Exclusive: Spyware firms in breach of global sanctions
Undercover investigation exposes inner workings of spy equipment companies selling to clients from sanctioned countries.
Al Jazeera Investigative Unit
Spy equipment producers are breaking laws and circumventing international sanctions by agreeing to sell stock to countries known for human rightsabuses, and to clients who do not declare the end user – meaning surveillance tools could easily fall into the hands of armed groups, corporations, governments cracking down on dissent, or opposition leaders, an exclusive investigation by Al Jazeera reveals.
During "Spy Merchants", a four-month undercover operation, Al Jazeera secretly filmed representatives of two Italian companies and one Chinese business agreeing to sell spyware that is capable of tracking millions of people online and able to intercept phone calls and text messages without anyone finding out.
Trump aide drew plan on napkin to partition Libya into three
Exclusive: Sebastian Gorka told proposal would be ‘the worst solution’ when he suggested it to senior European diplomat
A senior White House foreign policy official has pushed a plan to partition Libya, and once drew a picture of how the country could be divided into three areas on a napkin in a meeting with a senior European diplomat, the Guardian has learned.
Sebastian Gorka, a deputy assistant to Donald Trump under pressure over his past ties with Hungarian far-right groups, suggested the idea of partition in the weeks leading up to the US president’s inauguration, according to an official with knowledge of the matter. The European diplomat responded that this would be “the worst solution” for Libya.
Gorka is vying for the job of presidential special envoy to Libya in a White House that has so far spent little time thinking about the country and has yet to decide whether to create such a post.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov denies massacre of gay citizens saying ‘such people do not exist’
International community condemns rumoured roundup and murder of homosexuals as brutal provincial ruler continues to act with impunity
Ramzan Kadyrov is unlike any other provincial leader in Russia. He rules the republic of Chechnya with brute force and enjoys the indulgence of President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. Kadyrov keeps order in Chechnya, and Putin keeps out of his way. Now this deal has apparently led to barbaric treatment of gay men in the traditionally conservative Muslim society.
The crusading newspaper Novaya Gazeta published a startling article April 1 that reported Kadyrov's armed thugs were detaining and executing gay men, with more than 100 men already seized, three of them known to be dead and many others possibly murdered in extrajudicial “honour” killings.
A respected human rights expert, Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, Russia project coordinator for the International Crisis Group, told the New York Times and the Guardian that she had been receiving similar reports.
'Islamists set on wiping out Coptic Christians'
Orthodox Christians in Egypt are the victims of attacks yet again. Markus Rode of the organization "Open Doors" explains the escalation of violence against Copts in a DW interview.
DW: Two attacks targeted Coptic Christians in Egypt today. More than 30 worshippers died in bomb attacks in Tanta and Alexandria. How would you classify the attacks?
Markus Rode: The attacks are part of a series. The first of the series took place last year, on December 11 - the Prophet Muhammad's birthday - when a bomb attack was carried out at the Coptic church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the center of Cairo. To date, 29 people have died from that attack.
How do you explain the escalation of violence?
In my opinion, the cycle of violence began when President Morsi was removed from power. Until now, August 14, 2013, represented the peak of violent attacks against Christians: On that date, many churches were destroyed and Christians murdered. The momentum back then was attributed to the fact that the pope of the Copts was seen alongside strongman Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, who orchestrated Morsi's ouster. It was said that the Christians were to blame that the Muslim Brotherhood was deposed.
China nuclear envoy arrives in Seoul to discuss N.Korea threat
South Korea on Monday to discuss North Korea’s increasingly defiant weapons programme as a U.S. Navy strike group heads to the region amid concerns Pyongyang may be readying a fresh nuclear test.
North Korea marks several major anniversaries this month and often marks the occasions with major tests of military hardware.The possibility of U.S. military action against North Korea in response to such a test emerged as an option following last week’s U.S. strikes against Syria.
It was further fuelled by comments from U.S. President Donald Trump’s top aides on the weekend.
In Tokyo, the feasibility of U.S. military action was downplayed, while South Korea said the focus remained on deterrence and readiness.
“It probably is not realistic for the U.S. to attack North Korea," a Japanese defence ministry source said. "If America says it is going to attack, both Japan and South Korea will probably put a stop to it," said the source who declined to be identified.Great Barrier Reef: Two-thirds damaged in 'unprecedented' bleaching
Unprecedented coral bleaching in consecutive years has damaged two-thirds of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, aerial surveys have shown.
The bleaching - or loss of algae - affects a 1,500km (900 miles) stretch of the reef, according to scientists.
The latest damage is concentrated in the middle section, whereas last year's bleaching hit mainly the north.
Experts fear the proximity of the two events will give damaged coral little chance to recover.
Prof Terry Hughes, from James Cook University, said governments must urgently address climate change to prevent further bleaching.
"Since 1998, we have seen four of these events and the gap between them has varied substantially, but this is the shortest gap we have seen," Prof Hughes told the BBC.
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