jazeera English colleagues Peter Greste and Baher Mohamed on charges of collaborating with the Muslim Brotherhood, a banned group in Egypt.

All three denied the charges and their trial was widely described as a sham.

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Gallery: Al Jazeera Journalists' Journey To Freedom

Peter Greste has posted this photo on Twitter of him celebrating his freedom in Cyprus en route to his home in Australia. Greste along with Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were jailed in Egypt, accused of aiding a banned political group

Juris Greste, father of Peter Greste, Peter's brother Andrew Greste and mother Lois Greste are all smiles at a press conference in Brisbane following news of Greste's release on Sunday.

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Marwa Omara, fiancee of Mohamed Fahmy, who is expected to be released later today

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Mohamed Fahmy, Al Jazeera's Cairo bureau chief, addresses the Egyptian court

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Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed appear in an Egyptian court

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In June, Fahmy and Greste were sentenced to seven years in jail and Mohamed to 10 years, sparking international outrage.

Their convictions were overturned on 1 January but they had been kept in custody pending a retrial.

But on Monday night Canadian foreign minister John Baird said Fahmy's release was "imminent".

Mr Greste, an Australian, was released unexpectedly on Sunday and later told reporters of his "incredible angst" at leaving his two colleagues behind in jail.

He took to Twitter on Tuesday morning, celebrating his freedom by posting photos of him and his brother Mike in Cyprus en route to his home in Australia.

He wrote: "Free in Cyprus! Feels sweet. Peter back online for first time in 400+ days.

"Brother Mike and I due to head home to Australia shortly. Can't wait for the family reunion. Keep shouting #FreeAJStaff

"Special thanks to all who've supported us over the past year. MUST NOT FORGET THOSE STILL IN PRISON."

There are still concerns for the future of Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed, who does not hold nationality of another country.

According to campaign group Reporters Without Borders, there are currently 165 journalists imprisoned around the world, including 15 in Egypt.

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Written By Unknown on Senin, 02 Februari 2015 | 20.18

Greece's finance minister is due to meet British counterpart George Osborne, as Athens launches its drive to secure a new debt agreement.

Yanis Varoufakis is in London after holding talks in Paris, where he compared Greece to "drug addicts craving the next dose" of loan tranches.

Greece wants to end its existing arrangement with the European Union, the European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund "troika" when its aid deadline expires on 28 February.

Mr Varoufakis said it was time for his country to go "cold turkey".

"For the last five years, Greece has been living for the next loan tranche," he said.

"We have resembled drug addicts craving the next dose. What this government is all about is ending the addiction,"

Greece has begun to roll back on austerity measures imposed under its existing bailout deal and France says it will try to help the country's new government find a debt agreement.

French finance minister Michel Sapin ruled out cancelling the debt but said Athens was right to be concerned about the burden of its repayments.

"France is more than prepared to support Greece in this approach," he said.

"I am confident that Greece will be in a position to overcome the present challenges. I am confident that the Greek government will be in a position to produce indispensable reforms.

"Anything that can alleviate the Greek debt burden will be welcome... but of course there is no question of cancelling the Greek debt."

Mr Osborne said: "I welcome this opportunity, so soon after the Greek election, to discuss face to face with Yanis Varoufakis the stability of the European economy and how to boost its growth."

Prime Minister David Cameron initially responded to Syriza's rise to power by warning it would increase "economic uncertainty across Europe" but later offered the new leader UK help on tax collection.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras wants to agree a bridging deal with the troika to gain breathing space.

He hopes a new deal can be negotiated to reduce Greece's unmanageable public debt burden of more than 175% of its economic output, or €320bn (£240m).

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ex-IMF Head Strauss-Kahn On Trial For Pimping

Disgraced former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn goes on trial in France accused of aggravated pimping as part of a prostitution ring.

If convicted, the one-time presidential contender, known as DSK in France, faces up to 10 years in prison and a €1.5m (£1.1m) fine.

Strauss-Kahn and more than a dozen other French and Belgian businessmen will be tried in the northern city of Lille.

Luxury hotel managers, police, freemasons and a brothel owner nicknamed "Dodo the Pimp" are also standing trial.

"Specifically the charges against Mr Strauss-Kahn can be translated best as aggravated pimping, so participating in a structured prostitution ring involving a number of women operating both in France and in Belgium," said lawyer Christopher Mesnooh.

Prostitutes questioned in the case said they had sex with Strauss-Kahn during 2010 and 2011 at a luxury hotel and a restaurant in Paris and also in Washington, where he lived while working for the International Monetary Fund, and in Brussels.

His lawyers said he had attended "libertine" gatherings, but denied knowing the women were paid.

In France, it is not against the law to pay for sex, but is illegal to solicit or run a prostitution business.

During the high-profile three-week trial, lurid details of group sex and high-end prostitution are expected to emerge.

Prosecutors have been divided over whether there was enough evidence for Strauss-Kahn to stand trial.

State prosecutor Frederic Fevre called for the charges to be dropped in 2013.

But investigating judges overruled him and ordered Strauss-Khan to face trial.

Strauss-Kahn's financial and political career ended four years ago amid accusations he sexually assaulted hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo in New York.

Diallo told police he forced her to perform oral sex, tried to rape her and tore a ligament in her shoulder after she arrived to clean his luxury hotel suite.

Strauss-Kahn, who was forced to resign as head of the IMF due to the scandal, said the sex was consensual but described it as "a moral failing."

New York prosecutors dropped the case three months later because they said Diallo had lied about her background and changed her account of her actions after the alleged attack.

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Family's Relief As Jailed Reporter Released

A journalist freed after 400 days in an Egyptian jail "won't rest" until the two colleagues he was detained with are also released, his brother has said.

Australian Peter Greste was flown to Cyprus after a presidential "approval" meant he was allowed out of prison in Cairo.

But fellow al Jazeera journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed remain in jail, where the trio had been held since their arrest in December 2013.

And Mr Greste's brother, Andrew, told a news conference in Brisbane: "On a more sombre note, I know Peter wanted me to... acknowledge that Peter's two other colleagues are still there.

"Peter was arrested with Baher and Mohamed, and they also deserve to be free.

"Peter won't rest until they're released from prison and we hope that will follow in the very near future.

"Of course, we are thinking of Baher, Mohamed and their families who, thankfully, in this unusual twist of fate, we've got to know very well."

Andrew Greste said his 49-year-old brother was "safe, healthy and very, very happy to be on his way home".

He also thanked journalists "who have not let the story die", adding: "You've all been on this ride with us and have supported us and Peter faithfully."

The three reporters were jailed for offences including spreading lies to help the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, but were facing a retrial after their original convictions were overturned.

Canadian-Egyptian Mr Fahmy is expected to be freed over the coming days, when paperwork is completed that would allow authorities to deport him to Canada,

His fiancee Marwa Omara told reporters: "His deportation is in its final stages. We are hopeful."

It remains unclear what will happen to Mr Mohamed, who is Egyptian.

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Nut Rage Airline Heiress Acted 'Like A Beast'

Korean Air heiress Heather Cho behaved "like a beast that found its prey" during the so-called "nut rage" incident on a flight, a chief steward has told a court.

Park Chang-jin also said Cho, who quit as vice president responsible for cabin service at the family-run airline in the face of a public backlash, treated flight crew like "feudal slaves".

Cho demanded Mr Park be removed from a flight at New York's John F Kennedy airport after a first-class flight attendant served her macadamia nuts in a packet rather than a bowl.

The plane, already taxiing towards the runway, was forced to return to the gate.

Prosecutors are seeking a three-year jail sentence for Cho over her tantrum, which made international headlines and caused outrage in South Korea.

Cho, the eldest daughter of the airline's chief Cho Yang-Ho, has pleaded not guilty to violating aviation law.

She is also accused of conspiring with other company executives to force crew members to lie about the incident in December.

Mr Park told the court in the South Korean capital Seoul that Cho "was like a beast that found its prey gritting its teeth as she became abusive, not listening to what I had to say at all".

He also said Cho made him kneel and beg for forgiveness as she jabbed him with a service manual, the court heard.

Fighting back tears, he added: "I don't think Cho showed an ounce of conscience, treating powerless people like myself like feudal slaves, forcing us to sacrifice and treating it as if it was the natural thing to do."

He appeared in court in uniform after returning to work over the weekend following a leave of absence.

Cho's father apologised in court on Friday to Mr Park and promised he would not face any sanction.

Her lawyers previously told the court that she was sorry for her actions, but that they did not merit punishment.

They also denied that she used violence.

Prosecutors claim Mr Park was forced to kneel and that Cho jabbed him with a service manual.

Cho, also known as Cho Hyun-ah, has been in custody since 30 December.

Her two siblings are executives at the airline, which is South Korea's biggest.

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Ukraine: Psychiatric Care On The Frontline

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 01 Februari 2015 | 20.18

By Katie Stallard, Sky Correspondent, in Donetsk

At the psychiatric hospital in western Donetsk, an elderly man stands reciting Pushkin.

The shelling has been getting closer, the patients are being told what is happening, but it's difficult for many of them to understand.

Inside, on the ward, the staff are trying to keep things as normal as possible, but they're frightened too.

The doctor shows us a picture of one of their nurses - Irinia Radchenko - she was killed in shelling at home a few days ago.

"It was Wednesday," Dr Valentina Vozovikova told us.

"She was at home after work when the place was heavily shelled and she died.

"She was killed by a big piece of shell. It went through her chest.

"We are really afraid. Today on my way to work when I was almost at the bus station the shelling began so I lay on the ground.

"It was really scary, but I made it to work because the shells didn't land too near to me."

Dr Vozovikova showed us around the ward and asked us to film a 92-year-old retired schoolteacher - neighbours found her lying on the floor at home.

The doctor hoped relatives abroad might recognise the frail lady and be able to help.

"Her name is Vera Feodorovna Pismenova," Dr Vozovikova said, "She has nephews in Russia, maybe someone will see that she is alive, that she cannot look after herself."

"We brought her here and we don't know if we can save her or not but we hope we can."

In another room, we met 77-year-old Nina Pavlovna, she was found begging near a church.

"The shelling began … I had nowhere to live," Mrs Pavolovna explained.

"I was begging on the street so they took me here, washed me, changed my clothes and I'm grateful for that."

Staff said their salaries had not been paid for four months, and the hospital was running low on food and medication, that they only had a few days' supply of some drugs left.

Medical aid organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) - also known as Doctors Without Borders - has warned of an increasingly dire situation in the region, as hospitals are stretched to breaking point with dwindling supplies, and an increasing number of patients.

MSF is working on both sides of the conflict zone, transporting medical supplies to frontline hospitals, but heavy fighting is restricting access to some areas.

We filmed Dr Wael Abdelrahman Ahmed delivering medication to an elderly care home in Makiivka, north-east of Donetsk, who explained the difficulties facing doctors in the region.

"There is a really big problem with medications," he said.

"We're getting different requests from different hospitals - they need support."

"We are doing our best now to support them - for instance with maternity and chronic disease kits."

The organisation said their teams had twice been turned back over the last week, trying to reach the hospital in the frontline city of Gorlovka, and urged both sides to allow humanitarian aid to reach those who desperately need it.

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IS Hostage Pilot's Brother: 'It's Not Our War'

By Tom Rayner, Middle East Reporter, Karak, Jordan

The brother of the Jordanian pilot held captive by Islamic State has urged his country's leaders to leave the international coalition targeting the group, saying: "It's not our war."

His comments reflect the growing domestic pressure being put on the Jordanian government, as the fate of Mu'ath Al Kassasbeh remains unknown.

In the pilot's home town of Ay, which sits in the Karak Mountains 90 miles south of the capital Amman, there have been demonstrations against the country's involvement in the US-led coalition.

Speaking to Sky News, Mu'ath's brother Jawdat Al Kassasbeh said such sentiments were widely held.

"The Jordanian people in general and our cousins here in this village are saying this war is not our war. It is not our war," he said.

Asked whether he believes his brother is still alive, he said: "God bless him. I really don't know. I really don't. I just hope."

Islamic State (IS) had said it would kill Mu'ath by sunset on Thursday unless Iraqi jihadist Sajida al Rishawi was released in exchange for Japanese hostage, Kenji Goto.

The Jordanian government had said they were prepared to make the exchange if Mu'ath was also released, but that they had not received proof the pilot was alive.

On Saturday, hours after officials said negotiations were "deadlocked," the Japanese government said a video apparently showing the murder of Mr Goto seemed to be genuine.

Jordan "strongly condemned" the killing and vowed to do "everything" to save Mu'ath's life.

The Kassasbeh family are part of one of the largest tribes in Jordan and one of the most loyal to the Royal Family.

But in the last week they have increasingly taken their frustrations to the streets, calling for more information about the talks and for Jordan's leadership to do more to save their son.

Analysts have suggested IS is set on exploiting the captured pilot to cause instability in Jordan, driving a wedge between the Western-backed government and the network of tribal communities.

However, those close to the Royal Family believe the organisation is underestimating the bonds that hold the Hashemite Kingdom together.

"They're not going to get anywhere. The tribes have always been the pillars of the country and the pillars of the army," said retired Jordanian General Ali Shukri.

General Shukri served for 23 years as the Director of the Private Office of the late King Hussein.

He says Jordan's current leadership is right to be fully involved in the international coalition, alongside other Arab states, in their battle with Islamic State.

"Do we wait for them until they appear on our borders or in our towns? Or do we join the coalition and pre-empt all their plans?" said General Shukri

"We simply cannot turn our backs and say: 'It's not our problem.' It is our problem," he added.

Mu'ath Al Kassasbeh was taken captive by Islamic State when his fighter jet crashed in Syria in late December.

20.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

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