Stop Burning Rain Forests for Palm Oil:
In the Tripa forest in Indonesia's Aceh province, the rare Sumatran orangutans were dying. Flames devoured the trees, smoke filled the air and the red apes had nowhere to go. The fires had been set intentionally, to clear the land for planting oil palms--trees whose fruit yields palm oil, a widely used component of biofuels, cosmetics and food. Although the land was supposed to be protected, the Aceh governor issued a permit in August 2011 for Indonesian palm oil firm PT Kallista Alam to develop some 1,600 hectares in Tripa. In September 2012, under pressure from environmental groups, the permit was revoked. It seemed like a significant win for conservation. Yet the controversial Tripa permit was just a small part of the country's palm oil–driven deforestation crisis.
With its low price tag and long shelf life, palm oil is the cooking oil of choice in many parts of the world. The plant is a major cash crop for poor farmers in developing countries such as Indonesia, the world's largest producer of palm oil. Palm oil estates there cover an estimated 8.2 million hectares of land--an area the size of Maine--and that number is poised to skyrocket as the country prepares to double its output by 2030. Palm oil exports bring Indonesia and neighboring Malaysia $40 billion a year.
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Thursday, 6 December 2012
Max Clifford arrested by Jimmy Savile inquiry police over alleged sexual offences
Max Clifford arrested by Jimmy Savile inquiry police over alleged sexual offences: Max Clifford, the publicist, has been arrested by detectives from the Jimmy Savile investigation team. Mr Clifford was held on suspicion of sexual offences this morning and taken into custody at a London police station.
China warns India on oil exploration
China warns India on oil exploration: China has warned India to stop oil exploration in the South China Sea after New Delhi's Navy chief said he was prepared to send ships there to protect its interests.
Tufão mata cerca de 500 pessoas nas Filipinas
Tufão mata cerca de 500 pessoas nas Filipinas:
MANILA - A passagem do tufão Bopha pelas Filipinas já deixou ao menos 475 pessoas mortas, um inúmero impreciso de desaparecidos e cerca de 200 mil pessoas desabrigadas, informaram as autoridades nesta quinta-feira. O número de vítimas deve ser ainda maior, à medida que escombros de casas são revirados.
- Acreditamos que esse número irá aumentar porque há muitos desaparecidos - informou o diretor-executivo do Conselho Nacional de Desastres, Benito Ramos.
As mortes foram registradas em oito províncias do país, mas Mindanao (no sul) e Visayas (no centro) foi a mais atingida. Somente em Compostela Valley, em Mindanao, 184 pessoas morreram quando as enchentes atingiram os abrigos de emergência. Foi decretado estado de calamidade em Surigao do Sur, Davao Oriental e no Valle de Compostela.
- As comunicações caíram, não há energia elétrica, ruas e estradas estão destruídas. Ainda estamos trabalhando nos resgates - disse Ramos.
Das centenas de mortos, apenas 29 foram identificados até o momento. Outras 400 pessoas ficaram feridas com as enchentes e os deslizamentos de terra provocados pelo tufão. Acredita-se que muitas pessoas estejam soterradas.
O tufão Bopha, cujos ventos chegaram a atingir 195km/h, perdeu força e já se converteu em uma tempestade tropical. Ele se dirige agora ao Mar da China Meridional, mas ainda provoca fortes chuvas no lado ocidental das Filipinas.
Acredita-se que Bopha seja o último - e o pior - tufão a atingir o país este ano. No ano passado, o Washi deixou mais de 1.200 mortos.
MANILA - A passagem do tufão Bopha pelas Filipinas já deixou ao menos 475 pessoas mortas, um inúmero impreciso de desaparecidos e cerca de 200 mil pessoas desabrigadas, informaram as autoridades nesta quinta-feira. O número de vítimas deve ser ainda maior, à medida que escombros de casas são revirados.
- Acreditamos que esse número irá aumentar porque há muitos desaparecidos - informou o diretor-executivo do Conselho Nacional de Desastres, Benito Ramos.
As mortes foram registradas em oito províncias do país, mas Mindanao (no sul) e Visayas (no centro) foi a mais atingida. Somente em Compostela Valley, em Mindanao, 184 pessoas morreram quando as enchentes atingiram os abrigos de emergência. Foi decretado estado de calamidade em Surigao do Sur, Davao Oriental e no Valle de Compostela.
- As comunicações caíram, não há energia elétrica, ruas e estradas estão destruídas. Ainda estamos trabalhando nos resgates - disse Ramos.
Das centenas de mortos, apenas 29 foram identificados até o momento. Outras 400 pessoas ficaram feridas com as enchentes e os deslizamentos de terra provocados pelo tufão. Acredita-se que muitas pessoas estejam soterradas.
O tufão Bopha, cujos ventos chegaram a atingir 195km/h, perdeu força e já se converteu em uma tempestade tropical. Ele se dirige agora ao Mar da China Meridional, mas ainda provoca fortes chuvas no lado ocidental das Filipinas.
Acredita-se que Bopha seja o último - e o pior - tufão a atingir o país este ano. No ano passado, o Washi deixou mais de 1.200 mortos.
Sales surge lifts Prada earnings 50%
Sales surge lifts Prada earnings 50%: Italian group says sales increase is worldwide including in Europe, where a steady flow of tourists – particularly from China – provided a boost
Ash dieback infection sites have doubled within a month, figures show
Ash dieback infection sites have doubled within a month, figures show:
The number of sites infected by deadly fungus reaches 291 as environment secretary unveils national control plan
The number of sites infected by the deadly fungus that causes ash dieback has more than doubled to 291 in a month, according to government figures released on Thursday.
The environment secretary, Owen Paterson, set out plans on Thursday aimed at controlling Chalara fraxinea, including keeping the ban on the import or movement of ash trees in place.
His department is also considering appointing a "tree tsar" - a chief plant health officer equivalent to the chief veterinary officer who leads the response to animal disease threats such as foot and mouth and bluetongue. But the measures were criticised by the National Trust as "limited and weak", too focused on minimising costs and "surrendering the British landscape to this disease".
"The plan I have set out today shows our determination to slow the spread and minimise the impact of Chalara," said Paterson, who said in November it would be impossible to eradicate the fungus. "It will also give us time to find those trees with genetic resistance to the disease and to restructure our woodlands to make them more resilient."
The fungus was first identified in the UK in February 2012 in a tree imported from the Netherlands to a nursery in Buckinghamshire. It has now been found at 136 sites linked to imported plants and a further 155 sites in the wider environment, which government scientists think were infected by wind-blown spores from continental Europe. The disease has devastated ash trees in many countries including Denmark where 90% have been infected.
The UK's control plan is based on four measures – "reduce, develop, encourage and adapt", said Prof Ian Boyd, chief scientist at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). He said the aim was to reduce the spread of Chalara, develop new control measures and resistant varieties, encourage the public and industry to help out and adapt the nation's forests to the inevitable changes. More than 13% of the country's broad-leaved woods are dominated by ash trees.
However, Paterson said the current policy of tracing and destroying young infected trees – which has seen more than 100,000 trees removed – was "unlikely to be sustainable in the longer term and there may be benefits from a more targeted approach." Boyd said control measures had to be "proportional" to ensure trade could continue and deliver "economic uplift" but said what a more targeted approach might be was yet to be determined.
"The limited actions and weak commitments set out in the plan will not be enough to control the spread of the disease - it's far too little, too late," said Simon Pryor, director of the natural environment at the National Trust. "We are alarmed to see the government is even wavering about continuing its programme of tracing, testing and destroying infected young ash trees. It is also disappointing to see the government is proposing almost no action in areas of the country already infected."
He added: "The action plan refers repeatedly to the cost of any intervention now, but makes very little reference to the costs that farmers, woodland owners, local authorities, gardeners and the government itself will face as this disease spreads across the country. Through this action plan we're effectively surrendering the British landscape to this disease before we've fully investigated ways of reducing rate of spread and buying time."
The Woodland Trust chief executive, Sue Holden, said the control plan was stalling as the government ploughed billions into the UK's built infrastructure in Wednesday's autumn statement, but was ignoring the country's natural infrastructure. "There is a distinct lack of political interest in supporting the UK's natural infrastructure despite the government's own figures valuing the benefits of our woods and trees at around £1.2bn a year. The consequences could be catastrophic, not only for the environment but for the UK economy too."
But Harry Cotterell, president of the Country Land and Business Association, said: "Paterson is right not to rush into unnecessary expensive control measures before the chances of success have been properly evaluated."
Paterson promised in November a "very, very radical" overhaul of his priorities at Defra, with much more spent on tackling the rising number of exotic diseases affecting plants and trees, and less spent in other areas. But Defra, which already suffered the biggest budget cut - 30% - of any major department, lost another £55m in the autumn statement and faces another spending review in 2013.
Alongside the Chalara control plan, Defra also published an interim report on tackling the rising danger of imported diseases killing trees and plants in the UK. Boyd said it recommended quarantine restrictions and plant passports as well as the appointment of a "tree tsar" who would lead the response to plant disease threats. He said existing rules required all plants from high-risk areas to be inspected. "But Chalara simply fell below the radar," he said. "It is a very difficult thing to identify."
"We also need more skills and capacity around plant diseases, such as the taxonomic skills need to identify them," Boyd said. He said progress had been made in other countries in identifying strains of ash that appear to be more resistant to Chalara, from which new stocks could be established.
The number of sites infected by the deadly fungus that causes ash dieback has more than doubled to 291 in a month, according to government figures released on Thursday.
The environment secretary, Owen Paterson, set out plans on Thursday aimed at controlling Chalara fraxinea, including keeping the ban on the import or movement of ash trees in place.
His department is also considering appointing a "tree tsar" - a chief plant health officer equivalent to the chief veterinary officer who leads the response to animal disease threats such as foot and mouth and bluetongue. But the measures were criticised by the National Trust as "limited and weak", too focused on minimising costs and "surrendering the British landscape to this disease".
"The plan I have set out today shows our determination to slow the spread and minimise the impact of Chalara," said Paterson, who said in November it would be impossible to eradicate the fungus. "It will also give us time to find those trees with genetic resistance to the disease and to restructure our woodlands to make them more resilient."
The fungus was first identified in the UK in February 2012 in a tree imported from the Netherlands to a nursery in Buckinghamshire. It has now been found at 136 sites linked to imported plants and a further 155 sites in the wider environment, which government scientists think were infected by wind-blown spores from continental Europe. The disease has devastated ash trees in many countries including Denmark where 90% have been infected.
The UK's control plan is based on four measures – "reduce, develop, encourage and adapt", said Prof Ian Boyd, chief scientist at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). He said the aim was to reduce the spread of Chalara, develop new control measures and resistant varieties, encourage the public and industry to help out and adapt the nation's forests to the inevitable changes. More than 13% of the country's broad-leaved woods are dominated by ash trees.
However, Paterson said the current policy of tracing and destroying young infected trees – which has seen more than 100,000 trees removed – was "unlikely to be sustainable in the longer term and there may be benefits from a more targeted approach." Boyd said control measures had to be "proportional" to ensure trade could continue and deliver "economic uplift" but said what a more targeted approach might be was yet to be determined.
"The limited actions and weak commitments set out in the plan will not be enough to control the spread of the disease - it's far too little, too late," said Simon Pryor, director of the natural environment at the National Trust. "We are alarmed to see the government is even wavering about continuing its programme of tracing, testing and destroying infected young ash trees. It is also disappointing to see the government is proposing almost no action in areas of the country already infected."
He added: "The action plan refers repeatedly to the cost of any intervention now, but makes very little reference to the costs that farmers, woodland owners, local authorities, gardeners and the government itself will face as this disease spreads across the country. Through this action plan we're effectively surrendering the British landscape to this disease before we've fully investigated ways of reducing rate of spread and buying time."
The Woodland Trust chief executive, Sue Holden, said the control plan was stalling as the government ploughed billions into the UK's built infrastructure in Wednesday's autumn statement, but was ignoring the country's natural infrastructure. "There is a distinct lack of political interest in supporting the UK's natural infrastructure despite the government's own figures valuing the benefits of our woods and trees at around £1.2bn a year. The consequences could be catastrophic, not only for the environment but for the UK economy too."
But Harry Cotterell, president of the Country Land and Business Association, said: "Paterson is right not to rush into unnecessary expensive control measures before the chances of success have been properly evaluated."
Paterson promised in November a "very, very radical" overhaul of his priorities at Defra, with much more spent on tackling the rising number of exotic diseases affecting plants and trees, and less spent in other areas. But Defra, which already suffered the biggest budget cut - 30% - of any major department, lost another £55m in the autumn statement and faces another spending review in 2013.
Alongside the Chalara control plan, Defra also published an interim report on tackling the rising danger of imported diseases killing trees and plants in the UK. Boyd said it recommended quarantine restrictions and plant passports as well as the appointment of a "tree tsar" who would lead the response to plant disease threats. He said existing rules required all plants from high-risk areas to be inspected. "But Chalara simply fell below the radar," he said. "It is a very difficult thing to identify."
"We also need more skills and capacity around plant diseases, such as the taxonomic skills need to identify them," Boyd said. He said progress had been made in other countries in identifying strains of ash that appear to be more resistant to Chalara, from which new stocks could be established.
Toxic cloud forces evacuations in Buenos Aires, Argentina; official says chemical substances are of 'low danger' - @BAHeraldcom
Toxic cloud forces evacuations in Buenos Aires, Argentina; official says chemical substances are of 'low danger' - @BAHeraldcom: Toxic cloud forces evacuations in Buenos Aires, Argentina; official says chemical substances are of 'low danger' - @BAHeraldcom
There was a pesticide inside the container whose main ingrediente was solid carbonate. Now the forensics are going to analyse all of the evidence to work out what started the whole thing.”
There was a pesticide inside the container whose main ingrediente was solid carbonate. Now the forensics are going to analyse all of the evidence to work out what started the whole thing.”
Jordan's king visits West Bank amid settlement dispute
Jordan's king visited the West Bank on Thursday in a show of support for Palestinians stung by Israel's decision to expand settlements after their successful bid for de facto U.N. recognition of statehood.
King Abdullah, whose country is at peace with Israel and an ally of the United States, made no immediate comment after flying by helicopter to the city of Ramallah for talks with Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
King Abdullah, whose country is at peace with Israel and an ally of the United States, made no immediate comment after flying by helicopter to the city of Ramallah for talks with Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
French troops 'killed Ivorian'
French troops 'killed Ivorian': Four former French peacekeepers admit their role in the killing of a suspected gang leader in Ivory Coast in 2005, but say they acted under orders.
CO2 Output Hits Record High
CO2 Output Hits Record High: Around the world, we are emitting more carbon dioxide than ever. For 2012, according to new projections by the Global Carbon Project, there is likely to be a 2.6 percent rise in global CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels compared to the year before. That puts emissions of the gas at 58 percent higher than 1990 levels.
Gazprom nimmt Europa in die Zange
Gazprom nimmt Europa in die Zange: Russland baut seine Position als Gaslieferant nach Europa aus. Mit dem Bau der South-Stream-Pipeline verringert Moskau seine Abhängigkeit vom Transitland Ukraine und untergräbt das europäische Projekt Nabucco.
Forced Selling Adds Fuel To Apple's Fall
Forced Selling Adds Fuel To Apple's Fall: On Wednesday, Apple (AAPL) stock fell $37.05 or 6.43%. In after-hours the stock continued to fall and it was down as low as $518 this morning. Yesterday Apple suffered its largest one-day loss in four years.
Top 25 Developers Receive Half of App Store Revenue
Top 25 Developers Receive Half of App Store Revenue: Canalys research group estimates that half of all App store revenue from Apple and Google goes to just 25 developers. Pandora is the only non-game developer in the top 25.
Afghan gunmen kill polio vaccination worker in latest attack on women
Afghan gunmen kill polio vaccination worker in latest attack on women:
Taliban deny shooting dead health volunteer in Kapisa province who had already survived one assassination attempt
A student and volunteer on a polio vaccination programme has been murdered by gunmen in an eastern Afghan village, leaving many women too frightened to attend work and school, according to a member of parliament for the area.
Anisa, who had just finished 10th grade at school, was shot outside her home in Kapisa province on Saturday morning and died later in hospital, with six bullets in her stomach. But although officials, activists and security forces agree she was shot dead, reports differ about who was responsible.
The victim had already survived a murder attempt the day before she died, taking shelter in a neighbour's house when gunmen opened fire on her in the street, said Sima Matim, a Kapisa provincial council member, who believes insurgents were behind the killing.
"She hadn't realised a group was following her and was very afraid," said Matim, who has herself been threatened for working outside the home, and says she often feels like she is being watched. "Two times these groups called me and told me to stop my job. They told me my address and described my home to me. They said 'we know everything about you and you have to stop your job'.
"I worry about when I will be killed and what my destiny will be. My husband always tells me to stop work, but still I am trying to continue."
The violent deaths of women often go unreported or unresolved in Afghanistan, a country where senior clerics this year described them as "secondary" to men.
Heather Barr, Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, said: "The small number of cases of prosecution of violence against women speaks to a lack of enthusiasm on the part of police and prosecutors to get to the bottom of these cases."
Guidelines issued by the clerics said women were subordinate to men, that they should not mix in work or education, and must always have a male guardian when they travel. The edicts appeared in a statement that also encouraged insurgents to join peace talks, fuelling fears that any successful negotiations would come at a high cost to women.
Anisa was an orphan in her early 20s, old for her grade at school in part because she tried to support her family while studying, said Tahera Mojaddidi, a member of parliament and former teacher who knew her. War and poverty means it is not unusual for Afghan children to miss or repeat several years at school.
The morning she was murdered, Anisa got a phone call from her killers shortly before she left for work at the clinic where she volunteered on a polio eradication programme, Mojaddidi said.
Afghanistan is one of three countries where polio is still endemic, and only two thirds of children in Kapisa are vaccinated, according to United Nations figures.
When Anisa stepped outside, six bullets were pumped into her stomach, said the MP, who added that she had discussed the shooting with intelligence officials from her home province. She said she believed the Taliban were behind the killing.
"In the village, families are saying that from the time when Anisa was killed up until now, their girls cannot go to schools, women who are working for organisations, they do not dare go out, because they think if they do their destiny would be the same as Anisa's."
A Taliban spokesman denied any role in the shooting, and said the group was not against polio vaccines. The Pakistani Taliban this summer in effect banned polio eradication in South Waziristan, one of the most troubled areas of Pakistan.
Several Kapisa officials also denied a Taliban role in her killing. The provincial director of women's affairs, Saifoorah Kohistani, said there were no Taliban in Anisa's area and the government was looking into possible motives for the shooting. The provincial governor would say only that an investigation was under way.
Police said Anisa was caught in crossfire after a fight escalated in an area where most men carry guns. Mohammad Makhfous Walizada, deputy provincial police chief, said he had testimony from her brother, who carried the dying girl to hospital. Walizada said he had arrested a man, who was now being questioned.
He was backed up by another MP, Haji Agha Jan. "Someone told me it was two brothers or two cousins fighting. Everyone has Pakistani pistols there, one of them opened fire, the bullets mistakenly hit the girl and she was killed," said Jan.
Mojaddidi said officials were not interested in looking into such attacks; their insistence that the shooting was accidental was just an excuse, she said. "It's all some stories that the officials of Kapisa made up, to cover that there is violence against women."
Additional reporting by Mokhtar Amiri
A student and volunteer on a polio vaccination programme has been murdered by gunmen in an eastern Afghan village, leaving many women too frightened to attend work and school, according to a member of parliament for the area.
Anisa, who had just finished 10th grade at school, was shot outside her home in Kapisa province on Saturday morning and died later in hospital, with six bullets in her stomach. But although officials, activists and security forces agree she was shot dead, reports differ about who was responsible.
The victim had already survived a murder attempt the day before she died, taking shelter in a neighbour's house when gunmen opened fire on her in the street, said Sima Matim, a Kapisa provincial council member, who believes insurgents were behind the killing.
"She hadn't realised a group was following her and was very afraid," said Matim, who has herself been threatened for working outside the home, and says she often feels like she is being watched. "Two times these groups called me and told me to stop my job. They told me my address and described my home to me. They said 'we know everything about you and you have to stop your job'.
"I worry about when I will be killed and what my destiny will be. My husband always tells me to stop work, but still I am trying to continue."
The violent deaths of women often go unreported or unresolved in Afghanistan, a country where senior clerics this year described them as "secondary" to men.
Heather Barr, Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, said: "The small number of cases of prosecution of violence against women speaks to a lack of enthusiasm on the part of police and prosecutors to get to the bottom of these cases."
Guidelines issued by the clerics said women were subordinate to men, that they should not mix in work or education, and must always have a male guardian when they travel. The edicts appeared in a statement that also encouraged insurgents to join peace talks, fuelling fears that any successful negotiations would come at a high cost to women.
Anisa was an orphan in her early 20s, old for her grade at school in part because she tried to support her family while studying, said Tahera Mojaddidi, a member of parliament and former teacher who knew her. War and poverty means it is not unusual for Afghan children to miss or repeat several years at school.
The morning she was murdered, Anisa got a phone call from her killers shortly before she left for work at the clinic where she volunteered on a polio eradication programme, Mojaddidi said.
Afghanistan is one of three countries where polio is still endemic, and only two thirds of children in Kapisa are vaccinated, according to United Nations figures.
When Anisa stepped outside, six bullets were pumped into her stomach, said the MP, who added that she had discussed the shooting with intelligence officials from her home province. She said she believed the Taliban were behind the killing.
"In the village, families are saying that from the time when Anisa was killed up until now, their girls cannot go to schools, women who are working for organisations, they do not dare go out, because they think if they do their destiny would be the same as Anisa's."
A Taliban spokesman denied any role in the shooting, and said the group was not against polio vaccines. The Pakistani Taliban this summer in effect banned polio eradication in South Waziristan, one of the most troubled areas of Pakistan.
Several Kapisa officials also denied a Taliban role in her killing. The provincial director of women's affairs, Saifoorah Kohistani, said there were no Taliban in Anisa's area and the government was looking into possible motives for the shooting. The provincial governor would say only that an investigation was under way.
Police said Anisa was caught in crossfire after a fight escalated in an area where most men carry guns. Mohammad Makhfous Walizada, deputy provincial police chief, said he had testimony from her brother, who carried the dying girl to hospital. Walizada said he had arrested a man, who was now being questioned.
He was backed up by another MP, Haji Agha Jan. "Someone told me it was two brothers or two cousins fighting. Everyone has Pakistani pistols there, one of them opened fire, the bullets mistakenly hit the girl and she was killed," said Jan.
Mojaddidi said officials were not interested in looking into such attacks; their insistence that the shooting was accidental was just an excuse, she said. "It's all some stories that the officials of Kapisa made up, to cover that there is violence against women."
Additional reporting by Mokhtar Amiri
Assad busca asilo na América Latina, diz jornal israelense
Assad busca asilo na América Latina, diz jornal israelense:
RIO - O presidente sírio, Bashar al-Assad, estaria procurando asilo político para ele mesmo, seus parentes e aliados na América Latina, informou nesta quarta-feira o jornal israelense "Haaretz". Para alguns analistas, o aumento da pressão internacional por causa da suposta movimentação de armas químicas, a sinalização de uma mudança de postura de Moscou e a violência intensa em Damasco são sinais de que o conflito sírio está perto do fim. Em busca de uma saída, Assad enviou seu vice-chanceler a Caracas, Quito e Havana.
Autoridades em Caracas só confirmaram que a mensagem de Assad tinha como base a "relação pessoal entre os dois presidentes" e que a visita do vice-chanceler é uma mostra da proximidade entre os dois países. Desde o início do levante na Síria, em março de 2011, Chávez defende Assad. Durante o ano passado, a Venezuela enviou petróleo para a Síria, para abastecer tanques e equipamentos do Exército e ajudar no combate ao que Chávez chama de terroristas. O presidente venezuelano também mantém uma relação estreita com o Irã, o maior aliado de Assad no Oriente Médio.
O embaixador sírio em Caracas, Ghassan Abbas, confirmou na terça-feira o encontro do vice-chanceler com autoridades venezuelanas, mas disse não ter detalhe algum sobre o encontro. Reuniões semelhantes foram realizadas em Havana e Quito, acrescenta o jornal israelense.
O secretário-geral da ONU, Ban Ki-moon, sugeriu nesta quarta-feira não ser a favor de um acordo para o asilo de Assad como forma de colocar um fim à guerra civil síria. Perguntado sobre a possibilidade de uma negociação do tipo, Ban comentou sem citar nomes que a ONU “não apoia a impunidade”:
- Quem cometer violações de direitos humanos deve ser responsabilizado e levado à Justiça. Isto é um princípio fundamental - disse Ban, durante uma reunião sobre clima no Qatar.
Na terça-feira, uma reportagem do "New York Times" citou uma fonte russa, dizendo que Assad não teria mais esperanças de sair vitorioso ou sequer vivo da guerra civil. No mês passado, o próprio presidente sírio chegou a comentar a hipótese do exílio e disse que "viveria e morreria na Síria".
RIO - O presidente sírio, Bashar al-Assad, estaria procurando asilo político para ele mesmo, seus parentes e aliados na América Latina, informou nesta quarta-feira o jornal israelense "Haaretz". Para alguns analistas, o aumento da pressão internacional por causa da suposta movimentação de armas químicas, a sinalização de uma mudança de postura de Moscou e a violência intensa em Damasco são sinais de que o conflito sírio está perto do fim. Em busca de uma saída, Assad enviou seu vice-chanceler a Caracas, Quito e Havana.
Veja também
Segundo o diário israelense, o vice-chanceler Faisal al-Miqdad se encontrou com autoridades em Cuba, Venezuela e Equador nos últimos sete dias e teria levado consigo cartas pessoais do presidente Assad a líderes locais. Uma fonte na Venezuela, no entanto, disse ao "Haaretz" que não conhecia a resposta do Palácio de Miraflores ao ditador sírio. O jornal "El Universal" confirmou a entrega de uma carta ao presidente Hugo Chávez. O documento teria sido entregue na última quarta-feira, antes de Chávez viajar para Havana, onde trata de um câncer.Autoridades em Caracas só confirmaram que a mensagem de Assad tinha como base a "relação pessoal entre os dois presidentes" e que a visita do vice-chanceler é uma mostra da proximidade entre os dois países. Desde o início do levante na Síria, em março de 2011, Chávez defende Assad. Durante o ano passado, a Venezuela enviou petróleo para a Síria, para abastecer tanques e equipamentos do Exército e ajudar no combate ao que Chávez chama de terroristas. O presidente venezuelano também mantém uma relação estreita com o Irã, o maior aliado de Assad no Oriente Médio.
O embaixador sírio em Caracas, Ghassan Abbas, confirmou na terça-feira o encontro do vice-chanceler com autoridades venezuelanas, mas disse não ter detalhe algum sobre o encontro. Reuniões semelhantes foram realizadas em Havana e Quito, acrescenta o jornal israelense.
O secretário-geral da ONU, Ban Ki-moon, sugeriu nesta quarta-feira não ser a favor de um acordo para o asilo de Assad como forma de colocar um fim à guerra civil síria. Perguntado sobre a possibilidade de uma negociação do tipo, Ban comentou sem citar nomes que a ONU “não apoia a impunidade”:
- Quem cometer violações de direitos humanos deve ser responsabilizado e levado à Justiça. Isto é um princípio fundamental - disse Ban, durante uma reunião sobre clima no Qatar.
Na terça-feira, uma reportagem do "New York Times" citou uma fonte russa, dizendo que Assad não teria mais esperanças de sair vitorioso ou sequer vivo da guerra civil. No mês passado, o próprio presidente sírio chegou a comentar a hipótese do exílio e disse que "viveria e morreria na Síria".
Doutrina Obama
Doutrina Obama: Já perceberam que as coisas vão piorar para Assad. Patriots da NATO na Turquia, Hillary Clinton (5.ª-feira, em Washington) prometendo mais ajuda à oposição síria, e agora o requerimento aprovado no Senado...
Military plane crashes in S Africa
A military plane carrying 11 passengers has crashed in South Africa's mountainous east.
The plane, which had been travelling from Pretoria to Mthatha, went missing on Wednesday but the initial search was abandoned due to poor weather.
The plane, which had been travelling from Pretoria to Mthatha, went missing on Wednesday but the initial search was abandoned due to poor weather.
Tanks deployed in Egypt's capital
Tanks deployed in Egypt's capital: The Egyptian army deploys tanks outside the presidential palace in Cairo after clashes between supporters and opponents of President Mohammed Morsi left five dead.
Gender equality may boost Sweden's fertility rate
Gender equality may boost Sweden's fertility rate: Sweden has the third highest fertility rate in the EU, behind Ireland and France. Why? Well, one theory is that good universal childcare allows women to focus on their careers, which increases equality between the sexes and ultimately the birth rate.
Sleeping pills linked to pneumonia, study finds
Sleeping pills linked to pneumonia, study finds: Common sleeping pills which have been used by more than one million people in Britain may increase the risk of contracting pneumonia and dying from it, a study has found.
German cabinet agrees to send Patriot missiles to Turkey
Germany's cabinet agreed on Thursday to send Patriot missiles and up to 400 soldiers to Turkey to act as a deterrent against any spread of the conflict in Syria across the border, Berlin's foreign and defense ministries said.
"The strengthening of the integrated NATO air defense in Turkey is a purely defensive measure which, as a military deterrent, will prevent the conflict within Syria spreading to Turkey," said the ministries.
However, Syria and its allies Russia and Iran have criticized the decision on the missiles, saying it increases regional instability.
"The strengthening of the integrated NATO air defense in Turkey is a purely defensive measure which, as a military deterrent, will prevent the conflict within Syria spreading to Turkey," said the ministries.
However, Syria and its allies Russia and Iran have criticized the decision on the missiles, saying it increases regional instability.
Rolls Royce Warns Of 'Possible Prosecution'
Rolls-Royce says it has passed information to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) relating to concerns about bribery and corruption overseas.
It follows a request for information from the SFO about allegations of malpractice involving intermediaries in Indonesia and China.
It follows a request for information from the SFO about allegations of malpractice involving intermediaries in Indonesia and China.
Occupy Wall Street protester whose tweets were subpoenaed to plead guilty
Occupy Wall Street protester whose tweets were subpoenaed to plead guilty: NEW YORK (Reuters) - An Occupy Wall Street protester who has waged a legal battle to keep his tweets from falling into prosecutors' hands will plead guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct on Friday, his lawyer said on Wednesday.
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
Transportation Security Administration screener busted for stealing iPads at John F. Kennedy Airport - @NBCNewYork
A Transportation Security Administration screener has been arrested on charges he swiped iPads and other electronic devices from passengers' luggage at John F. Kennedy Airport.
Port Authority spokesman Steven Coleman said Wednesday that 32-year-old Sean Henry, of Brooklyn, was nabbed in a sting operation using decoy bags in cooperation with the TSA
Port Authority spokesman Steven Coleman said Wednesday that 32-year-old Sean Henry, of Brooklyn, was nabbed in a sting operation using decoy bags in cooperation with the TSA
Marijuana legal in first US state
Marijuana legal in first US state: Possession of marijuana is poised to become legal in the US state of Washington, a month after voters opted for decriminalisation.
Toxic chemicals from New Jersey train wreck may not be cleared until next week
Toxic chemicals from New Jersey train wreck may not be cleared until next week: CLARKSBORO, New Jersey (Reuters) - A U.S. Coast Guard official told an angry crowd on Wednesday that it may take until next week to clear the air of toxic chemicals spilled after a train wreck in their south New Jersey town, where evacuations were ramped up this week.
Rechazan impuesto al refresco
Rechazan impuesto al refresco: No hay que afectar de manera impensada a industrias que generan empleos, afirma el presidente de la Comisión de Hacienda de la Cámara de Diputados, José Isabel Trejo Reyes
Court ruling means Kim Dotcom can sue NZ spooks
Illegal surveillance on trial
Kim Dotcom has successfully applied to join New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau as a defendant in his litigation over illegal surveillance of his activities.…
Standard Chartered sees $330 million settlement on Iran, denting profits
Standard Chartered sees $330 million settlement on Iran, denting profits: HONG KONG (Reuters) - Standard Chartered expects to pay $330 million to settle a case with U.S. regulators who accused the Asia-focused bank of failing to comply with sanctions against Iran, further denting profit growth this year.
Nicaragua won't grant underwater drilling rights in contested waters
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said on Wednesday that Nicaragua would not grant oil drilling licenses in ecologically sensitive Caribbean waters that belonged until recently to Colombia.
Mexican Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage in southern Oaxaca state - @AP
Mexico’s Supreme Court has ruled that a law in southern Oaxaca state that bans same-sex marriages is unconstitutional, paving the way for same-sex couples to marry in that state and possibly in the rest of Mexico.
Australia mining boom puts Antarctica job applications on ice
Australia mining boom puts Antarctica job applications on ice: SYDNEY (Reuters) - There are times when the sun never sets on Antarctica, but a long-term Australian programme encouraging people to "live the dream" and work in the vast frozen landscape is having to extend a deadline for the project due to a shortage of applicants.
Report: Syria loads chemical bombs
Report: Syria loads chemical bombs: Anderson Cooper gets reaction from a media report that Syria has been putting chemical weapons into bombs.
Clinton Expresses Support for New Syrian Opposition Coalition
Clinton Expresses Support for New Syrian Opposition Coalition: As the opposition struggled to select leaders, American intelligence detected that Syrian troops had mixed together small amounts of precursor chemicals for a deadly nerve gas.
Lufthansas letzte Chance in Europa
Lufthansas letzte Chance in Europa: Kurzstrecken können von großen Fluggesellschaften nicht profitabel bedient werden. Jetzt übernimmt Germanwings einen Großteil des Europa-Verkehrs der Lufthansa. Wenn das nicht hilft, stehen radikale Änderungen an.
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